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HomeMy WebLinkAboutPEC150023_Skatepark Narrative_1434493800.pdf To: Vail Town Council From: Department of Public Works Date: June 15, 2015 Subject: PEC/DRB Submittal Narrative: Amendment to existing Conditional Use Permit for Lionshead Skatepark , New Construction DRB Application I. INTRODUCTION The purpose of this application is to request approval from the Planning and Environmental Commission (PEC) and Design Review Board (DRB) on the amendment to the existing Conditional Use Permit (CUP) and new construction of a permanent skatepark in the Lionshead Parking Structure. The existing, temporary wooden skatepark structures included in the existing CUP have reached the end of their useful lives. The Vail Town Council has directed staff to design a permanent skatepark facility in the gap between the north and south sides of the Lionshead Parking Structure. The Town has employed the services of a professional skatepark design company, California Skateparks (CSP), to conduct public design workshops and prepare design and construction documents for the permanent skatepark. Workshops were held on May 13 and 27, 2015 with 36 community members, of varying age groups, in attendance. The subsequent proposed design prepared by CSP is well accepted by community. On July 7, 2015 the Vail Town Council will be requested to approve the proposed design for the skatepark and award the construction contract for the permanent skatepark to CSP for a late summer 2015 construction start. II. SITE SELECTION The Town of Vail has sought to identify a location for a permanent skatepark for a decade or more. Much of the open public land is wetlands and has a zoning designation of Natural Area Preservation. Areas of public park property that can be developed have already been developed and are passionately protected by the neighborhoods in which they exist. The Vail Town Council has the responsibility of making decisions regarding land use on publicly owned property and has been reluctant to displace one recreational activity with another. The Town of Vail and the Vail Recreation District have met the growing need for skateboarding facilities by providing seasonal, modular structures on the top deck of the Lionshead Parking Structure. The existing modular structures are nearing the end of their useable lives. Rather than reinvest in in new modular structures and the annual operating costs associated with installation, removal and storage, the Town and District have looked to the unused space within the Lionshead Parking Structure as a site to construct a permanent skate park. The site for the skate park is located at ground level between the 3-story tall, north and south decks of the Lionshead Parking Structure located on the South Frontage Road in Vail, CO. The overall dimensions of the area are approximately 25 feet x 230 feet. The site runs roughly east and west and has good sun exposure for most of the day during the summer months. Town of Vail Page 2 There is a 4-story tall stair tower located on each end of the space with a smaller ground level space of approximately 25 feet x 38 feet on the opposite side of each stair tower. Both the main area and the two side areas are included in the proposed skate park design. There are two remaining areas that make up the balance of the space between the two sides of the structures. These spaces are located between the vehicular ramps at both ends of the structure. These two 15’ x 27’ spaces will be landscaped in a visually attractive and appropriate manner for the site and possible viewing angles. III. ART IN PUBLIC PLACES Public art is an important element within the skate park and surrounding area of the Lionshead Parking Structure. The AIPP board has issued an RFQ to identify artists interested in participating in the process of designing the overall character and identity of the space. Artistic and design elements will visually enhance the skate park elements designed by CSP and extend to the surrounding walls and spaces of the Lionshead Parking Structure. Responses to the RFQ were submitted to the AIPP board on June 12, 2015. A select group of submitting artists are scheduled on June 17, 2015 to receive a request to submit specific design and cost proposals for the art elements. IV. SKATEPARK DESIGN The design for the Vail skate park is going to be one of the most unique skate spaces in existence. Not only does it take advantage of an otherwise forgotten space, but even within the long, narrow corridor that will house the park, it takes every opportunity by twisting, turning, dipping, and extending around footings, walls, and other existing site conditions. The main stretch of the park, 5700 sq. ft., within the open air space of the Lionshead parking garage, spans 230’ and is flanked on either side by vertical walls multiple stories tall where the garage stair circulation exists. The long narrow space allows for a large variety of street and transition style elements and also includes a signature “vert” feature running up the wall that houses the stairs, all of which were directly inspired by, and decided upon, by the local skate community. There are also two additional spaces beyond the stairs, each around 40’ in length, that are going to be dedicated to transition elements – one beginner bowl and one more intermediate/advanced halfpipe. These spaces bring the total skate park area to approximately 7700 sq. ft. Images of the overall skate park configuration and details of select features are attached. V. PLANNING AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONSIDERATIONS A. Skate park usage The intensity of use of the skate park facility is based on number of obstacles and the layout of the obstacles. The following table represents a sampling of existing skate park usage during 2014. These are not the only days the skate park was being utilized, only the particular days the sampling occurred. DAY DATE TIME # KIDS (0- 17) # ADULTS (18+) # SPECTATORS (i.e. parent or young sibling) Fri 6/6/2014 5:45p 9 3 0 Mon 6/9/2014 1:30p 2 1 0 Tues 6/10/2014 12p 6 1 1 Fri 6/13/2014 8p 0 12 0 Mon 6/16/2014 7:40p 0 12 0 Tues 6/24/2014 12:15p 7 1 9 Mon 7/14/2014 4p 4 Tues 7/15/2014 12p 4 2 1 Town of Vail Page 3 Tues 7/22/2014 11a 7 4 2 7/23/2014 5:24p 3 Tues 8/5/2014 10:30a 12 4 2 Tues 8/5/2014 12:30p 5 2 4 Tues 8/12/2014 8:30a 8 2 3 Wed 8/13/2014 8:30a 2 2 The current skate park has an overall capacity of approximately 20 users with 8 of those users actively skating at any one time. The projected number of users of the proposed skate park is approximately 24 users with 8 of those users plus w additional in the minibowl and halfpipe, actively skating at any one time. B. Access to facility Access form the parking decks