HomeMy WebLinkAbout2001-06-26 Support Documentation Town Council Work Session
VAIL TOWN COUNCIL
TUESDAY, June 26, 2001
NEIGHBORHOOD WALK-ABOUT
BOOTH FALLS PARK - MANNS RANCH ROAD
11:30 P.M.
Council to meet at TOV - van will provide transportation to Booth Falls Park
Council will have lunch provided
(Other participants are encouraged to bring a sack lunch)
WORK SESSION
NOTE: Time of items is approximate, subject to change, and cannot be relied
upon to determine at what time Council will consider an item.
COUNCIL CHAMBERS
1:00 P.M.
1. Joint Work Session with VRD Board (2.5 hours)
Piet Pieters a. Red Sandstone Gymnastics Center - Bill Pierce
b. Education on VRD budget
c Capital Improvements over the past 5 years
d Dobson's Capacity
e. Ford Park
f. Donovan Park Phase II Completion
2.
Allison Ochs ITEM/TOPIC: A information update regarding the
redevelopment proposal for the Gateway Building, located at
12 Vail Road / portions of lots O and N, Block 5D, Vail
Village 1st Filing. (20 min.)
ACTION REQUESTED OF COUNCIL:
As the purpose of this worksession is to provide an update,
no action is requested of the Town Council at this time.
BACKGROUND RATIONALE:
The applicant, Braun and Associates, is requesting a
worksession with the Town Council regarding the proposal
for the redevelopment of the Gateway Building. The
proposal includes the following elements, which must be
reviewed by the Town Council:
A rezoning of the underlying zoning from Commercial Core I
to Commercial Service Center.
A major amendment to Special Development District No. 21.
A text amendment to the Commercial Service Center zone
district to allow for private clubs as a conditional use.
A resolution adopting the proposed development plan of the
Gateway, as required by Section 12-7E-2 of the Town Code.
In addition, the proposal includes a conditional use permit to
allow for a private club, and a conditional use permit to allow
for residential units. Both of these are contingent on the
above, and are reviewed only by the Planning and
Environmental Commission.
STAFF RECOMMENDATION:
As this is a worksession, staff will not be providing a
recommendation at this time.
3. DRB/PEC Report. (5 min.)
4. Review Council Critical Strategies. (15 min.)
5. Information Update. (10 min.)
6. Council Reports. (10 min.)
7. Other. (10 min.)
8. Adjournment. (4:55 P.M.)
NOTE UPCOMING MEETING START TIMES BELOW:
(ALL TIMES ARE APPROXIMATE AND SUBJECT TO CHANGE)
THE NEXT VAIL TOWN COUNCIL REGULAR WORK SESSION
WILL BE ON TUESDAY, 7/10/01, BEGINNING AT 2:00 P.M. IN TOV COUNCIL
CHAMBERS.
THE NEXT VAIL TOWN COUNCIL REGULAR EVENING MEETING
WILL BE ON TUESDAY, 7/10/01, BEGINNING AT 7:00 P.M. IN TOV COUNCIL
CHAMBERS
Sign language interpretation available upon request with 24-hour notification.
Please call 479-2332 voice or 479-2356 TDD for information.
COUNCIL FOLLOW-UP
TOPIC QUESTIONS FOLLOWUP
2001 - - J
1/23/01 PEDESTRIAN BRIDGE (TO THE EAST GREG H.: The load capacity continues to be an issue; is it Staff will supply estimate for replacement, removal, reinforcement, etc.
OF THE INTERNATIONAL BRIDGE) time to remove the bridge altogether, continue to monitor
and control "load", or take steps to buoy up the
foundation/support?
5/15/01 EASEMENT W/CASCADE CLUB GREG H.: What is the status of the easement between the Agreement attached.
Diana Donovan town and Cascade in re: to construction grading at Donovan
Park?
5/22/01 LETTER TO JOE MACY BOB: Prepare letter of thanks for Joe for his many years of Attached.
Rod Slifer service to this community, the ski area, and the county.
