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1988-08-09 Support Documentation Town Council Work Session
VAIL TOWN COUNCIL WORK SESSION TUESDAY, AUGUST 9, 1988 in the MUNICIPAL BUILDING ADMINISTRATION CONFERENCE ROOM 2:00 p.m. AGENDA 1. Marketing Committee Appointments 2. Further Discussion of Booth Creek Rockfall Mitigation 3. Funding Requests A. Vail Valley Medical Center Access Feasibility Study B. Miami University Architectural Proposal C. Miss Colorado Sponsorship 4. Planning and Environmental Commission Report 5. Information Update 6. Other VAIL TOWN COUNCIL WORK SESSION TUESDAY, AUGUST 9, 1988 in the MUNICIPAL BUILDING ADMINISTRATION CONFERENCE ROOM 2:00 p.m. EXPANDED AGENDA 2:00 1. Marketing Committee Appointments Action Requested of Council: Appoint three additional members for the Marketing Committee. Background Rationale: This will fulfill the need as discussed July 26 to have broader representation on the committee. The Marketing Committee recommends the appointment of Jerry Davis, Dick Gustafson and Dave Tyrrell (please see enclosed memorandum). 2:20 2. Further Discussion of Booth Creek Rockfall Mitigation Background Rationale: Bill Cheney of Banner Associates will clarify, by letter, his position on whether the affected lots will be removed from the rockfall hazard map if the mitigation is installed. If the Council desires, a resolution will be placed on the August 16 agenda beginning the process to establish a local improvement district. 3:00 3. Funding Requests Ray McMahan A. Vail Valley Medical Center Access Feasibility Study Dan Feeney Tom Briner 6. Miami University Architectural Proposal Mia Walker C. Miss Colorado Background Rationale: Please see enclosed memorandum. 3:30 4. Planning and Environmental Commission Report Peter Patten 3:40 5. Information Update 3:45 6. Other MEMORANDUM T0: Town Council n FROM: Ron Phillips ~~~ DATE: August 5, 1988 SUBJECT: Marketing Committee Appointments Jan Strauch expressed strong interest in continuing on the Marketing Committee and the Committee had a very good meeting this week with six members present. The only member who was not present is Tom Boselli, who is out of town, and I still have not been able to talk to him about whether he is interested in continuing as a member of the committee or not. He is supposed to call me when he returns to Vail. A list of all the applicants for the committee is attached for your review. If you need further information on any applicant, we can provide that for you. The Marketing Committee reviewed the applicants and recommend that three of them be considered by the Council for appointment to the committee. Those are: 1. Jerry Davis, member of the Avon Town Council and owner of KZYR radio. 2. Dick Gustafson, Eagle County Commissioner. 3. Dave Tyrrell, property manager of the West Vail Mall and local realtor. The Committee feels it is important for the Avon Town Council and the Board of County Commissioners to be represented on the committee and that West Vail merchants also be represented on the committee. Adding these three members without Tom Boselli would bring the committee membership to nine. If Tom wishes to continue as a member, I do not think it would be harmful to have a ten member committee. The present members of the committee are as follows with Jim Gibson being elected as Chairman at the last meeting: Tom Boselli Jim Gibson Mike Sansbury Beth Slifer Mark Smith Jan Strauch Dan Telleen RVP/bsc r MARKETING APPLICANTS Ray M. Azar Peter G. (Jeff) Bowen Pat Brown Diane F. Coggin Jerry Davis John Eldredge Jim Green Dick Gustafson Kirk Hansen Marilyn J. Hennessy Robin (Bob) E. Hernreich Brenda Himelfarb Shelly K. Hummel Sharon M. Jewett Robert (Bob) F. McKenzie Paul Numerof Regina (Reggie) G. O'Brien Jim Osterfoss Eric R. Schickler Debra A. Swain Patricia A. Teik Dave Tyrrell Peter R. Vandenberg MEMORANDUM T0: Town Council FROM: Ron Phillips ;~+~'~ DATE: August 5, 1988 SUBJECT: Funding Requests Vail Valley Medical Center Access'Feasibility Study It appears that the Vail Valley Medical Center will be proceeding to add on to the Medical Center anticipating Dr. Steadman's transfer of his practice from Tahoe to Vail (see enclosed letter from Ray McMahan). There are a couple of issues which Ray McMahan has discussed with us which will be presented for the Council's review. 1. Vail Valley Medical Center Board is requesting the Town Council's consideration of participating in a feasibility study for a new access to the Frontage Road from the northeast corner of the VVMC property. UUMC feels the maximum amount for this study would be $10,000 and they're requesting up to $5,000 from the Council. We feel that participating in a feasibility study of this type for a problem generated by increased development would set an unnecessary precedent for the Town to participate in traffic and feasibility studies for other developers as well. We believe the VVMC fully intends to proceed with the study without the Town's financial assistance and will not be unduly upset if the Town does not participate financially. We feel it will be fairly easy to say no. We have, however, stated that the Town would provide assistance in contacting and working with the Highway Department to try and achieve their approval of a new access to the Frontage Road. We also said that if it came to a point where VVMC has difficulty in obtaining access right-of-way from the Doubletree Hotel, that the Town could provide assistance in negotiating or applying leverage to obtain that right-of-way without direct. financial assistance. Parking Structure. We believe it is the Vail Valley Medical Center's intent to provide structured parking with this new expansion as was agreed with the Council in connection with the last expansion. However, they have approached us to discuss any possibility of participating with the Town on the expansion of the Village structure to avoid placing a parking structure on their property. They are willing to participate at $10,000 per space for 100 parking spaces for VVMC employees. My response to Ray McMahan was that if that were to be accomplished, it probably would have to be an additional level of parking at the Vail Village structure expansion site which would take it to five levels because it is critically important that at least 400 additional spaces be available for public parking. I suggest that we might talk about a five level structure with VUMC paying for the fifth level and then assigning them 100 spaces in the Lionshead parking structure giving two additional benefits: 1. The UUMC employee parking would be much more convenient to the Medical Center, and 2. An additional 100 spaces would be provided beyond what we projected in the Village structure addition. This kind of a recommendation would certainly have some political overtones between the Village and Lionshead and may not be feasible. My suggestion is that you discuss this possibility with the Medical Center representatives at the meeting and refer the topic to the Parking and Transportation Task Force for further study. Another potential problem is that it may not be feasible from an engineering standpoint to put a fifth level of parking above the top level of the structure. Miami University Architectural Proposal As you can see from the enclosed letter from Tom Briner, he is requesting $1,000 from the Town to provide some travel expense money for his graduate architectural class to come to Vail to do additional work on a Congress Hall proposal. I have told Tom that I feel the Town Council should not be involved in funding this type of effort for the same reason that some people objected to talking about purchasing the Holy Cross parcel. I think the subject needs to be allowed to lie dormant for awhile and not be brought up at this time. I suggested that he talk to some of the former strong proponents of the Congress Hall to see if they would be willing to raise the $1,000 among themselves to allow his students to participate in this project. Mia Walker Miss Colorado Sponsorship Hermann Staufer asked that Miss Walker be allowed to appear before the Council to request sponsorship funds for her Miss America Pageant expenses. We ordinarily recommend the Council not get involved in sponsoring individual pursuits of this kind, but this may be one area where Vail could receive favorable publicity if Miss Walker is successful in the Miss America Pageant. You may want to consider referring this to the Marketing Committee for a recommendation or making any sponsorship you approve contingent upon cosponsorship from Uail Associates or some other group. I have no idea how much money she will be requesting. RUP/bsc ~lsi~ °~ ~~ ° r ~ ~~lyC ~'` vail valley .medical center August 4, 1988 181 Wesi Meadow Drive, Suite 100 Vail, Colorado 81657 (303)476-2451 Mr. Ron Phillips Town Manager 75 S. Frontage Road Vail, CO 81b57 Dear Ron: Pursuant to our conversation yesterday, Dan Feeney and I would like to talk with the Town Council at its work session next Tuesday on two subjects relating to our proposed expansion of the hospital. • Does the Town have any interest in accepting partial construction funds for expansion of the Village Parking Structure, in return for the hospital securing permanent use of 90-100 parking spaces in the Lionshead structure? ~ Would the Town be willing to share in the costs of a feasibility study for a new access to the hospital off South Frontage Road? Our Governing Board feels that the objective of removing all hospital traffic from West Meadow Drive is a community-wide goal, and the costs to design and possibly build such a road should not be borne solely by the hospital. Thank you for your time and effort in these matters. We look forward .to maintaining a continuing dialogue with you and your staff as our application for a Conditional Use Permit proceeds through normal channels. Sincerely, Ray Mc ahan Administrator / 1 rp Ray McMahan Administrator REG~D A U G - 3 1988 briner~scott architects 143 e. meadow dr. August 3 , 1988 vail, Colorado 81657 (303) 476.3038 Mr. Ron Phillips Town Manager Town of Vail 75 S. Frontage Rd. Vail, Co. 81657 Dear Ron: Would you please place my plea for "students' aid money" on the Council work session agenda for August 9th. Thank you, ~'' Thomas A. Briner TAB/sw ~C'~ JUL 2 81988 JULY 27, 1988 Mr. Ron Phillips, Town Manager Town of Vail 75 S. Frontage Road Vail, Co. 81657 briner/scott ~ • architects Dear Ron: 143 e. meadow dr. vail, Colorado 81657 (303) 476.3038 As a follow up to our phone conversation yesterday I thought I might summarize my "proposal". Should there be interest on your part or Councils' I would be glad to go over this again. Basically my request to you has two parts: 1. Could some one of the Town staff familiar with the "Congress Hall" issue be assigned to act as a "client representative" of the town on a theoretical architectural student project? 