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HomeMy WebLinkAboutminutes.council.19770408 The study session bega~ ~t 7:10 p.m. with Councilmembers Parry, Behrendt, Pedersen, Johnston, De Gregorio, W~shart, and Mayor Standley present. Mayor standley reminded Council this session is to deal with the Aspen Institute because people keep coming through the planning office with the same map and the same plans. Then Council went through the Physics Institute's request for library last fall. Then Denver University pulled iout. In the meantime, Anderson sold the lots, which was already a subdivision of record. The City needs to articulate what they want done, what is the attitude of the City, what Aspen is the interest, if any, !and how the City would like to proceed or tell the Institute Institute to proceed. Mayor Stand~ey told Council he had talked to Mrs. Paepcke about the Institute and her attitude about t~e Institute is the same as it was at the P & Z hearing. Mrs. Paepcke had said she felt the Institute had in some ways compromised what Walter Paepcke had originally set up as the goals and the mission of the Institute. However, Mrs. Paepcke feels strongly that the Institute is a~cri%ical element of Aspen, and makes Aspen different from any other ski area. Mrs. Paepcke encouraged the Council to try and figure out a place to work with the Institute. Mayor Standley told Coun'cit he had called R. O. Anderson. Anderson told Mayor Standley that the Institute has decided to drop all negotiations with anybody regarding the purchase of the Institute; it is basically off the market. The Institute is prepared to go ahead and wait 5 or 10 years until a change in philosophy of the City. They do not have a financial problem. They will Upgrade the management and operate the Institute with the existing facilities, running non-Institute conferences during the winter season. Mayor Standley reported that Anderson feels that the Institute has been singled out by the City. The Institute will reduce their program to a skeleton basis, and will redistrib~ te these to other campuses. Anderson would like to consider building another Chalet. with about 16 rooms. Planner Bill Kane told Council that the experience ~with Jay Kuhen clearly fell thrQugh because of his inability to get buyers together. That experience was symptomatic of the general problem that will continue to go on with investors. It ~ppear~ that every approach on the Institute will involve some kind of questioning and capital investment and investors will want to know what they can get out of the Institute for their money. Perspective buyers are constantly asking the planning office for their interpretation of Council's policy with respect to the Instituteo People are looking for a clear read- ing of what kinds of things will work at the Institute. Kane reminded Council that in an SPA setting, there are no density guidelines, no FARs, just the review of the entire master plan. Kane's first question to council was would it be appropriate to have proposal's have a direct touch with the Council until Council policy is clear. This would help to know right away what, in general terms, will work and what will not. Kane recommended having the broad policy issues established by Council, then the more technical details can be worked out with P & Z. Councilman De Gregorio said he did not think that was the best way; projects should be received on their own merit. Councilwoman Johnston pointed out that the Council has had some very basic philosophical differences with the Institute in the past. Councilwoman Johnston asked about the possibility of investigating the City purchasing the Institute. Mayor Standley reminded Council they had discussed this and voted against it. Now the lots have been sold off and the price is 4½ million dollars, the purchase won't work. Mayor Standley poi~ted out that Council has always asked the Institute to go through the planning process~ but has not asked them to go through the policy process and the concept the Institution should be and the role it should play in the City. Councilwoman Pedersen said she felt Council had done this with CU and with DU. Councilwoman Pedersen reminded Council that the exemption given to the Physics Institute was conditione, on two actions from the Institute. One was that they give the Physics Institute a land lease, and the other was that the Institute would be willing to enter into a waiver of no prejudice in any future. The Institute blew the exemption down for the Physics Institute. Mayor Standley reiterated that Council has worked with CU, with DU and wi~h the Physics Institute, but never with the Institute. Councilman Wishart said the Council was not going to compromise the SPA, was not going to parcel the land out. Mayor Standley suggested that Council work directly with the Institute. The Council is talking about what role the Institute plays in this community; that is a larger question than the zoning. Councilman Wishart stated