6/12/01 EXTENDING IN-TOWN SHUTTLE TO BOB/MIKE ROSE: Can the in-town shuttle be extended to
NATURE CENTER the Nature Center?
Diana Donovan
6/12/01 JOINT COUNCIL/VVTCB BOARD OF MARY/PAM: Please schedule a work session to discuss the Message with work session dates for July and August left with Frank
DIRECTORS MEETING proposed merging of the WTCB with the Chamber. Johnson.
6/12/01 SITZMARK GARBAGE/GREASE PIT RUSS/GEORGE/BOB: Write letters to all restaurateurs
Chuck Ogilby using the Sitzmark central trash/grease enclosure (to
include, Blu's, Lancelot, Left Bank, Sweet Basil).
F:lmcasterlbsalterlagendalfollowupl6-26-01 du
June 26, 2001 - Page 1
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TOWN OF VAIL
Office of the Mayor
75 South Frontage Road
Vail, Colorado 81657
970-479-2100
FAX 970-479-2157
www.d.vail.co.us
June 14, 2001
Joe Macy
Vail Resorts, Inc.
P. O. Box 7
Vail CO 81658
Dear Joe:
It is my understanding that you will be retiring from Vail Resorts at the end of July.
I have been requested by the Vail Town Council to write to thank you for your service to
our community.
On behalf of the Vail Town Council and entire Vail community, I wanted to express our
sincere thanks and deep appreciation for your service to our community over these past
33 years. Your work and dedication to skiing has significantly improved the sport. More
importantly your dedication and work has helped improve the quality of life in our
community.
We also wanted to note your work with the preservation of open space in the valley.
Your work and service with the Eagle Valley Land Trust has preserved many acres of
open space in the Eagle Valley.
Joe, thanks again for your many contributions to our community. Best of luck in the
future.
Sincerely,
Ludwig Kurz
Mayor
RWYCLMPAPE?
Jun-19-01 12:49pm From- T-212 P. 02/04 F-7d0
AN AGREEMENT O>F CONSTRUCTION EASEMENT
THIS AGREEMENT, made this 30'x' day of May, 2001 between E-O 'Wail Hotel, Inc. (hereinafter
"Hotel") the TOWN OF VAIL, VAYL, COLORADO (hereinafter "Town', a Colorado municipal
corporation.
'Vi~'I7'NESSETI~
1. That for as in consideration of the covenants and agreements herein set forth., the sum of TEN
($10.00) DOLLARS, and other good and valuable considerations in hand paid by the Town to the
Hotel, the receipt and adequacy of which is hereby acknowledged. the Hotel hereby grants. sells,
and conveys to the TOWN, its successors and assigns, a construction easement and right-of-way
from May 30, 2001 until November 15, 2001 to install, construct, and maintain, repair, replace,
and inspect the Donovan Park Improvements as described on Exhibit "A" (easement area),
attached hereto and by this reference trade a part hereof.
2. The Horel further grants the Town:
(a) the right of ingress to and egress from said construction easement over and across adjacent
lands of the Hotel solely by mcaas of existing public roads and lanes thereon; and
(b) the right to change the grade of the property within the easement area, pursuant to this
agreement and the stta.chcd Exhibit "A" for the duration of tlzc prescribed construction
period only; and
(c) to work between the hours of 7:00 am and 7:00 prn and as further regulated by the Vail
Town Code.
3. Hotel reserves the right to use said easement for any purpose which will not in-'-z with the
temporary Construction easement.
4. The 'gown, at its sole expense and liability, shall complete all regrading and rcvcgctating of the
area within the casement area and all work shall be completed by November 1, 2001. The plan for
the construction that will take place in the easamour area is attached as l:Xhibir A.
5. At the time that Town permanently abandons the temporary construction easement herein granted,
and ceases to use the same or the expiration date, whichever comes first, all right, title, and interest
hereunder of Grantees shall revert to the Then owner of the property without the need for flirrher
execution of any document or the taking of any action by the Town or Hotel.