2. Could funds be made available for transporation and frugal lodging/meal costs for two architectural students' trip to Vail in order to make a presentation of their own and possibly their classmates' designs? This Fall I will be teaching a graduate level architectural design course at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio. One of my teaching objectives has been to have students test their problem solving techniques on projects (and in locales) that do not lend themselves easily to the preconceived solution. Most of the students are from the Ohio area or even further east. Few have skied and fewer have had any association with the mechanics of designing in such a highly volatile community as Vail. Thus from a pedagogical standpoint students could learn a lot by working on a project of a scope different from their previous school• projects; they would be challenged by the various public opinions associated with the Congress Hall; and they would gain appreciation for the strong importance of "context" as an ingedient to be reckoned with in the design process. Generally the level of skill varies quite a bit at this level of the graduate program. Some students have had 4 or even 5 years of architectural undergraduate work. Others have had no previous architectural studies but have degrees in other disciplines: economics, engineering, business administration, history, etc., etc.. The point is that no one can guarantee a particular quality of product. Enthusiasm I can assure, but sophistication of architectural content I cannot! Mr. Ron Phillips, July 27, 1988 Page Two With all this in mind I have talked with several people about the potential for this level of architectural effort to bring greater focus on projects our community has thought about but for which little design work has been afforded. Peter Patten thought that the Congress Hall might be one of those projects. Also of course there has been a good amount of programming, site analysis, and community debate on that subject. Assuming the usual degree of procrastination, social events and other course assignments that generally impact on students' schedules, I believe that there could be the equivalent of 5 to 6 weeks spent on a project at about 20 hours a week and probably involving 8 to 10 students. Even allowing for the modest amount of experience and skill within this group, the effort I have in mind could cost over $30,000 if it were to be solicited from professional offices. In a brief conversation with the university I understand that the expenditures of a "field trip" in September can most likely be met by the school and the students themselves. (I have tentative approval for the use of a condominium that could house almost the entire group). If an appropriate project can be found I have planned that students would spend 4 to 5 days in Vail in late September doing the necessary ground work for their design efforts which would then take place back in Oxford during the following 6 weeks or so. While in Vail I expect a good amount of the time would be spent picking up on the local flavor. There would be a lot of photos (they would be constructing a model(s) showing the surrounding site conditions). My hope is that some one from the Town could introduce the project, provide an overview of the project "history" and be willing to answer questions - just as any client would attempt to address their architect's questions. Depending upon which week students are here they would attend a Council meeting (or work session) only as observers, as well as a Planning Commission or DRB meeting. If possible I'd like students to hear from some of the proponents of the Congress Hall - perhaps meet with Gordon Pierce .and, as well, hear from the opponents (if any!). Prior to their leaving Vail I plan to have the students prepare a parti, or idea, sketching out what they each believe to be the ingredients of a "big idea". (Some may not be confortable doing Mr. Ron Phillips July 27, 1988 Page Three this so as an alternative it may end up being a group effort). Depending upon the quality of these sketches I might leave them with our "client" for responses. None of the above requires any Town funds except the indirect expense of a staff person being available for a couple of hours during that week. Once back in Oxford I expect to develop a spirit of friendly competition among the studio members to be awarded by a trip back to Vail - during the season - at which time two studio members would be asked to present the results of the studio to whamever - perhaps only the Town staff, or perhaps a joint work session of some kind. In my discussion with you I hoped the travel costs for these students could be picked up by the Town. Again, to provide some hint of the professional obligations when "fees" are involved, this reward would be greatly appreciated. I estimate the following costs not to exceed: For two persons Air travel Cincinnati/Denver/Cincinnati $540.00 Van Denver/Nail/Denver 100.00 Lodging two nights 200.00 Meals two days 100.00 Contribution towards printing costs and film (students will reproduce their drawings to be brought to Vail). 60.00 Total $1,000.00 Please note that although I will be accompanying the students on both the "field trip" and the "presentation trip" all the money goes to the students!! If such an exercise could happen I think the students would benefit greatly from the exposure to Nail's concerns over the proposed Congress Hall. I would hope in turn the Town might gain some materials which at the least would elicit comment and, at the best, develop increased enthusiasm for promoting the convention business. I look forward to your ideas on this. Mr. Ron Phillips July 27, 1988 Page Four Yours truly, ~-_ i Thomas A.Briner TAB/sw cc: Robert Zwirn, Chairman Department of Architecture Miami University Planning and Environmental Commission August 8, 1988 2:00 PM Site Visits 3:00 PM Public Hearing 1. Approval of minutes of July 25. 2. A request for variances in order to construct an addition to the Tivoli Lodge. Applicant: Robert Lazier 3. A request for a special development district and major subdivision for Lionsridge Filing 3, Block 2, Lots 1 through 26. Applicant: Commercial Federal Mortgage Company 4. A request for an exterior alteration in order to remodel an entry to the John Galt shop in the Gore Creek Plaza Building. Applicant: Charles Rosenquist 5. A request for a parking variance in order to increase the retail area of the Vail Athletic Club. Applicant: J.W.T. 1987 Vail Colorado LTD Partnership 6. Work session on bed and breakfasts. 7. Update on approval of room addition and entry for the Christiana Lodge. 8. Discussion of underlying zone districts for special development districts. °~7ICMAHAN, ARMSTRONG ~ ASSOCIATES, P. C . Cerutied Public Accountants • Suite 207/Vail National Bank Building/108 S. Frontage Road/P.O. Box 999/Vail, Colorado 81658 • 303-4762277 ~G1rl/rr/ GOB Ac ~ ~' ~ie /ll~ ,M-e.~- ~~iis %s ~~ cod o f Charles Wick u~ ~~~. {`~ Director of Administrative Services ~~~'r ~ T Town of Va i 1 Cea~i~~~® ~~~Ce ~1t # 1~~~~'''`~ Vail , Colorado 81658 ~~~ /~s jr e!~ o~tl. ~/G /fy'v~ / /~.we~rf~o/ /r•~ ~<uJ ~•IVXV rwd~~~ c ~i~i%Y%s ~~v~ sS~s'ad resat 7~ Dear Mr. Wick: ~~f-s'G'G~ ~/~~j~~~c/ mil/ y ~~~ We have examined the financial statements of the Town of Vail for the year ended December 31, 1987 and have issued our report thereon dated May 12, 1988. As part of our examination, we made a study and evaluation of the Town's system of internal accounting control to the extent we considered necessary to evaluate the system as required by generally ,accepted auditing standards. The purpose of our study and evaluation was to determine the nature, timing, and extent of the auditing procedures necessary for expressing an opinion on the Town's financial statements. Our study and evaluation was more limited than would be necessary to express an opinion on the system of internal accounting control taken as a whole. The management of the Town of Vail Government is responsible for establishing and maintaining a system of internal accounting control. In fulfilling this responsibility, estimates, and judgments by management are required to assess the expected benefits and related costs of control procedures. The objectives of a system are to provide management with reasonable, but not absolute, assurance that assets are safeguarded against loss from unauthorized use or disposition, and that transactions are executed in accordance with management's authorization and recorded properly to permit the preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. Because of the inherent limitations in any system of internal accounting control, errors or irregularities may nevertheless occur and not be detected. Also, projection of any evaluation of the system to future periods is subject to the risk that procedures may become inadequate because of changes in conditions or that the degree of compliance with the procedures may deteriorate. Our study and evaluation made for the limited purpose described in the first paragraph would not necessarily disclose all material weaknesses in the system. Accordingly, we do not express an opinion on the system of internal. accounting control of the Town of Vail taken as a whole. This report is intended solely for the use of management and should not be used for any other purpose. Donald J. McMahan, C.P.A. Andrew W. Armstrong, C.P.A. Members of American Institute of Certified Public Accountants Charles 41ick Town of Vail Page 2 The system of accounting control comprises the plan of organization and the procedures and records that ar•e concerned with the safeguarding of assets and the reliability of financial records and consequently are designed to provide reasonable assurance that: a. Transactions are executed in accordance with management's general or specific authorization. b. Transactions are recorded as necessary (1) to permit preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles or any other criteria applicable to such statements and (2) to maintain accountability for assets. c. Access to assets is permitted only in accordance with management's authorization. d. The recorded accountability for assets is compared r~ith the existing assets at reasonable intervals and appropriate action is taken with respect to any differences. The following items came to our attention during the audit and are presented for your review: /~?1cS; Investment Policy ri~7-° Vocp~~ov~"he Town was in violation of several requirements of the investment policy during ~f ~7 1987.. The violations resulted primarily from a delayed amendment to the policy ,r~r~./ / passed after January 1, 1987. It appears that tt~e policy may be somewhat ad~PPi~d restrictive in certain areas and the Town may wish to consider reevaluating the ~Q,~''~~~~7~policy to allow more opportunistic investments concurrent with market conditions. y~,~ ~~. Bu_ dget ~~q/~,Q,¢~ 1. Governmental accounting standards have recently el iminated the Special ~b„~,,~~Xt Assessment Fund format, The Town may need to revise its 1988 budget to reflect the necessary changes brought on by this new pronouncement. /t/oT ~q~ 2. Pursuant to the Town Charter and Colorado Statutes, a budget needs to be adopted for all funds accounted for by the Town. In 1987, several of the ~,r,~p/ viol~~b-r 7- wn's fu~tds id not hav a~pud et. d f C'hA/r/r~'- ShoKld ~i~tue Su~~p/~,n~n~ l Qdo~frd~o~ fi'~ir/~.