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HomeMy WebLinkAboutresolution.council.037-88 RESOLUTION NO. 37 (Series of 1988) A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF ASPEN, COLORADO APPROVING THE CONCEPl'UAL SPA PLAN FOR THE RIO GRANDE PARCEL WHEREAS, the City Council of Aspen, Colorado (hereinafter "Council") has reviewed the Conceptual SPA Plan for the Rio Grande (hereinafter "Plan") at public hearings held on September 26, October 10 and October 17, 1988; and WHEREAS, the Aspen Planning and Zoning commission recommended approval of the Conceptual SPA Plan for the Rio Grande through its Resolution No. 88-6; and WHEREAS, in September of 1987, the Council endorsed and the Planning and Zoning Commission adopted the Aspen Area Comprehensive Plan: Transportation Element (hereinafter "Transportation Plan") which identified appropriate concepts for the Rio Grande property; and WHEREAS, in the spring of 1988, RFTA and the Council retained the services of a consulting team headed by RNL Design of Denver to develop appropriate physical and financial alternatives for a parking facility on the Rio Grande property; and WHEREAS, based on their review of the Conceptual SPA Plan for the Rio Grande property, the Council makes the following findings: Parking The City Council concurs with P&Z that the parking facility should be hidden from view and allow the potential for other transportation related uses. Library/Other Public Buildings - The City Council supports the conceptual location of the library. The idea of hiding development or minimizing the visual impact of development may not be an appropriate concept for important public buildings, such as the Library or the Arts buildings. These buildings should be attractive and designed in a manner which indicates the buildings' importance to the community. Additionally, setting back the Library from Mill street to avoid the "canyon effect" which could occur because of the location and height of the Jerome is an idea which may be overstated. The Council finds that creating activity on the Mill street streetscape by setting the library close to the sidewalk is important. The Council finds that Galena street will become an important pedestrian connection between the Rio Grande (Library, Arts, River) and the Mall/downtown area. Therefore, pedestrian access should be improved between the downtown and the river using Galena street and continuing the pedestrian treatment through the Rio Grande to the river. In order to ensure this pedestrian flow the architectural element on top of the parking facility roof which covers the stairwell and elevator shaft should be located off the Galena street corridor. 2 Plaza - The roof of the parking facility should be a people place with landscaping and not considered for parking. It is important that this area be designed so that it does not become a dead space. Teen Center - The City Council finds that the Teen Center is an important community function and directs staff to develop building designs associated with the parking facility plaza. Transit Shuttle The Council believes that a shuttle corridor which continues north on Galena street along the east side of the parking facility can avoid some of the traffic congestion associated with Mill street. Circulation - The Council finds that, if possible, Spring street should be located to allow for the possibility of a gas station associated with the Cap's property. The location of Spring street should not negatively effect Cap's business. Snowdump/Snowmelt - The Council finds the land use impact of a snowdump unacceptable and in an effort to reduce that impact will install a snowmelt machine(s) in the northwest embankment of the impound lot area. 3 Impound Lot - The Council finds that the impound lot is an unacceptable use of the Rio Grande property and will relocate it as soon as possible. Revegetation - The snowdump and impound lot areas should be revegetated to enhance the park aspects of the Rio Grande site. This should be done as soon as the snowdump and impound lot uses are eliminated. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ASPEN, COLORADO: Section 1 That the Council does hereby approve the conceptual SPA Plan for the Rio Grande with the following conditions: Conditions to be addressed as part of conceptual approval 1. The City and County should agree to amend the 1982 Land Exchange Agreement in order to avoid future confusion regarding uses on the Rio Grande site. If the library is not located on the Oden area of the site, then the Arts group requests that the site be retained for a Performing Arts Center. Conditions to be addressed at precise plan stage 1. The applicant(s) shall submit a site plan, landscaping plan, building design plan and building design techniques which illustrate how the development compliments or enhances the neighborhood. Plans for mitigation of impacts caused by the spring Street extension on the surrounding neighborhood (ie. ,Oklahoma Flats) should also be presented. All plans submitted shall comply with the requirements of Article 7., Division 8, Specially Planned Area, of the Aspen Land Use Regulations and shall be consistent with the representations of the approved Conceptual Plan. 4 2. The following environmental studies and mitigation plans shall be prepared to the satisfaction of the Environmental Health Department: a. Air pollution resulting from the starting of automobiles ln and mechanical ventilation of the parking facility. b. Water pollution hazards as a impervious surfaces and the melting substances. result of runoff use of chemical from snow c. The loss of any storm water detention areas. 3. The city shall maintain the alley for fire protection purposes. 4. The parking structure shall be sprinklered. 5. Any downtown shuttle should service the Rio Grande site, Post Office, pedestrian access points to the parking facility and Rio Grande recreational and cultural areas, as well as important activity centers in the downtown. 6. The applicants shall provide to the satisfaction of the Engineering Department the following: a. A drainage plan. b. A full survey with title blocks, a list of easements and encumbrances. c. An overlay of the survey showing utilities (this should be signed by each utility). 7. The applicants shall work with the City and private utilities to develop an acceptable utilities plan. 8. The following actions are encouraged as part of the development of the Rio Grande site: a. Increased enforcement of on-street parking requirements in the downtown. b. Review the existing time zone requirements for parking in the downtown. c. Implement the Roaring Fork Greenway Plan and the parks/Recreation/Open Space/Trails Plan. d. Relocate the snowdump. 5 e. Relocate impound lot. 9. The city shall develop a fee structure for the Rio Grande parking facility which is inexpensive for the user and also discourages use of the automobile. 10. The applicants shall indicate how many employees will be generated by the proposal and how employee housing requirements will be addressed. 11. Each applicant shall submit information for the Growth Management Quota Exemption for essential public facilities. 12. The City shall develop plans for improving the pedestrian access between the Mall and the Rio Grande using Galena Street. A Galena street pedestrian corridor should be compatible with the Mall and compatible with the Rio Grande pedestrian system which extends through the Rio Grande to the river. 13. The Library shall have the ability to expand to the east 44 feet on top of the parking facility, if their program needs in the long-term future justify this expansion. 14. The city and Teen Center develop a Teen Center in facility plaza. group shall conjunction work with together to the parking 15. The architectural element on top of the parking facility roof which covers the stairwell and elevator shaft should be relocated to an area off of the Galena street access. This will allow for an uninterrupted pedestrian corridor between the downtown and the river. 16. The extension of spring street shall be designed so as not to preclude the possibility of a service/gas station in conjunction with Cap's auto. 17. The city and Library should agree on who is responsible for what percent of general site improvements, these include, but are not limited to utility improvements, transportation improvements and landscaping improvements. 18. The City shall experiment with a snowmelt machine as a way of reducing the impact of the snowdump on the property. 19. The city shall reserve the area known as the Snowdump for future Arts Usage; however, if the Library does not use the Oden parcel, then the Arts Groups retain the right to use the Oden site instead of the Snowdump area. 6 Dated: ~47 , 1988. .~ I. Kathryn S. Koch, duly appointed and acting City Clerk do certify that the foregoing is a true and accurate copy of that resolution adopted by the City Council of the City of Aspen, Colorado, at a meeting held ~ ~rt , 1988. RGRCC 7