he did not feel the Council had to tie themselves to numbers for expansion. Councilwoman Pedersen stated she would not like to see any sort of subdivision exemption granted at the Institute. The total area of the Institute is 1/10th of the 3~o~tal sr~a~of the Ci~ If the City grants any exemptions, then the City loses the handles it normally wo~d have on roads, utilities, easements, etc. Councilwoman Pedersen stated that Anderson had asked for feasible hotel beds, not support for a conference center. A great deal of the lodging facility is dependent upon the use of the Institute. It is difficult to make a positive statement until the statement of intent of use comes from the ~nstJ_t~t~ Mayor Standley agreed and pointed out that is an issue the Council should be discussin~ with the Institute. The planning will result from this policy. Councilman De Gregorio stated he felt that the Council has already indicated they are interested in the Institute. Councilman De Gregorio said it was a fine idea that the Council sit down with R. O0 Anderson and tell him what the Council wants, and hear what he has to offer; however, De Gregorio stated he did not want to subvert the planning process and put Council in front of the P & Z. Mayor Standley stated the Council would not be making the decision but would be establishing the policy. Councilman Wishart pointed out that Council has given the Institute the entire form. The Council can,t make policy until the Institute has gone through the planning process. Mayor Standley repeated that the Council should decide what role they want the Insitute to play in this community, not number of units, not where they are located. Councilman De Gregorio said the Council could give parameters on what they might accept. Councilman Behrendt stated the Institute was a core feature of the town and he would like to see Council contribute to its viability and its lasting. Councilman De Gregorio proposed that Council write a letter to Mr. R.' O. Anderson and invite him to meet with the City Council and outline the points which the Council would, like to diScuss with him, what the City wants to have from the Institute, what the Institute wants to give the City. Council agreed to .do this. Kane told Council there was a hearing scheduled for May 5 on the growth management plan which plan calls for expansion of 11 tourists units per year in the City of Aspen. Kane told Council the Institute will ask how the Institute will be dealt with in the GMP. Kane suggested that, whatever happens, the Institute be zoned academic. If you put an academic zone on that property, then by definition the units will be academic housing units. If these are done as academic or student housing, there would be an exemption from the GMP. Councilman De Gregorio stated he supported the growth management plan and the Institute would have to file accordingly. Mayor Standley stated hisfeeling was the opposite; if the Council is interested in having the Institute work, then this idea is exactly what Council is looking for. Kane told Council that if nothing else was expanded at the Institute, then probably 200 rooms, including the 92 already there, would probably make sense. This expansion would house the people at the conferences the Institue has set up. Councilwoman Pedersen objected to the impact this would have on the Meadows road. Councilman Parry disagreed, stating that the more units that are out there, the less traffic impact there is.. Mayor Standley suggested relocation of the road, which is a planning problem. Kane asked Council if they were willing to zone the property academic, to create an exemption from the growth management plan. The controls right now are the SPA. Kane stated his reading of the situation is that the Council never spoke to the program side of the Institute. The burden is on the Institutsto talk about what kind of academic services that will accrue to the community. The housing ought to be bona fide; it ought to be legitimately needed. Kane said he felt the Institute could justify 200 rooms under the programs they have in mind right now. Kane stated he felt that academic zoning really reflects the City's attitude at this point. Mayor Standley told Council they could go to the Institute with a positive statement~ the City is interested in the Institute, they are interested in sitting down and discus- sing this, t~a Council has a mechanism for dealing with the Institute under the growth management plan. The Institute still will have to do a master plan, but it involves coming Up with a program developed by the City with the Institute. Most of Council agree~ to this statement, and said they were willing to discuss the exemption from the GMP. Kane brought up the Physics Institute library building. Council said their position was the same on this issue. Mayor Standley pointed out that there was a way to grant the exemption but that the Institute chose not to do it. The study session adjourned at 8:00 p.m. uter, City Clerk