~ivs. Trtusf,sa,d Lie~tsl~~a~ ~S~ss~wr~~~*~. Municipal Court Revenue ~o k~P~ For several years, the municipal court has been in arrears reconciling thhe ~~~8~ disposition of cases to the accounting records. we concur with the Town's staff ~C to commence reconciling cases from January 1, 1988 forward and take into revenue ~~ unresolved court deposits from prior years. Charles Wick Town of Vail Page 3 Lionshead Special Assessments Pursuant to the Local Improvement District Ordinance, the Town has been i ~~~~ a certifying to the County Treasurer annually, owners who are delinquent on e ~ 7~' '~'` assessments, penalties, and interest. It appears that the County is not ~~~~ ~i initiating the legal proceedings to effectively collect these delinquencies. The Town should follow up on this matter with the County to ensure collection of the S~~x ~ overdue assessments. Self Insurance Nealth Fund pta~ The Town administers a health insurance plan through Lincoln National Life R~eo~~~.Insurance Company. The insurance company pays claims directly for the Town and 1+/:cc d~~/eP submits to the Town a monthly report of claims and other payments made on behalf ~~~"~ of the Town. We suggest that the Town implement an internal audit function to prove the accuracy of claims paid by Lincoln Pational. Fixed Assets ~v i~~a„9 The Town should continue in its efforts to computerize its inventory of fixed 6~s5. assets for all departments. The Town may want to consider attaching difficult to ~6~b/ he remove property tags to equipment to aid in identification and reduce temptation !one /~"~ of improper removal. /9~. Computer Study As you are aware, an independent computer study was undertaken in connection with the audit to evaluate controls and recommend improvements to the new computer system. We have provided you with a copy of that study and its findings and recommendations. ~ve. Qd~re. We suggest that the appropriate Town officials evaluate the proposed recorn- ~mendations on a cost/effective basis and implement those items deemed feasible. Should you have any further questions, please do not hesitate to contact us. We would like to express our appreciation to the Town's staff for their efforts put forth in helping to complete the audit. p ~c,w~... ~.- r..q v w, ~ ~~. ~ saG ~-.. pct \ '~.. McMahan, Armstrong & Associates, P.C. Play 12 , 1988 town o 75 south frontage road veil, Colorado 81657 (303)476-7000 office of the town manager Mr. Bert Farin 34999 Nighway 6, #K-104 Edwards, Colorado 81632 Dear Mr. Farin: VA,IL 1989 August 3, 1988 Thank you for your letter of July 25 concerning your Letter to the Editor about bicycle traffic and the response from the Vail Police Department. You state that the Vail Police are wrong in enforcing the law requiring cyclists to use a bike path when one is available. You may not, however, be considering the fact that all streets, roads, and highways within the Town of Vail city limits are bound not only by Colorado State laws, but by municipal ordinance. The more strict municipal ordinance requiring the use of a path is therefore applicable. I think that everyone, including the Vail Police Department, understands that cyclists have a right to use public streets and roads, but we also realize this has to be done within the protective constraints of the law. We have some severe problems in this community with a few cyclists who make it a practice to disregard the law and, in turn, threaten their Mr. Bert Farin August 3, 1988 Page 2 own safety and the safety of others. We will continue to enforce the law as appropriate in order to rectify that situation. Sincerely, ~-C~'7i l `~~~~ Rondall U. Phillip Town Manager RUP/bsc cc: Vail Town Council Ken Hughey July 25, 1988 Bert Far.in 680 W. Lionshead Place Vail, CO 81657 476-2471 Mr. Ron Phillips Town of Vail 75 S. Frontage Road Vail, CO 81657 Dear Mr. Phillips: I've enclosed a copy of a letter to the editor I wrote to the Vail Trail, which was printed in the July 22, 1988 issue. As you can see, there is an accompanying response from the Vail Police. The Vail Police, I believe, are wrong, and I encourage you to investigate and set the matter straight. According to a new Colorado State law, which took effect July 1, 1988, "It is no longer mandatory for cyclists to use a bike path if one is available, unless the highway is prohibited to bicycle use." The Frontage Road is a roadway, not a highway, and therefore the Vail Police's policy of stopping and harrassing bicyclists along the Frontage Road in Bighorn is not supported by state law. If the police intend to prohibit cyclists from using the Frontage Road, they should post signs that cycling is illegal. Of greater concern is my feeling that the police are paying lip service to bicycling safety. It's time that the police recognize that cyclists have a right to use the road and do something to protect that right. Ken Hughey and Brian Terrett's response is to threaten cyclists that "...motorists (are) confounded by inconsiderate riders." With that attitude they might as well paint a bulls-eye on the back of every cyclist. Again, I encourage you to investigate this situation and take appropriate action. Sincerely, C~~' . Bert Farin CC: Kent Rose 1= "~e should treat v~ ~ Mists ~airty To t}~: ditor, Evi ~ntly police officer Brian `errett doesn't read The Vail .:.'rail. If he did, he wouldn't have printed a new bicycling regulations brochure containing incorrect infor- r. lion. As stated in the July 1st issue of the Trail, a new Colorado law makes it "...no longer mandatory for cyclists to use a bike .path (even) if one i s available..:' Therefore, Mr. Terrett's new brochure, and the Vail Police Department's policy of haras- sing cyclists on the Frontage Road in Bighorn, is not supported by Colorado state law. Recently, the Vail police spent $1,400 on two n e w mountain bikes. I suggest they not waste manpower b y sending patrols in search of dogs on the bike path or scofflaws riding through the Village without bells on their bikes. I think it would be much more productive to have officers ride on the Frontage Road for a week. Maybe after they've been forced off the road by inconsiderate mo- torists, or had their tires flattened from debris left by construction crews, would we see more fair treatment for cyclists. Bert Farin Vail The Vail Police Department responds: The information published in the Vail Police Bicycle brochure is correct. The information is based on current town of Vail Municipal Code 17-13 (c) and on' Colorado Revised Statute 42-4-107 (12). House Bill 1246, which went into effect on July 1st, repeals paragraphs 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7 that deals with bicycles and introduced 42-4-106.5 which created specific laws for bicycles. The Vail Police re- ceive new laws and update directly from the State Capitol. The July 1 article published an opinion, not the law. The article also went on to state: "...unless the highway is prohibited to bicycle use." The Vail Police Department has been involved in an education effort, not harass- ment. This effort is being done to prevent an accident or a tragedy. ~~j~tteisG~ ~'l+ aSCO P..xj)tCLl7Z~ by blase To the editor, WOW! Hats off to the organizers of the Amer- icaBeach Boys concert. It was a wonderful block party for the entire county filled with a tremendous spirit of joy and friendship. This spirit we need to keep and carry with us when we deal with the visitors to our fair valley. This comes to mind when I think of the fiasco with the Ride the Rockies bike trip. Now, we can jump up and down and point and shout at the Town and the Town Council for not organizing things or providing the proper support/welcoming commit- tees, etcetera, but frankly, I do not think that it was their fault. T~e~~pproblem uses beyond the confines of the council rnto the lives and attitudes of everyone who lives and works in this town. We have become blase. We tend to ignore those guests who don't look like they are going to "invest" big bucks, be it a meal, clothing or condominium. A sweaty biker certainly does not fit into this select group. The tragedy here is that every person we ignore is an ambassador that would have spread the good word about our valley. Instead, they tell one and all about the rotten time they had in Vail. This "advertising;' pro or con, is the most powerful and effective there is, yet it is the cheapest - even though you really can't buy it. It is given to us gratis as long as we treat every guest in our valley, whether they buy a million dollar condominium, a Papa Bear, a mink coat, a splendid dinner for $40, or a Snickers bar at the Rucksack, or even just smell the columbines as though they were guests in our own homes If it weren't for our visitors, we would be totally incapable of living here unless you could support 6,000 people potato farming. We had it once. Vail hasn't changed. It's still the best place to be in this arm of the galaxy. Let's grab back that open, warm, welcoming spirit we had and treat every guest like ... a guest! Cheers ... Chuck Crist Visitors offended by revealing card Owner/Manager Rucksack Vail Village Dear Sir/Madam: We have owned vacatio property in Vail for eight yeas and have always enjoyed tl sophisticated, yet famil; oriented nature of Vail. believe that wholeson combination is part of Vai success, and therefore part your profits. But I am saddened a: outraged by the pornograp} turn your store has taken, illustrated by the card enclose which I am returning to yc Also, is it against the law to s~ YOU design "Furniture any ready in just Sofas, loveseats, dressers, dining occasional tables, shelving, desk• Furniture any style, any size, and ready A wide.variety of woods and FREE decorating services are als LOW, low prices ... better than anyu A /rie sta/j t P e t l.oc: ie ~'~r (( ~ II ~~~~ labors V 94~ The possibilities are E DESIGN REVIEW BOARD AGENDA AUGUST 3, 1988 3:00 P.M. SITE VISITS 2:00 p.m. Art in Public Places Update 2 1. Treetops Condominium Bldg. Exterior Improvements Lot 6, Block 1, Lionshead 1st Filing Motion-Gwathmey Second-Riva VOTE 3-0 With contingency that south .facing tower will be stucco. 3 2. Born Free Express Lionshead Tract B TABLED TO AUGUST 17 MEETING 4 3. Hill Building Window Vail Village TABLED TO AUGUST 17 MEETING 4. Siverly Site & Landscape 27A, Matterhorn Village Motion-Gwathmey for approval Second-Riva VOTE 3-0. Contingent upon: 1) 8 trees drawn as "new" shall be new. 2) Final determination as to whether need for drive to be paved will be made by staff. 5 5. Christiania Fence Lot D, Block 2, Vail Village 5th Motion-Riva for approval Second-Gwathmey VOTE 3-0 in favor. 1 6. Working Garage - Conceptual Lot 13, Block 1, Vail Village 6th Conceptual MEMBERS PRESENT Kathy Warren Ned Gwathmey Grant Riva STAFF APPROVALS: Marriott's Mark Resort - Exterior Guenther Residence Exterior Repair Whitehead Penthouse Gate & Paint - Upper Eagle Valley San. District - MEMBERS ABSENT Roy Sante Dan Leary Painting of Building - L 2, B 7, Bighorn 5th Red Lion Building New Fence - . 1, ~ iy` (L ~y. L Ilbl~~~ .* '~ f ~.~ ~y } ~ 1,. ~w~~ ,'b :4R $ ~i ~5 ~~tt - g c.aA '€ '~A ~~A~^t .Special classified advertising section ,: ,, - , ~,t~ ~ .R t - ___.~ ~~ Rocky Mountan.News' 130th year, No. 107 ` DENVER, COLORADO ® d ~ ~~°~ ©AUGUST 7, 1988 75 cents in Colorado - tr ~:r f` ~?a. T ..