HomeMy WebLinkAboutRecommend next steps to TC_Amended_022208MEMORANDUM
DATE: 18 February 2008
TO: Hon. Mayor & Town Council members
FROM: Scot Hunn, Community Development
Michelle Thibeault, AICP, Stan Clauson Associates
Chamonix-Vail Advisory Committee
RE: Recommended Next Steps for Chamonix/Wendy’s Master Plan Effort
Public Outreach
On 7 February 2008, several focus groups were held to gain public input about the proposed development of a fire station and employee housing at the Chamonix-Wendy’s parcels. Each group
was given background information on the 2005 Master Planning efforts, information about the acquisition of the Wendy’s parcel, and guidelines that the Advisory Committee had created
at its meeting 16 January 2008, and that the Town Council adopted at its regular meeting on 22 January, 2008. This has been an information gathering process, no site planning or design
work has been initiated yet.
Information from both the Advisory Committee and the Focus Groups overlapped in many areas. Attached is a synthesis of the information gleaned to-date highlighting areas where the groups
shared certain goals and the few areas of conflict.
SUMMARY: Staff and consultant, Stan Clauson Associates, are recommending that we begin site planning activities based on the public input gained to-date. This is a request to confirm
that site planning work begin based on the following common themes from the public outreach efforts:
Chamonix Site
Maximize density to provide as much employee housing as possible.
Property should be developed only with for-sale employee housing (no free market housing or mixed-use development)
Goal is to attract permanent, professional residents back to community – livability is an important design factor (including limiting non-resident traffic thru the site)
Two & Three-Bedroom units are in highest demand and have best marketability
At least one garaged parking space per unit; two parking spaces per unit total
Landscape site with amenities for residents but don’t loose area to neighborhood recreational uses (there are sufficient neighborhood parks)
One to two-stories of building mass along Chamonix Lane is appropriate and may serve as visual and auditory buffer from I-70.
No new traffic should be introduced onto Chamonix Lane.
Chamonix Lane/Chamonix Road intersection, as well as, pedestrian circulation around site needs improvement.
Snow storage along Chamonix Lane important consideration for future development.
Energy efficient and low maintenance design and materials usage is important.
Wendy’s Site
Fire Station is most appropriate use for this site
Wendy’s location significant improvement over Chamonix site for fire station
Existing two fire stations are inadequate do to overcrowded conditions with equipment and personnel.
Other municipal uses have spatial needs.
Staff and the consultant team acknowledge that many municipal department have spatial needs. However, it is clear from the several completed studies analyzing the existing fire department
facilities (XXX) as well as touring the existing village station (Station No. 2), that the fire department facilities are sorely inadequate. In consideration of how the Wendy’s site
can be developed to its highest and best use, building fire department facilities to better service the community should continue to be the priority for this site.
Recommended Next Steps: Staff, the consultant team, and the Advisory Committee are recommending that site planning activities begin investigating the above common themes, as well as
those attached.
The consultant team will produce several site plans. These site plans will be brought back to a Neighborhood Meeting for review and comment, and then to the Advisory Committee for recommendation
on a preferred alternative and/or modifications to create a preferred alternative.
The preferred alternative will be brought to Town Council for approval.
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