into the skate park area will occur from ground level of the north structure at each of the stair towers. This arrangement is dictated by the layout of the skate park relative to the existing parking structure structural columns and footings. A staging area is proposed at the north side of the west stair tower. Four parking spaces will be surrounded by a temporary fence and include benches and tables for preparing to skate, resting and spectators use. The design of the temporary fence will be consistent with the rails and other metal elements within the skate park. Additional spectator areas are proposed in 2 locations near the west stair tower. One spectator area is proposed on the second level north side and one on the third level south side. Each of these areas will occupy 2 parking spaces and will be blocked off with temporary fencing of the same design as the staging area. C. Operations and Management The responsibility for operation and management of the skate park is shared between the Vail Recreation District and the Town of Vail. A copy of the existing skate park Operations Agreement is attached. The agreement will be modified to accommodate the specific requirements of the permanent skate park facility but will allocate the responsibilities in a similar manner. The hours of operation proposed f or the permanent skate park are 7 am to 11 pm. These times correspond to the noise reductions required by town code. Depending on the weather, the skate park will be open from approximately the close of the mountain to Thanksgiving. Winter maintenance and snow removal are not proposed. D. Parking Parking for the skate park facility will remain at the Lionshead Parking Structure as it currently exists. Users will park in the lower levels rather than on the top level for convenience to the skate park facility. Summer parking in the Lionshead parking Structure is free and, with the exception of some special event days, available. In the event the Town Council decides to proceed with the inclusion of a snowmelt system in the skate park, it is anticipated the users of the park will align their skating sessions with the 2 hour free period. On days when the parking structure is full it is anticipated that users will postpone their skating session for another day. The current temporary skate park displaces 54 parking spaces on the top deck of the Lionshead Parking Structure from approximately Memorial Day through Labor Day. This does not include parking spaces occupied by skate park users. The proposed permanent skate park will displace a total of 10 parking spaces spread out on all 3 levels of the parking structure as follows: Level 1 4 spaces for staging area 2 spaces to create ADA parking spaces Level 2 2 spaces for spectator viewing Town of Vail Page 4 Level 3 2 spaces for spectator viewing The net result is a return of 44 parking spaces for summer time use in the Lionshead Parking Structure. E. Public Transportation The proposed permanent skate park, like the existing temporary skate park, is conveniently located to public transportation nodes. The in-town bus system stops just outside the Lionshead Parking Structure at East Lionshead. The regional transportation system stops at the Lionshead Transit Center on the South Frontage Road. F. Public Restroom Public restrooms are available in the Lionshead Welcome Center approximately 75 feet fro the west entrance to the skate park. Additional restrooms are available on the third level near the top of the stairs. Restrooms are serviced multiple times a day by a town-hired janitorial service. Restrooms are closed at night but will be scheduled to be open to coincide with the operating hours of the skate park. G. Safety Protective safety screen will be installed in the openings between structural columns on both the north and south sides of the skate park area. The screens will be positioned toward the parking side of the spandrel walls to be as far as possible form hands and fingers that may become entangled. Safety screens serve 2 purposes. They protect by-standers and vehicles from errant skate boards and protect participants from people entering the skate park in undesired locations to prevent collisions. H. Lighting Skateboarding is an athletic activity and lighting levels similar or slightly less than other sports are required for safety and performance. Minimum light levels for a skate park are 25 foot candles. Comparisons: NCAA minimum lighting levels for football 50 fc, baseball outfield 75 fc, Hockey 100 fc. All proposed lighting will be compliant with Town of Vail lighting standards for dark sky requirements ands will be energy efficient LED fixtures. A specific lighting layout or light fixture has not yet been selected but will be presented prior to the scheduled meeting date. I. Noise Date provided by Skate Park Association International points out that Skateparks are not inherently noisy. Regular sound levels for in-ground concrete skate parks are between 64 dB and 74 dB. IN comparison wooden ramps, similar to the existing structures, generate noise levels between 75 dB and 78 dB. There will be a net reduction in noise level with the permanent in-ground, concrete skate park. The Town of Vail noise ordinance for Industrial Service Zones allows 80 dB between 7 am and 11 pm. The sound generated by the skating activity is further absorbed by the parking structure itself. J. Aesthetics As previously mentioned, Public Art is an important component of the skate park project. In addition to and coordinated with the public art components, color and design will be carried throughout the skating surfaces and elements. A landscape component ahs also been incorporated into the overall project in the remaining areas between the 2 sides of the parking structures and between the vehicular ramps that connect the parking levels together. These areas will be planted with a variety of shade loving plants which exhibit colorful flowers and/or foliage throughout the summer months. The proposed landscape plan is included in the submitted information. Town of Vail Page 5 K. Snowmelt The possibility of incorporating snowmelt into the skate park area will be presented to the Town Council with the final design and request for funding. The concept of a mountain resort, year-round skate park is unique. While the concept adds additional cost and consumption of fossil fuels the ability to provide a facility to young visitors and athletes who are too young to partake on other activities deserves consideration. V. Timeline Prior to project approval by the DRB and PEC, staff will present the proposed final skate park design to the Town Council on July 7, 2015. The desired construction start date is August 1, 2015 and is scheduled t be completed in mid October 2015.