~;~.. United jet leaving ses pressure, makes emergency return/6 -70 has paved the way to Colorado's modern growth, but roadblock looms ~ ~ ~. .~ , ~ 4,' ` ~» ~~ - i. rr r ° Mountain urbanization =~~ igniting priority battle ~~,~ ~~~ Story by Mihe Anton ate, . + ~ Photos by David L. Cornwell jf 3 ~ a Flrat of three parts ~~ '~ „ A ~ ' ~ Roads shape the evolution of America. Brive along one, "'~~ ~`~°~ ~ ~ and you can map where it has ied people. Dig beneath one, and you can trace its past. Build one - or just widen one -and you transform the future, '~°' " plenty of stops along the - .«.. f«., h~ ~''~ way offering "Eats." Before the automobile, it was the ' National Road, an impressive name for a strip of dirt and _ mud that was often impassible. Before that, on many ~ N, t : t " ~---~ s: -; stretches, buffalo roamed where the road now winds. Consider: In the East, George Washington marched troops r'_ ~ during the Revolution near I-70's path. Traders extended it « west, through Columbus, IAdianapolis, St. Louis -always. ~? further west. Daniel Boone took it into Missouri. In the West, ~ ., ~'" § gold miners and stagecoach operators shaped its course. ~C+< . ~ Consider: In Colorado, pioneers first thought of blowing a hole through the Continental Divide at Loveland Pass in the ;..,~+ 1880s. It took until 1973 to pull off the engineering miracle. + r ;,,~ ~ Once done, the Eisenhower Tunnel opened up the state far V ! un-~ : '<'" beyond anyone's expectations. +.~ ~ " - Keep in mind that before I-70 and the tunnel cut as eight- Y..x~ •~ ' hour trip from Denver to Grand Junction nearly in half, the l f t d ' t l i l l t d t ti . , ~R~rA an scape o o ay s cen ra moun a ns -par ar y our- cu re;' ~ ° ,° ist-rich Summit and Eagle counties -was relatively unclut- _: ~ feted. ;. Ask any old timer what was there before. "Nothing;' the answer invariably will be. Now there is something. The human signature is scrawled "' in neon, in more condominiums and homes, ski resorts, iK ~tq ..' ~ developed campgrounds, stores and restaurants, and more - ~~ traffic-congested roads. - ~ ''~ ~ Leading in all directions from the lifeline - I-70. ~ " f~. ''~ ~ Now consider this: For every car, add two more. For a ~ Interstate 70, that crowd- ed ribbon of asphalt linking .~ • urban and rural Colorado, is »~ one road worth following.. ,~; Especially now that the 1 ~ state's disciples of highway ~<Y " i ~'~~ Darwinism, its traffic plan- r fi nets, have begun to tinker ' r°~ ~ .~~ ~ n 'l with 'I-70's future- - and .,. ,~ g ~ ours. :"~ ~~ r • = It isn't the first time. For _ ~' : r~ - more than two centuries, the + ~ ; ~~ ; s• . • ~. pathway that is today I-70 + has been a monument to ,rru` ::.~ .i;„ change. ~ ~~ , ,> ~:'~ Before President Eisen- : ; ~ ., • bower, it was U.S. 40, a not- -~~ • '°.~t ~ ~ ~ ~ xo-straight route connecting ai~' ' Atlantic and Pacific with See 1-70, page 26 Interstate 70 wends its way past Vail, toward Denver, looking from the west. In June, the Colorado Highway Commission, without much fanfare, endorsed a $250 million plan that would make 1-70 six lanes from Den- ver to Copper Mountain and flue lanes to Vail by 2010. _ `~ w ~r~'ll.:i r a a r, .. ; 1,h.+'~ 79i!tSsty ~~~j tr .tt13'r]f:f'61;"Jr7:J:r 9til:~?3r Yg:±:.~st~i. Everybody up here has an opinion. Some think it's overdeveloped here al- ready. Some think the amount of de- velopment we have is just right. Others think there ought to be more. It's very perceptual. ~ ' Pam Sheldon Summit County planning director ,,' __ rtn :. rt rr r!JW~. .,;r+1 -rrtlpl i7]; P1191171fi 3::5 -.t(, :, il3MVGaf a,1.3 Rtp,d. d~..$ ;.+r.r~x!~,1t,7Ltti! tA1Ttt ~ }.ta~ftt1J i.4 >J 90~.i Rg of :rsbsr+a ~7}rl':rw:r:±rq. is .s!rr:3 ~.~:bliud ~d1 _._, 28 Rat Mountain News Sun A 1,1988 Deuva, Cob. : ~ ..A,..v>....._....._.,..,. C~',~ ~t=?O: COLORADO'S CLOGGED°ARTERY~ ~ -~----~----~-- ~~--~_~._.~..~.. ,~ ~, _ ~,~.. .~~ I-7 s halt conveyor _ p ..y identity of C®lorado' ~ . Continued from page 7 Business people, politicians and ski area ' .. ,, - _ operators alor-g the corridor see the project every resident, add another. For every job ~ ~c~l -both as a soluti~ tanor~ _ '~ ~ selling T-shirts, waiting tables or operating ski~weekend traffic jams, and as anecogoq~ ` ~ ski lifts, add another. k enerator.. B v r ..i,~,:~,s That's what I-70 and the communities -'"the widening of the highway is theirWst straddling it will be like in the year 20I0, significaaE project for economic develop- . . ..~ :, . ' ~ concludes a =100,000 study bg the Colorado ment for tl~ central mountaiu; and Western Department of Highways. '- Slope in two decades;' said R.T. Gazunis, ^' Traffic, fueled by a growing tourism in- ezecnt;ve ~~~. ~ ~ Eagle County Eco- .~ try, is expected to tri le. The nomic Development Corp. _ , ,, :i H,: ,n; .~: -;aF.,~ sad number of jobs in Summit and Ea e ~ ~ >~,~ 5 counties are ea Led to double. The U.S. Forest Service would, in a sense,;: '• ~,, ~ ~ ~' ~ :. "The messy e o me is, 'Coin n 's coin- be affected the most since it controls about; - ~ ~. " ' ~ . ~~ ." 8 Pa Y 75~ of the land in Summit and Eagie,,cqug;; m ... ~ „ . =,, • ing,"'said Mike Spencer, a U.S. Forest Serv- flea.. .:: .,- ,~ z - p .. ice ranger in Eagle. _ .- ' '- - Some federal Land managers fear ~tba~. '~ ' .,r ~, '` ~ Those projections -based on what offi- _ widening I-70 would. double use of :public= :' u z ~ ~ ~ ctals believe are conservative estimates for jandq by 2021, guaranteeing projections thaE, tourism growth -were developed by high- indicate the White River National .Forest - ` '~ t~ ~,~ ~ N` , $ .way planners who've come to realize what would be at the same density level as some.. „• '~ 'a '~ x~,,~, ~~• many Coloradans have known for years forests in California, among the nation's ~;' _'~~ M :.i , . ,a , , I-70, completed less than a decade ago, la moat crowded. . ,,,:. I = : `~ - obsolete. - - "The challenge to me is, how am I going to i,3,s~ ~. _~ ~ ~ ~ . Drive in the mountains on any-busy skt accommodate them all," said Spencer. "Tbat x y '"' day; or on many summer and holiday week- is going to be a tricky question ' ~~'qi?. ` * '~ .. ~ ends. The highway is a bumper-to-bumper Suburban-style sprawl on private land~A d ~ ~~'+t'"rr . ,~ ` g ^'"'' We mountains other chall es.,.,,,s, „« 'r * fry, y~ - ~. parking tot, a clogged artery sure to raise I ~g y '~~ r ~ `~ a' t .: a ~ a' ~ ~ ~ , > i`' .r the Dlood pressure of anyone stuck behind As much as two-thirds of the property - - f ~. ~ ~ '~~ ~ ~; fi . ' z` •;. ~ „ the wheel. already zoeed for development in Summit >+~~. „, :«`~ a w ",. ~ ; • County sits empty today, awaiting a real ... ~ ,~ ~ ~ + <~ ;} t ~ - , Were clearlq dealing with urban traffic not rural traffic prob- problems out there ~~ market push. Some Summit oEfidalg; _ " ~{ ~ t ""~ . - ,,,, ~~ ~ , ;' said D e Ruble who beaded the l concede that the ve et to lan for it.,, ;a Y Y P r ~, .. ' ,,,;, .. _ '~ ~ ~ ~ , ams av highway department's study of I-70. "I have not seen a philosophy on growth fn ` "~ ^'R -~ ,,, ... ~ '~-}-~. To solve those problems, Ruble's group di l Summit County other than if the developerb wants to risk his money, then let him do it,:': ~ ~ nary proposa has come up with an extraor said one official "The question of 'where - ~ ~ e ~ that so far has gotten little public exposure, development is, or what it Looks like, has not ... i ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ In June, the Colorado Highway Commis- been as important here as whether the: guys " ~` ~ - '~ sion without much fanfare endorsed a x250 will finance the project. _ '" ' c -` '~' ^' ~ million plan that would include upgrading I- Apposition to the I-70 proposal most likely """+ 70 widening it to six lanes from Denver to " will come from eo le 1~7ce Dou las Hon-' • ~ ra1~ `~.''` . E i'.r ~ Copper Mountain and five lanes from Cop- hold, an attorney forpfhe Siena Club Legab <% per Mountain to Vail by 2010. Defense Fend and a property owner in Sum- ' ~ It's an idea that, if realized, would shape mit'County. " " ' " , `~`~ ~ the evolution of Colorado in the next canto- s outrageous, he said. People who It ~ ~ ~ - • ry. live in Summit County now, who like the s t ~` "~''~ ~' Ip fact; many observers believe the 9uality of life we still have out here; are not . , ~;, a ~a ~ ; ' growth and development likely to accompa- ld usher in e onom- i f I 70 in favor of exponential growth, whic4 is what we're talking about.: - t ~ ~ :.~;, . ~; " wou c ny expans on o - " e " • ic, social and environmental challenges that The land, It's really at a critical mass of ~ - 'h" haven't been faced since the interstate and use right now. Each further use from now on ~ `~ " > ~ ' `~, t~ ;<,,~ ~~ the Eisenhower Tunnel made the mountains readily accessible in the first place. will have a sigNfIcant adverse harm oa open apace, wildlife habitat and the whole eipvi- ~ ~ `' ~ Those for and against the project agree on ronment. We're sort of on the Drink in Snm-= it C t " »~ '~ . ~ S one thing: If I-70 is not enlarged, increased oun y. °' m ,' _ ~ "t ,„ , ' congestion on the state's main link between Steve Btomeke, executive director of the- _~ ~ x , { urban and rural one day will act as as . :Colorado Wildlife Federation, agrees that a? `f `• inhibitor to growth -particularly in Sum- '.significant increase In the number of people.. ` ~' _____ _ 1 mit and Eagle counties, -And that where the a Bement ends. Br ears and buildings would threaten the area's fading rural environment. Interstate 70 rises to meet the Rocky , Mountains in the footnins west of The problem with development is tf~at Denver in this view west from the bridge at the Genesee Park exit. The bigger 1S alWayS COnSldered better. BUt Chief Hosa exit is Just around the bend in the nearly oast-to-oast I think there's a limit to what you- can freeway. do before you begin to destroy the . area. There's a danger here of be= '~ coming an outdoor amusement parka Robert Wyler, Summit County attorney :-~.3 . ~ ~ _ ~. Sua, Ilue. 7.1988, Oemrer, Cob. Rocky I-70: COLORADO'S CLOGGED ARTERY. :. ~ "" - - _~ '° Dillon Lake Continental Divide ~~~~ ~~~~~ ~ - ,. _ `Dillon Georgetown - g~ ~ - Silverthorne Eisenhower Central City ~ -~ - i ~~~~ ~~~~ - Memorial IdahoS rin s - Blue River Tunnel p g Golden Denver Copper Mountain ~ - ' "It's going to become more like Disney- ~ land than Colorado;' he said. "Wildlife is ,, „, , going to lose -big." Vall , :: Despite that -and despite the feeling of ';: •' ~~ " y: ;~ ~! ,,• ~ •. some environmental>sts that the I-70 propos- l l b ~ y,• ~;, , ~ ~`' a wi l ecome as controversial as the Two _ :,,:. Forks dam project - Blomeke said his ' ' ' group probably won t fight it. - '.<. . r >, rya ~ "It's a tough decision to make;' 6e said. _ ~ ~' c' '~% "But (growth) is probably going to happen ' ,F ~~, there whether it s fought or not. And it's not ~` ; r ~~ " in our best interests to be constantly saying '. . ,: %~ ~ '~~ . °o to everything. ~ i . Blomeke's attitude, shared by other envi- .>. ~~ ~~ ~` ! a~ ~ ronmental leaders in Colorado, doesn't sur- a ' ~~~,::, >t.<>::>:~>; ~-.~:.;:.>~~ :. ' €:.. , .,.,.~..:,.:. fie..:..... . ~~::. .,:..w:. ; r . pr[se those who s y I-70 s expansion will ~~, ~ ~. , .