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SPECIAL MEETING OF THE ASPEN PLANNING & ZONING COMMISSION
A special meeting of the Aspen Planning & Zoning Commission
was held at City Hall on Thursday, May 16, 1963 at 5:00 P.M.
in order to meet with Mr. Paul Wiener, the City Planner.
Present were: Mr. Paul Wiener, Jack Walls, Richard Lai,
Frank Humphrey, Jim Markalunas, Fritz Benedict, William
McEachern, Mayor Mike Garrish, Ken Moore.
Mr. Walls mentioned that one of the problems of the city was
one of communication; of keeping different groups informed
of actions and intentions of other groups. Mr. Wiener stated
he had been hired by three different entities, and asked how
he was to communicate. He was informed that he should write
to the interested party, with copies of his letters to go to
the other two. The Superintendent of School, Mr. Kelly,
contacted Mr. Wiener's office with regard to the location of
a future school for Aspen. Mr. Wiener could not recall the
letter, but said he would check. It was mentioned that the
city should be aware of what the School doard is thinking on
this matter.
Mr. Wiener was asked about things which are being done
presently in Aspen, such as the paving of streets, and he
replied that he takes the Aspen Times and is kept informed
of what is being done in the city. The paving is a good
thing, and not a major issue in a twenty-year plan. If he
feels there is intervention, he will write or phone Aspen.
The suggestion that every other street in West Aspen be
closed and made into a green area was raised, and Mr. Wiener
stated that he will be proposing a network of green areas.
In answer to the question, Mr. Wiener stated that the pre-
liminary sketch could be ready in three or four months, and
that this will be a conceptual plan exposing major long-
range planning. It should present an overall picture of
Aspen's physical appearance in twenty years. The purpose of
a plan is to guide the city into a structure and a pattern.
There is no one answer: several concepts are possible.
Mr. Moore requested that Mr. Wiener supply facts and data to
this group in order that it be conversant with the facts.
Mr. Wiener asked Mr. Moore not to ask him for things which
the group has in its possession. He also said he did not
like the manner in which Mr. Moore was calling attention to
his contractual obligations. He then stated that this group
could either have his preliminary conceptual plan for dis-
cussion prior to going into the more detailed one, or he
could go directly into the latter. The group stated that
it would prefer discussion on a preliminary plan. The Mayor
stated that as a group we must place a great deal of trust
and confidence in the planner, and give him a chance to present
us with a preliminary plan.
Mr. Moore asked about the financing of the plan. Mr. Wiener
said that financing is not involved in his work. Mr. Moore
said that in the contract there are to be stipulations as to
priority of expenditures. Mr. Wiener said that there was
nothing in this contract that calls for a budget for the
total plan, and if there is, it can be torn up. This is an
impossibility and not his job. He is to give a general
guide, then drawings and specifications can go to engineers
and a budget can be worked out over five or any number of
years, but that is up to the local people, not the planner.
A land use map will come much later.
Mr. Wiener stated that he requires confidence. He does not
want to be checked against the contract. He performs his
work with dignity and success, and must work with the group
cooperatively toward improvement of the city - without
suspicion. If this group does not have trust in his work,
I
.
then forget the contract. Aspen has a special appeal and
Mr. Wiener stated that he wanted to work with the city towards
its beautification, which work is a combination of science,
art and experience. He thought Mr. Moore had been utterly
disrespectful, and is more than willing to cancel the contract
if he is to be checked. He doesn't want to be asked for
statistical facts underlying his preliminary conceptual plan.
After this discussion, the Mayor expressed the faith and
confidence of this group in Mr. Wiener's ability and experience
with regard to the master plan for Aspen.
Mr. Walls has a record of all the maps and other data which
ha"le been sent to Mr. Wiener. Mr. Wiener was asked about the
possibility of his having office space in Aspen, and he
stated that it would be impossible to say at this time whether
or not it would be needed. Mr. Wiener will give the Planning
and Zoning Commission the benefit of his experience in guiding
the local group toward implementation of his recommendations.
He can give the normal and legal methods, though not the
political. The financing of the plan will be up to the city,
not the planner. He pointed out that the financing of the
plan in three sections is merely a method of payment, not the
payment for three particular facets of the master plan.
Mr. Wiener stated that he either has, or is in process of ob-
taining, all the information which he will need. Mr. Marka-
lunas offered his services and help with regard to the sewer
and sanitation matters, and the Mayor offered a comprehensive
water report to Mr. Wiener.
After Mr. Wiener's preliminary plan is presented for informal
discussion, he will consider and weigh the pros and cons
prior to doing the detailed work on the plan.
Discussion of the proposed mall then took place, and Mr.
Wiener said that it was not too important if the mall were
to be one block from his suggested one, if it were more
feasible to put it there, and that he had written his feelings
on the mall earlier to Mr. Bayer.
The rezoning of the west portion of town which has retained
its business zone status, though requiring tourist setbacks
and fire district, was approved by Mr. Wiener. He stated
that you cannot make a big plan if you are rigid.
Mr. Wiener stated that Aspen would be able to carry more
weight in its requests to the state of Colorado in the future
because of having a professional planner, and one who was
partially hired by the state.
The meeting adjourned at 6:35 P.M.
Respectfully submitted,
William McEachern, Secretary
Recorded by
Bette Gallagher