~ ~::;. ~ ~ .. r .. (:z ~ ~ confront the state with an issu e too political- com lex and sensitive for mai Y P astream ' _ : .:`C~ax':::x<:>:>«.;<.v.:.> •~'c.: ~ „>;.?.;:..: ~:.:: ,.:. . Wis. : ,u c .>~ :.. Hk::. :.:~ >:.fw>.~«: ~;;,~~..' ~v. _.,. ~:~- ~~. z'a: ~`~ -`:~ ~r<s' ;~`' <.~M: • F x~i > ~~f?: <'~t,.;.,k-,.:~::~- . ~ ~" ~z Yb,.' i'i\4.~apr%~... y.ri. ,..~a~.""~~. ~- ',:t ~q'.:<: ~i 'y:' '.'~~'t:E`'3:~ ~.:.: ~' > ~`> ` '~ `` ~ _ env Ironmental rou s to handle. "It will be bard o e t g t people excited b ~ ~ , z ,y ~ ;.-z:•c., ~~.: • 'f:: : ~.<: $>:<~ ~ ,, >:.. <;x= ',~..:,,.::.:,.:.~ <" "''x .:.: <...: :. ~.., X~.,.'~.. ..~^.~~i::':<:: :<::~~*~ ~ .~ ' ` the potential impact of this because the per ;: , . ~ t ~ '' `' ~ ~ '" ~ 5 "'• ° ~~~ ception will be that all they're doing is add ing a few feet of concrete to I-70;' said h' „ ' The widening of the highwayis the most significant Robert Weaver, an environmental consul ~'', project for economic devefopmenf for the central font ;° DenYer. People will say, `What's a few feet of 'mountains and Western' Slo e in two decades. " ~ p concrete added to I-70 going to do? It's aot a big deal."' ` K.T. Gazunis executive director ' , That's what Steve Colby„an analyst with Y;LEagle County Economic Development Corp. the Colorado Department of State and Local Affairs. believes. y Y "I'm not sure what you're talking about is going to cause a fundamental change," he ' said. "Six-laving I-70 is just an incremental expansion of an already existing route." gou've got 45, 50 steps. There's so much to But Weaver and others disagree.: "It's look at " more difficult to make the connection;' he In the mid-1960s, the highway department said. "But it dces,have an impact.° hired its first environmental specialist; in Twenty-five years ago, when construction 1972, the staff had grown to seven; today, there aze 85 of I.70 west of Denver began, scant attention was paid to the consequences. In the days . , The act's effect on I-70 is striking. before the National Environmental Policy The mountains on either side of the Eisen- hover Tunnel shredded like cheese with a Act -the landmark 1969 law that ushered in environmental impact studies -roads . , grater, continue to erode, pushing more were built basically where the engineers and sediment into an already-damaged Straight Creek politicians wanted them. " . : In wntrast, I-70 over Vail Pass, planned In the early days, you had four or five and built under NEPA regulations, has been basic steps along the way of getting some- hailed as an example of-how a road can be thing done;' said Cazl. Sorrentino, a state highway department spokesman. "Today, Continued on next page f ~ _.~ ~ We're clearly dealing -with urban traffic ":`- problems out there, not rural traffic .prob- lems. ~ _ ~ _ - Dave Ruble, `` state highway designer -w t~ -.. - ~... M sue,, w~ . r~ _ ,, :~ ~. " > .r,..~:. ' l1,QGKY MOUNTAIN NlWS 3 ' r ~"~ s. 3, cG «, "~ >ti + %' ~~. T C~LQRa~Ot TODAY: Roads sFiape the evolution o} America. Dne road worth ~ following is Interstate 70, that crowded ribbon o} asphalt linking ' /'rl O^I~ED L X717 t urban and rural Colorado. Especially new that fhe states traffic " ' r . planners have begun to tinker. with 1-70 s future -and ours. ' ARTERY TOMORROW: Scotty Moser was Dorn end reared in Summit County, and he's seen development transform the mountains irom ..nxal ranchland to tourist mecca,: Talk of widening Interstate 70.- makeshim nervous--he's seen how a Dandful of decisions that go ' unnoticed on the Frant .Range can vrPnarehiy change the fated x which helrvas. t~r , , r, ~' Tt1E$DAY: Some neUeve Catrtornia's attraarveness as a touris! , 6 -. mecca has led to the sacrifice of the state's Dackcountry on. the altar :.. of economic deveopment. YYhen future generations reed the DPak on sacrifices made in Colorado, they may find a enapter - es yet unwritten - an the current plaq to widen Pit}. • Z8-Raley Mountain Newz _. Sun., Aug. 1, 1988, Denver, Cola. -70: COYORADO'S CLOGGED ARTERY ...~. "~ __. _.._.,_~~_v_-.-._,_.__.__.._._~.;.~:. 6 The message to :~~ me is `Company's coming.' ... The challenge to me is, how am I going to accommodate them all. That is going to be a .tricky question. Mike Spencer,' ' National forest ranger . , . _..,~~ Forest ranger Mike Spencer fears that this area of the White River National Forest will be hurt by I-7O's expansion. Developers race up I-70 in hotpursuit of high country Continued from previous papa . built that's sensitive to. an area's wildlife, geology and esthetics. "The full environmental impacts (of I-70` la the mountain counties haven't been ad dressed in the past "said Ray Mohr, a senior PPlanner with the state health department. He cites the monitoring of air pollution around Vail and sporadic air testing in Breckenridge four years ago as the only . exceptions. "Until someone gets down and does a detailed analysis, you can't pin down" what further environmental and lifestyle changes could result from the widening of I-70, he said. "But there's an intuitive and felt per- ception that the area has seen significant ' impacts in the past and that this would trigger more." But who will do the analysis? - Unlike. other states, Colorado does no comprehensive land use planning under which something like the future of I-70 could fall. Even the highway department's envi• ronmental study won't go much beyond I- 70's 300-foot right-of-way, Ruble said. To do any more would cause time delays and in• crease costs, he said. "When you spend money on (environmen- tal)mitigation measures, you can't put down asphalt;' he said. "So the question becomes, does your con- science permit you to look just at the narrow consequences because the law doesn't re- qquire you to look beyond that?" Ruble dcesn't have an answer. "Whether the growth that we're predicting will be the straws that break the camel's back In terms of the quality of life there ... we really didn't look at that -things like how many people can the forests handle. .We've looked at it from a purely traffic standpoint." So the question remains: How will flooding the highway with three times as much traf- fic change the landscape of the central mountains? I, The anawee is elasiva, One place to bogie . searching for a glimpse of the future, how- ever, may be in the past - m the history of I-70 and Its original impacCon Colorado. Bettie Willard, a Boulder ecologist and former member of the Federal Council on Environmental Quality, assesses the original htterstate's impact bluntly: "It changed rural Colorado into non-rural Colorado." Fifteen. years after the first bore of the Eisenhower Tunnel opened up the moun- tains, changes triggered by I-70 remain con- troversial issues. - . "Everybody up here has an opinion; 'said Pam Sheldon, Summit County's planning di- rector.:"Some think it's overdeveloped here already. Some.think the amount of develop- ment we have is just right. Others think there ought to be more. It's very perceptu- al" Indeed, the line between rural and urban along the interstate corridor is often blurred. Horses graze lazily m fields alongside sprawling condominium complexes. Real es- tate for-sale signs pepper the trunks of countless trees along the back roads. Trail- er parks, trinket shops and fast-food joints compete with mountain vistas for the eye's attention. On busy days it's not accurate to say traffic along I-70 is as bad as rush hour to Denver. It's worse. In fact much of the grousing about subur- ban sprawl that Sheldon bears comes not from locals, but from Front Range residents seeking a temporary escape from urban life. "As they see more and more development np here, it resembles more and more what they're trying to get away from," she said. Ask anybody familiar with central Colora- do back when U.S. 8 and Loveland Pass were the way west aad you Invariably get the same recollection: "1'he changes that you see today In Sum- mit County are truly remarkable, absolutely dramatic;' said Chuck Lewis, who helped -found Copper Mountain In 1985. The site of the ski area was chosen, in part, because of -whereI70-.wasgoing., ~.a.~;.~..`~. 'Z can remember as a kid going up there; ' years before the interstate, he said, "and there was nothing. There was a little dirt street -that was the town of Frisrn. The town of Breckenridge had only one hotel and maybe one restaurant. Silverthorne was a dtunp. No development." - - A few statistics point up the magnitude of the change. Between 1970 and 1988, the population of Summit County increased more than five- fold, from 2,665 to .14,298; Eagle County's population went from 7,498 to 19,160. In that same 18-year period, combined retail sales in the two counties exploded, rising from ;S5 million to ;625 million; the assessed value of property exploded, rising from;43 million to;553 million; the number of housing units increased from 5,450 to 28,222; skier visits in the two counties went from 723,000 to more than 4.5 million. "It made Eagle County what it is today," said Bud Gates, a 58-year-old rancher and chairman of the county commission. "I don't think people back then foresaw the ultimate amount of ezpansion that the high- way was going to bring.... Vail was once a sheep ranch. At one tune time in the '40s, you could've bought it for back taxes." Indeed, Lewis, who was a vice president at Vail in the 1960s, recalls that he and others thought the ski area would prompt, at most, 1,200 acres of development. Instead, Vail begat East Vall and West Vail and Eagle- Vail and Veil's Beaver Creek. Vail has left !ts Imprint for more than 20 miles up the Eagle Valley. Engineers who designed I-70 wcetully missed the mark on the amount of traffic - and people -the highway would lure. In 1988, for instance, they thought the 4,350 cars that passed the junction at U.S. 40 each day wo~id increase to 9,570 care a day by 1988. Their calculation was off by more than 100%; some 21,000 care a day were whizzing through the corridor by 1985. Md the cars keep coming. By 2010, plan- ner are projectia~, a- traffic : olume- of 75000 cars a day. 'I don't think we estimated the growth of the tourist industry propecly;' Ruble said. "I think that at the time, they expected I-70 to provide them with all the capacity they were ever.going to need. "'They didn't look at the future. They didn't realize back then how, by putting in the road, we were going to actually be creat- ing growth." Historians, like Tom Ncel at the Universi- ty of Colorado at Denver, say Colorado has long been a place where long-term soMal and environmental consequences have taken a back seat to short-term profits. In Summit County, for instance, huge plies of rock mar miles and miles of ripped upp creek beds -the consequences of mechaai- cal dredge mining during the early part 6f. this century. - Long before condos filled the area's val- leys, buffalo roamed. Then came the Ute Indians, who first crossed Vail Pass to hunt m Summit County 4,800 years before the birth of Christ. The Utes, in turn, eventually were pushed out by white miners and the armies of the government that protected them. A hundred years later, because of I-70's ppresence, tourism guides the decision-mak- ing in Colorado. Given that, it's not surprising that on top of Vail Pass, on ground that archeologists say the Utes used as a .winter camp for thousands of years, the state built a highway rest stop. "Clearly, the economic health of this area requires that we attract more people here for tourism. But three times more people? That seems excessive," said Robert Wyler, an attorney who has developed home sites in the Slue River valley. '"1 tie problem with development Ia that bigger is always considered better;' 6e said. "But I think there's a limit to what you ca• do before you begin to destroy the are? There's a danger here of becoming an oti' door amusement park: ~ ~ ~ , - _ , Itas, i41g-,9, 9t8. Denva, Cdo. - _,BotYy 1Jewhirt --~ ... _ _- Californi a ~ _ ~ m ~ rrors Col - __ _-___~~-~-- orado s ~ -t . , --~ futu re Regulations, crowds rule, ruin landscape Story by Mike Anton Photos by David L. Cornwell Last of thrw parts "Today. If you go Into the backcountry and see two people, you figure, the outing is ruined. A hundred years hom now, you might run Into 500 people on a trail and say, 'Hey, what a greatdey.' 4'm kind of en optimist, though. I think we'll adjust to this." , BarnN WNnpardt, Meat ranpar It happened while driving east, on a different highway, in a different state. There, Matt Mathes glimpsed the future of his past, and -what be saw was strange and unsettling. "It was like I was moving forwazd in time," he said. Interstate 80 blasts out COLORADO'S of San Francisco heading northeast, picks up traffic C L ~ /'~ G E D m Sacramento like a mag- ~7 net collecting metal sliv- 'ARTERY ers, and then goes on -an asphalt conveyor belt ship- ping acontinuous cargo of people t® Lake Tahce and the national forests at the end of the line. e:. Mathes, a press officer ;~~;~Wy for the LJ.S. Forest Service in Dillcn until he was transferred to California, was zipping along I-80 when his mind turned to Interstate 70 and Colorad°. "It was very obvious," he said. "California is at the point that Colorado. will be at sometime in the future. There's nothing real complex or philosophical about it. It's just the way things are going to be." Consider: Nearly every wilderness azea requiring a per- mit. Driving 10, 20 miles of back roach to find a single, empty campsite. Metering gates on trails. A ban on fires. Mattresses and rusted cars abandoned in the trees. Diapers on horses. Campers handed plastic bags to carry out their own waste. People common, solitude raze. When people say they fear another explosion in tourism and development along the I-70 corridor threatens to "turn Colorado into California," that is what they mean. "It's inevitable," said Daniel Luecke, senior scientist with the Boulder-based Environmental Defense Fund. `But we shouldn't fool ourselves into thinking thak the forests today are what they were 100 years ago - or 50 years ago even. They're no longer wild areas. They are parks." The number of people flocking to the state's national forests has risen steadily for decades -- propelled by a Colorado population explosion and the nation's urge to ski and visit the outdoors. Nowhere has this been more apparent than in areas along I-70, west of the Eisenhower Tunnel. . I j/w~ . V. An 18-wheeler winds eastward up Vail Pass on Interstate 70, above, as local traffic uses the road that SeesaLANCING,pa9e22 once carried all traffic through the Vail Valley. Wide-angle shot, below, shows traffic rushing past Vail. ~ r i i ~) : f 1I~ • ^ [' l v' : Yr tt' f) hds'rny~ q ~` E . S ..t! ~'»~w T ~ ..~, 4F y . ~ California is at the point that ` Colorado will be at sometime in the future. There's nothing real complex or philosophical about it. It's just the way things are going to be.~ Matt Mathes, U.S. Forest Service press officer la~'t :.,~ r ~r ,*~ z l~ * r . .; *µ.~r ? c~ > r,.~.df building fires in several wilderness areas - Eagles Nest, Holy Cross and Maroon Bells among them - may be unavoidable. Today, few places in Colorado aze regulated to that degree. °People here would really react negative- ly to that;' said Bernie Weingardt, the dis- trict ranger in Dillon. "Coloradans are used to openness and space and being able to go where the ant to 'th t troll and ~ ~ ,_ ~ I.70: COLORADO'S CLOGGED ARTERY - - - - -. _..' . ..:-~--:~,_~ ~ Coloradans'' are- used to openness and '~ space and being = €~,. able to go where they want to go without controls and con- ' straints. They don't_ want to be told "No."~ Bernie Weingardt, district ranger in Dillon ,~ ~; '~a . - ; '_ ~ r. ~,.r" __ Balancing people, .nature will .challenge the nation Continued from page 7 At the same time, the number of permits for utility lines, roads and other rnnstroction by private interests -including dog pounds, junkyards and a .sanitary landfill -has doubled. Despite a leveling in Colorado's popula- tion, officials see the trend continuing. The White River National Forest -spreading through five counties, including Summit, Ea- gle and Pitkin -will feel the brunt of it. By the turn of the century, use of wilder- ness areas in the White River is ezpected to be over capacity; by 2021, the number of people using the forest -the state's most crowded - is ezpected to double. "The question is, how are we going to balance -even enrnurage -growth with the quality of the ezisting lifestyle?" said Mike Spencer, the district ranger in Eagle. "H' we don't handle the onrush that's coming, we're going to see a lot of problems - user conflicts, resource damage. You'll see garbage, law enforcement problems. People will tear up barriers, they'll burn toilets. You'll find gourself in a situation where you're constantly reacting to prob• lams instead of acting so you stay ahead of them." The challenge is national in scope. In the rnming decades, Forest Service officials say managing recreation will become as big - and as controversial - a job for them as conflicts over mining and logging. California is simply ahead of the game. "What has happened out there would serve as a good model for a lot of places," said agency spokesman Jay Humphreys. "It's a reflection on the future." In Colorado, as elsewhere, officials plan to meet the demand in two ways: Restrict ac- cess to populaz areas and encourage tourists to try lesser-used parts of the forest. One won't be popular. The other may not be feasible. Privately, officials already say requiring permits and restricting such activities as ~' u COLO RAD 0'S SUNDAY: Roads shape the evolution of America. One road worth ' of asphalt linking following is Interstate 70, that crowded ribbon CLOGGED urban and rural Colorado. Especially now that the state's traffic ' . s future -end ours. planners have begun to tinker with I-70 T AR { ErIY YESTERDAY: Scotty Moser was born and reared in Summit and he's seen development transform the mountains from Count y rural ranchland into a tourist mecca. Telk of widening I-70 makes him nervous -he's seen how a handful of decisions that go .z; '~ unnoticed on the Front Range can Irreparably change the land _ . ~' where he lives. TODAY: Sane beliwe thgt Catifcanie'S attrectitxr es a toWr4at spot has sacrificed the state's bockG.uotry w~ the agar W economk develo(J~wnf. When tu;ure d~riera[ixs read itiC book on sacrifices mad? in ~o!orack~, tFrey may tirx~ fl chapter ---- as y»+ unwnilen - ort itt2 cirrent, drearflyayetl plan to wiCen FTQ y w go wt ou con constraints. They don't want to be told ' `No' „ _ - owned 80% of the land. the University of Colorado at Denver. "When But he believes Colorado's forests are so So when the change came, it came swiftly, times are bad, it becomes enticing to loasea huge -the White River is nearly 2 million taking many people by surprise. controls and allow development. It's hard to acres -that people can be dispersed to "Someone says: `The population here is say'No' ...when someone comes in with the other areas. - - going to double.' And people say: `Sure, I'll promise of obs. m That will take money - a fact seemingly believe it when I see."' Thurlkill said. "But "It's co mon, though. Traditionally, at odds with the Forest Service's budget in if they don't believe it, there aL4o won't be Americans don't have a broad time horizon. Colorado, which was slashed by nearly a any effective controLg m place when the They don't look at the impacts of things doce fifth between 1982 and 1988. time comes." ,.today, five, 10, 25 years down the road." ~Pe~B people also will require more Despite its reputation as a neon and rnn- In this case, the road Is I-70. Whether facilities - a fact seemingly at odds with an Crete wilderness, only 10% of the land anyone will look down it a~ study the total estimated 15% loss in the number of hiking around Lake Tahce actually bas been devel- effects that widening the mountain artery trails during the past two decades. oped. A thin line sepazates reality from per- would have is as debatable as the proposal "Out in the districts, there's a certain caption there. itself. amount - a large amount - of frustration that we are not on top of things," said "Overdevelopment is not a scientific judg- went.... It's perceptions," Thurlkill said. Ro er Hansen believes one da g y, someone spokesman Lynn Young. "In rural areas, it doesn't take much to ~ An environmental consultant and attor- Money aside, when the agency tried to change people's impressions." Hey, Hansen led a group that successfully spread tourists azound in California, it didn't work Historically, impressions have taken a oPP~ P~ ~ the 1980s to mate I-70 through what's now the Eagles Nest Wilder- . "Everybody wants to go to the same beck seat to economic development in Colo- Hess Area. - 'must-sees.' Everyone wants to go to the rado. "It's probably going to ensure that all the same prime places;' said Keith Thurlkill, a Critics contend one reason for that rests io available land in that corridor not already Forest Service official in the Lake Tahce the absence of a comprehensive statewide under control of the government will be basin. "You may have 2 million acres out land use plan -one that would include the developed for recreation, homes and busi- there. But maybe there's only 30,000 to potential consequences of widening I-70 to Hassel; ' he said of the plan to expand I-70. 50,000 acres that you can recreate on - or Colorado as a whole. "You don't have to be a genius or prophet to that people want to recreate on. All that land ' " State lawmakers, who long have preferred see that " ' - it s deceptive. The Lake Tahoe basin encompasses to leave planning to local governments, have "I'm certain there will be a ma debate, ~ 205,000 acres and parts of three national ~~ a patchwork philosophy that ob- servers say often puts economic consider- an environmental controve Two Forks-st le debate " ~~ ~~ ~~ Af y forests. Until the late 1950x, dairy farming and ranching made up the economic base.. ations ahead of environmental ones .~ , . ~ - t However Luecke, a key opponent of the; ~ Cattle were still driven through town. '"There' are very few local "govertunenfs , Two Forks dam project, doesn't think a del When tourism began to take off around tl-e lake i0 the 1980x People weren't wor- which Gave been able to effectively puanage growtt-," Said FredenCk ilteiner, ~rreetQi>' n~ ..bate over.I 70 will bappea.He s.skeptic~1 1 t , F c ~ , T , ri ed; the federal government, after all, the Center for Built Envii•oument Studies at s _ . e3 Y c , , . . ,_, `'r` t aL a2 ~ y,y .,, ~L;-.k,;...'~iit-TO.nnxt Ronnie Grove, left, and Leonard Olivas run the traffic 70. Control-room operators check traffic through the monitoring room at the Eisenhower Tunnel on Interstate .tunnel 24 hours a day. ~:~:~,~ .~ f9~ oiat~, r~ ~: `lit Mouhgifr lldk- _-------..w_._ ~ rrz•s~ -- . , ,, _ _ } __ .. Here's what the experts etc. saying about World Savings: Tourists make shopping a serious business in the downtown section of Vail village. - population and traffic projections .the corridor, Colorado will wake - the widening of the highway uP ~ the Yom' 2010 with a new notwithstanding. problem. But there are other reasons. The Eisenhower Tunnel, fully "We are talking about a corridor completed only a decade ago, will that's been substantially changed be obsolete. already; ' he said. "So it's not as "It's a risk. We could make all of though we're dealing with a re- this investment on the interstate source that hasn't been degraded. and still have congestion," said "The I-70 corridor is a sacrifice Dave Ruble, the highway depart- area. It's been a sacrifice area in merit planner who studied I-70's the past." future. A third bore is a possibility. But ' M the mere mention of it causes high- When future generations read way engineers to perspire. After the book on sacrifices made in Col- ~~ the first two bores took a de- orado, they may find achapter - code and millions of dollars more as yet unwritten - on the current than expected to complete -not , dreamy-eyed plan to widen I-70 to mention eight lives. . At the top of the world, where And then there's the matter of east meets west, still another the 1°terstate 1~• chapter may unfold. It's not in the highway depart- Here, in a control room in the merit's 131-page study, but Ruble bowels of the Eisenhower Tunnel, will tell you that even if tens of where 28 video screens monitor millions of dollars are spent to traffic 24 hours a day, the camera widen I-70, this more efficient misses nothing. mover of traffic, this purported Car after car, more than S1Fz generator of a healthy mountain million a year, drifting lazily economy, could also be obsolete through. Those that can't make it within five -maybe 10 -years. - stuttering, gasping, dying from the rarefied air. Trucks exploding Tf that should happen, no one into flames. Drivers entering will recommend I-70 be widened ' ' , suddenly feeling claustrophobia again. It can t be. The state won t gripping them icily by the throat, own any more right-of-way in the corridor shifting into reverse, and backing OUt . ~ planners already muse about . `Most people think it's just a big looking south - to U.S. 285, and another chapter in the book of sac- hole in the side of a mountain," rifice said Mike Salomon, superintendent . of the tunnel. "But it's really the "That's the neat traffic corridor heart of I-70." we'll have to look at once I-70 is If the state finds the money to P~Y~ out," Ruble said. "Then an- aidetr tile' interstate to sig lanes, other part of the state.will be able and if the planners are right about to reap' the' benefits of economic ' the volume of traffic tripling along Qevelopinen~ ~ ~' ~ ' '!'S~"'"` ' ' - ,;.. ~.. ~~ _ , :...Rated the . - . - ~ _ __ ~ndustr s b _ _ est mane ed g - i corn an ,,~ ~ _ _ a y -Nelson's Research Monthly ' "Resisting the temptation to diversify into riskier businesses... has " paid off...But [management] pinches no pennies when it affects - 'customer service." -Forbes ,. ~ ; ' `- °...World Savings...is financially sound...They've stuck to...what _., thrifts...can do best...lending for residential housing:' :_ -USA Today "[World is] an Infinitely better Investment than most companies In America...." . x ` -Rocky Mountain News _ "World Savings has distinguished itself...a jewel of a company...ls soon likely to sparkle even more." -NYU Business i4 "...Healthy levels oYcore profitability, strong asset quality...disciplined . •, ~,' management approach..." -Moody's Investors Service, Ina ,; ~ `" _.. _ .a - "They stand head and shoulders above the rest of the Industry." '~ " -San Francisco Chronicle - "...The strong overall performance...receives achorus of praise from " industry analysts..." ~: - -American Banker . _ Why take chances with your hard-earned money? World excels in every measure of performance...with net worth more than 200°k of the _ legal requirement, and "A" ratings from Moody's and Standard & Poor's. Rely on our strength and security. Save with World. WORLD SAVINGS TM diffsrerK:e?' Security. Strorlyth. Service. The Largest Savings and Loan Operating in Colorado For savings and ARVADA DENVER LITTLETON ]!'$[,tC vehicle loan rates AURORA ENGLEWOOD THORNTON INSURED Cell t011-tree: BERGEN PARK GOLDEN WESTMINSTER 1-BOO-NOT RATE BRIGHTON GREENWOOD VILLAGE WHEAT RIDGE (4a00d6a-7Y93) BROOMFIELD IAKEWOOD _ Instant etxeas t4your account at over 190 DrancMS in Coloraoo. Canfomh, Kansas aria 7esas. i i x '.:rW :r` ,. • GM w!t,Tjai iF. ~' , i• sift :di •;? l,L '... ~v oalo.. ,{~~ ~ ~~f'.a\iBli:fJ -. ~rl~9tre`i•: ~, ~~if !: ... !. ~. ~;`~ .s.>.r:' , ~'. ._ 'F2•`L~, :.r•^t~ /.r4sr;1.1 ~!Yc z,r.r.'Hy I-70: COLORADO'S CLOGGED ARTERY ='from previous page ~ '~ ' xa "Scotty Moser, "Is that its name. ' t ~'" ~ s Summit County rancher Four ears after Moser s%° t ~ ~ r chucked the high-;ron job , . ` •.. _ and escaped back home to a ;% ,~ y~ ~ ~ ~ ~~ quiet, unhurried place where ,~_ '~ ~ ~~ i~ ~l'p~t''i' ' ~~ r _ a man doesn't shave unless ` °~~"~~ ~"• "~` ~ ` company's coming, he wants Scotty Moser in the woods on his ranch near Dillon. ao part of anything urban. - Interstate 70 is the artery ridge above the Blue River, and answered himself. construction soft, anyone would be worried about suburban that carries what is urban in 'They'd have to come this way. They'd love to develop it sprawl encroaching on what's left of the rural lifestyle along Colorado to what i9, largely, all." I-70. • .-- still rural. Several miles of mostly open country separate Moser's But Moser was born here, and he has learned a few lessons Political and business Slate Creek Ranch on Colorado 9 from I-70 and the hotels, "about development in the mountains -mostly, the speed leaders want to see that stores and subdivisions of Silverthorne. wit4 which delicate areas Irreparably can be changed by a clogged artery widened to Yet, the squeeze of change can be felt even where it isn't handfW of decisions that would go unnoticed on the Front allow more tourist dollars to flow through these mountain Take the waste dump county officials wanted to build on How else to explain the land speculators? Fivo years ago, valleys. They see I-70 as an the other side of the road a tew years back. lh the camp- when the economic house of cards seemed so well-construct- instrument of economic development. Widen it, they say, ground that a private outfit wanted to put next to his ed, they were everywhere, checkbooks blazing, and the people who live here will be enriched, property. Moser and his neighbors stopped both. Then it folded But the speculators, though fewer, never Widen it, Moser fears, and he'll only be the poorer. What they haven't been able to stop -what, In fact, has theless keep coming. "Let's just say they bring In ail those tourists, double the gotten worse -are trespassers who venture down from tl-e °And when they rnme and ask ns,'Want to sell the ranch?' population of Summit County like they say they want." He heavily used Eagles Nest Wilderness Area, stomping we just teU 'em, 'It's not for sale; and; It's dropped rigbl pauses to eject a stream of tobacco. "Where they going to through hay fields, bullding fires,on boge-dry gras3, dumPlnB: „tl-eee." Moser said .~ ~;=s ~ ,;~„rt;x:~r"~ g ~; c, ,, ,- ., ,r K~;;p put all-these people?„ ~ - ;. ~...e, ." , • , r ,n trash.. . ;..a. a.:'s };8~t n ~ -n ~"ry~~ y ~sn nr•n'a, nJ n8t~ -,Iii'. r r ni a s ~ hiAsa.w ~~~ Tis;te .~ , _ The 57-yearold rancher looked ont on his spread iroga, a =~ To; aunts, -t might s odd,t6ya1, with :IggtF ?f>Ilues •a~ .,~,r i.. ,•, p _i SN NEED. pasj~ It - __ rr~~-wMnan~ai4~rw ~Cp>s.~r~~ `3oT,;r +k1 r.~ ~~, t ; ~ Rt" .~;. ~.Fi ~ r ,.,, . •.' t •, f erF M. ~~ t ~~ r ~i r ~ i ~~ ~~ e~ fX ; 1 ~ ~ Rocky Mountain News - . Hos., Atif• ~ f9R8; ~envec.Cula .. ~ ~ s , i ~ ~'a ~ [ , t' ~ .1 ~' . ~ ~ ' ~ ~ k ., ~ A , ! ° ~ ~ tt ~ . 2 ~ ~ ~ ~ , t A ~ , I-70: COLORADO'S CLOGGED ARTERY Need to grow stretches far bong highway t:.a~..e tYoat pap47 'T~e never discussed mosey evfth sap of theme They ain't got the money to buy this ranch. No sir." There is another, more pervasive attitude toward economic development, growth and the need to widen I-70 in the central moun- tains. In broad strokes, it paints the fears of people like Scotty Moser as being quaint and unnecessarily pessimistic John Hess, economic development manag- er for the Northwest Colorado Council of Governments, sums it up this way: "There isn't a lot of talk about how much growth is needed. The assumption fs mat without growth, we'll have a poor economy; " he said. "If the interstate is widened andl i more people come, the restaurants will der better, the T-shirt shops will do better, the ski areas will. do better, contractors will der better ... • , "If it's not built," Hess said of the pro- posed multimillion-dollar project to widen I- 70, "Summit and Eagle counties will have the lifeblood slowly strangled from them." It's a comment repeated again and again in the mountain communities along I-70, and it comes at a time when some see hope rising like a dollar sign on the horizon. In Eagle County, construction subeontrac- ', for Jim Nierzwicki typifies the attitude. "One day, all of this will be pretty much built up, on both sides of the valley," Nierz- wicki said. "It'll all be like Vail." _ Behind him, on a hillside above Edwards where he's building a x150,000 home, the ' whirring of power saws and the pounding of hammers fill the air. THEY ARE the sounds of prosperity. In the First halt of 19aS, ;~6 tmllion worth of bn'ldmg permits were laced in Eagle Coun- ty - X20 million more than in all of last year. How long it will last is anyone's guess, but some feel a period of steady economic growth -including more construction - is near. "In 1986, I would've told you that things were bad, terrible; 'said Bill Conkling, a real estate broker in Summit County, where sales soared 38% in the first three months of 1988. "Now we're generally very positive about the future.... Growth is going to come again. We are going to have it." In both counties business leaders have Condos and hotels have expanded Breckenrldge's ability to attract tourists such as these Oh horseback. COLORADO'S VESTERDAY:Roa~a sha~» the a;olution otAmerica Onr o:,d :CLOGGED W~~,h fo,towing ~ rn.~sta.e 70. t~~t ~ow~~ f,bbo<, ~ s ~s,r liakinguci~nacad ru~ak(7Sxoaado. C+~6ttyTOw it3at fhe54ate's be{~7 in Hdlcera~ft t-T6's future -and ours. "traffic pFa ters htNe n , ARTERY , ~ ;i ~ ; ; sp W t ~ x~ o<n a~,~ r~ar n s~mrn as > otty pose, TODAYc l f " ' rom rur2~ the mountains s seen development trai~storrri and he ranchland into a tocrisS mecca Taut o! widening 1-70 makes him - .nervous -he's seen how a handha df declaiorrs that go unnoticea on the front Range can irreparably change iha tend where he lives ` :LS; _ ~ TOMORROW: Some believe that Cdllfornia's atiractioh ass tovr- ist spot has sacritlceQ the state"s beckcountry on the after of eco- nomlc tlevelopment: Whenf~ture genaratians read the Book on sa.,'t ~vs rra:]e fn Cbbradu, t!~) may find achapter- os yet unwr ren - nn the cu: rent, dre~rny-eyed ptan~to widen I-70. >i talked about the need for a more balanced economy, how some kind of light industry proved," said Bill Hanisch, president of Key- not bothering to state what are to him the could supplement the profitable cycles of stone. "I absolutel think it's critical." y obvious consequences. in Levengood there's a rare reserva- yet tourism. It's crucial, he said, because U.S. Forest Service projections showing the number of , lion, reflecting the fear that people like Every year, the number of jobless in Sum- mIt and Eagle counties balloons in late skiers in Summit, Eagle and Pitkin counties Scotty Moser have for the land. ' How manq more condos do we need." springand fall, the dormant periods between will more than double b 2021 are not unre- y alistic - if the apshalt is there to move Levengood asks. "How many more waiters? `summer and winter tourist seasons. them How many more businesses? hfore is a quan- . The same cycle bolds true for resort oper- . ~ titative term. We're at the point where we 'slurs, rental agents and retailers. Already, market research at Keystone and need to start talking about qualitative The diversification movement is still in its Vail reveals gridlock on I-70 is keeping ski- growth, not just quantitative." infancy, and so far, attempts to attract year- era, and money, away. Utah resorts pitch unencumbered access Today, iYa an elusive philosophical con- cern difficult to grasp because it's abstract. round employers have produced only a few, minor successes. Many observers, however, from Salt Lake City; Monarch ski area in southern Colorado advertises `Don't get , „maybe before this ever gets off the are skeptical about how much can be done. Tunnel Vision"; Loveland depicts asnow- ground, we ought to know what expanding I- " They believe tourism is the key to rural ' bound Eisenhower Tunnel; Summit County Leven ood said. ?0 !s oin to do to us, during "The brakega need to be applied now s financial future. State officials Colorado believe it. At a time of tight budgets, the ski areas use Vail Pass to thetr advantage in much the same way. , a slow time. Without that, when things turn Colorado Tourism Board's funding more In a cluttered office !n Breckenridge, around, the profit motive will drive it. We than doubled this year. Summit County Commissioner Rich Leven- ' have a shoulder time now to examine our land-use objective In the future. How well Decrver's new airport and convention cea- - good is looking for something that will prove the point. we do that, history will tell." ter have been pushed with tourism In mlod ty~ly, from a stack of papers he pulls But when the subject of when and where And so will I-70. ? pnt an article from The New York Times. to hit the brakes has been broached, it often "If you believe that the resort Industry is "Gridlock In Rockies? A Nightmare in has been brushed aside. the only growing industry out here, and that. Eden;' reads the headline. "We've bad more discussion about pet cre- Me're going to ,expand,- W6iCh.we 6ellevg "' "If we gets reputation of not being able to matoriums here than we've had on land use we will -then I-7o wcll have to be im- "ha' ndIe ohr vlslttir traf[ic :.. " He trailed off, planning," said one Summit County official who blames the area's boom-bust econemlc cycle for making local leaders ignore lang- terrt~pla~ing~ improve, there's a feeling Wa! we eadt afford to say no to developers, because next year, they might not show up. The history of Summit County is not full of a lot of `Nos."' Officials don't even know how much of the county's land has been built on - or is zoned for development. No inventory has been done for at least five years. Levengood and others estimate that as much as two-thirds of the land approved for development is empty. "There's an incredible potential for growth there; 'said Frederick Steiner, direc- tor of the Center for Built Environment Studies at the University of Colorado at Den- ver. "But people just can't imagine it yet because It's all just on paper." And since down-zoning to stop construc- tion Is difficult, some say it's likely that if building begins again, the level of public debate will be inaudible. "Ten years ago we went through that do- bate when we were subdividing that land," said Bob Warner, a developer and president of the Eagle County Home Builders Associa- lion. "Now were sitting on it, paying taxes on it. When the market comes back, we'll have it as a commodity to sell " Comments like that worry those who say Summit and Eagle counties are threatened by creeping urbanization. "When you get urban sprawl fn a rural area, you risk ruining the very experience that you were looking for in the first place," said Chuck Lewis, a founder of the Copper Mountain ski area. "I honestly believe that if they'd look Into the future, they'd see that it would be ruining their own sandboz. "But that's not a popular theme nowadays. People don't want to hear it." . ._....~. Nicholas Lampiris, Ph.D. CONSULTING GEOLOGIST 0793 VALLEY ROAD CARBONDALE, COLORADO 81623 (303) 963-3600 (24 HOURS) F.an ~~h fi l l i p s ~'riantar~e Road 4t <-~ i 1 C~ ~ ~s J. b ~ 7 ~tE~p Etath CreeE: Roci<:ta~il i"Ii tigation P~°?.s~r Ran e RECD AUG - 8 1988 7'i-sis letter is intended to clarit}~ rn}I position on the present t_7i''r t'fi !3;~Slcan ::end 1tS projected E3ttf~~Ct1'dr,~'ne=a?5. Ttlr're are hasi cal l }~ ti:o i ss!_!es w one i s the sui fah i 7. i ty o•d~ the her m i n <.,~toppi.ng most rock:sq the o-t_I-7er is the stahili.ty of the taerm i t set •~ and the cut hi 1 1 si de at:7ove the berm. E`Ji. th the neaa program avai 1 ah 1 e tram the Co.l orado Beal og i c~~.l Survey to predict ~.,otential °~~r'~locities of falling rocN;s and thi= new deligfi by :f_~anner H~=:soci::~tes as cat Huc~!_!Lat ~., i~i~t84 :[ w:uT, cr_7ntident that near7.y all rocks falling from ti-~e cliffs above the suhd:i vi si on wi 1 1 he =Mapped by tt-,e ht:~ara-. This 4~as clear-l. }~ promi stud i n the contracts for encli neeri nci and filE?,'plc}i~].r :,pork: ~~hich pertain t0 t.his pro..iec-t. T ;~i.11, at the coml.-.,letic_,n of the c~ort:: as desic~r°~ed, rema~.~e the appropr-iC~te areas of the ~c~oi~h Cr-eet:: ~~!t:;di~/ision tram Math catercaries of rock:tall hazard in the map :~ahS.r_ti 1 prod!..!ced tole .the Tarn. t~ii th respect to the slopes on bath wi:L derv of the ber,li and on the cut portion of the hillside above the t7erm, T hetieve that instability problems will ;ae minor, especially in view of the ha::ar-d which !-rill he removed. This is assuming a 1. 1 slope on the tr-ant of the her-,T,. There m~:!y t7e ::=some minor slumping until some revegetatian tat::es hold but this :,li'll r7ot affect the pertarm~~nce of i._he 1-acar,~7 {:incl!..!dinq :i.ts ahilit~:~ to catch snow and mud as :~~el 1 a~ rock:s? . ThF::?re wi. 1 i t-.7e some material •from the cut r~l cape above sliding i. nto 'the trench. This shoc.!ld he promptl}~ cleaned oL!t so that the trcinch cant i n~_:~=s to drain as i t i s deli clne d to do. Z hel. ]. F_~Ve the Beal ogi c candi ti t-?ns or-. that t7i 1 :f. <_~>i. c:lf~~ r_tre such that the worst case consi. dered by tt~e er~gi nt.=hr~- wi.:~. 1 r-ar~=}. ~r: a (` c l.! i" . h e r e a I'- e p t"' e s e n t 1 y' m ::i f"1 `>~ la i:.'? ~ f? r) t 1. ~::t 1 .~. ~' m t:] r r-? !_! n r:.{.. a 1~7 .?. t: s tl :! 1 .L `:i ]. d ~ s 1 n t tl e (~ a i71 m U fl 1 'f:.';! 't. h e~ n :1~ :1. ~..t h i.? c. r" t=? %:~ t. !~? r.~ ("; f:? r- -~ . 1. h ;_? 1 1 1:'. `' e that t h Z s 1 ~" r..'t '~f ]. a la .t e I.7 r a _7 e i~ t $' C71'" fi'. t°I ~? f.:7 r' C:7 t. f." c ~': 7. C:? n ?::. ':"i the i"li](ilf'a4°JI'lt~'I`' s n eSa~aecl al ~. :' C_ c~C7n'7. i~G?rl. fit:a ti, {:7r'ir~''I°.~ I"`•a' {:.~-?ri`'!.'.r":?:i. n't:.'=.>. c~ t~a:i. ch _al :~!s L_::~,~7p t r-~. s C: a r-, t, c.! :t k:.:i. n c~ C=; e a 7. o c1 i s ~:: _, `~~~~- AUG U'3 '88 1~~57 GRANLI .7CT *MAR(CETIh~G August 8, 1988 Mr. Larry Eskwith Town of Vaii 75 S. Frontage Road Vail, Colorado 81657 Re: Booth Creek Rockfall Mitigation Dear Larry, F.1 BANNER We have completed Phase 1 and 2 of our Contract dated February 10, 1988 with the Town of Vail. The preliminary design for the Trench Berm Complex presented to the Vail Town Council on August 2, 1988 meets the criteria as outlined in Article II, Paragraph F of the aforesaid Contract. The Trench Berm Complex was designed using information and data supplied by the Colorado Geological Survey, CTL Thompson, Inc. Nicholas Lampiris and Banner Associates, Inc.. The design parameters are as follows: 1. .Berm Height - The Colorado Geological Survey, through the use of computer modeling, calculated that a berm which is 20 feet high vertically from toe of berm to top of berm would stop ali rocks weighing two tons or less and 910 of all rocks weighing ten tons or less. This results in a total reduction to hazard potential as related to rock fall of approximately 98~. The reoccurrance interval for a ten ton rock has been determined to be 100 years, plus or minus, and for a two ton rock one to three years. This infarmation comes from a report on Rack Fall Hazards in the Booth CrECk area published in 1983 by the Colorado Geological Survey. 2. Berm Configuration - The berm slopes are designed to have a factor of safety of 1.4 an the road side of the berm and 1.1 on the trench side of the berm. These factors of safety will be reduced if the berm becomes saturated; therefore it is imperative that proper maintenance be done on the trench at all times and a monitoring program established to insure compliance with this requirement. BANNER ASSOCIATES, 1NC. CONSULTING ENGINEERS & ARCHITECTS 2777 CROSSROADS BOULEVARD GRAND JUNCTION, CO 81506 • (3Q3) 243-2242 ALIT X79 rgg 17:58 ~RaND JCT *MAkKETING ~ F,` BANNER Mr.-Larry Eskwith August 8, 1988 Page Two 3. Cut Slope - The cut slope has been designed with a factor of safety of 1.2 to 1.3.. There will sloughing and erosion of the cut area until vegetation becomes established, however there could be the chance of a major failure occurring if the hillside becomes highly saturated. Nicholas Lampiris has stated that the chances of over saturation are very remote and should be disregarded as a design consideration. The above stated design criteria will be incorporated into the final design. once approval is given by the Town of Vail to proceed with the project. b, As stated in our Contract, if the berm complex is completed in accordance with the design and specifications, and it is properly maintained, the area protected can be removed from the "High Hazard" and "Medium Hazard" classification, and that chances of property damage due to rockfall and debris flow will be reduced to a normal level. Sincerely yours, BANNER ASSOCIATES, iNC. nneth J. Brotsky P.E. Vice Pres dent KJB/jab