6. Town shall, to the extent permitted by law, and without the Town waiving any of its rights tinder
the Colorado Governmental Immunity Act, defend, indemnify and save and hold harmless Hotel
against all claims and liability for damages, loss or expense caused by any injury or death to Gray
person or damage to property resulting from the acts of the Town to the extent the loss or damage
results from the Town use of the easements and real property of Hotel described herein. From the
start of the construction until the Town abandons the temporary co=tructioa easement the area
will remain fenced and under the control and responsibility of the Town. Continental West is
contractually obligated to the Town to complete this project.
7. The parties hereto agree that neither has made nor aurhorixcd any agreement with respect to the
subject matter of this instrument other than expressly set forth herein, and no oral representation,
promise, or consideration different from the terms herein contained shall be binding on either
Party. or its agents or employees, hereto.
Hotel warrants that they have full and lawful authority-to make T e..graxathereinabove contained,
and promise and agree to defend Town in the exercise of its rights hereunder against any defect in
Hotel's title to the land involved or Hotcl's rights to make the grant hereinabove contained.
9. Whenever used herein, the singular number shall includa the plural, the plural the singular, and the
use of any gender shall be applicable to all genders. All of the covenants herein contained shall be
binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto, their respcctive heirs, personal
..x.-scntativcs, successors and assigns.
10. The Town shall cause the hotel to be named as an additional insured under the contractor's (CWC)
general liability insurance policy.
- 1 -
Jun-10-01 12:48Pm From- T-212 P. 03/04 F-748
11. The Town of Vail maintains responsibility for quality of revegetation, drainage, and erosion until
such time it is considered fully completed and functional by the attached plans.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned have set their bawds hereto on the day al-Ad year first
wrinen above.
TOWN OF VAIL, a Colorado L-O Vptt HOTEL, INC.
Municipal corporation
BY: 4r--lam- any,
Robert ~V. McLaurin, Town Manager Mark Hickey, Sor Vice president
ATTEST:
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4rele'onaldson, Town Cleric Lot4P
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STATE OF COLORADO
COUNTY OF
The foregoing inswument was acknowledged before me this day of ~~~•g~ 2001, by Robert
W. McLaurin, as Tovtir:la Manager of the 'T'own of Vail, State of Colorado.
Witness my hand and official seal. ~O.~pF1Y..
LORELEI s
DONALDSONO
9TF OF C Jta4~
otsry >`?ublic _
~fl DONALI~N. ~
My Commission Expires: Ow -C"nMh Men EIr@S Julydi,=0
75 & Fhmfte Road VAR. OO o1~
OIZ~C+o N
STATE OF C•~ C. _3 ; C )
) ss.
COUNTY OF 2AGVC" C'T&'%
The foregoing instrument was ael mowledged before me this G day of %nrfA-n 4e- , 2001, by
Mark Hickey, Senior'V'icc president, on behalf of L-O Vail Ho;el, Inc., its
Wimess my hand and official seal.
OF RCAAL SEAL
f f.~.[ .t ] JAYNE J SMST"
Otary ublic NOTARY PUBIIO-OREGON
J COMMISMON NO, 9126"
My Commission Expires: MY COMMISSION EXPIRES JULY 22, ROW
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0 353 South Fron(age Road West Town of Vail A Q0
vau. Cctorado 81567 or F&
Date Sheet Scale 1
(949) 47610® DtawnlChecked Pro,. Num. Gl
FacslmNe (970) 47"44 46.v I so ]-,no S. ~a •l~l s GH I i' ~
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MEMORANDUM
TO: Town Council
FROM: Department of Community Development
DATE: June 26, 2001
SUBJECT: A information update regarding the redevelopment proposal for the
Gateway Building, located at 12 Vail Road / portions of lots O and N,
Block 5D, Vail Village 1" Filing.
Applicant: Mountain Owners, L.P., represented by Braun Associates
Planner: Allison Ochs
1. INTRODUCTION TO THE REQUEST
The applicant, Mountain Owners, L.P., has submitted an application to the
Department of Community Development for the Gateway Building, located at 12
Vail Road. The proposal consists of three major elements:
1. Allowing office uses and other commercial uses on the first level of the
building,
2. Adding two additional residential dwelling units,
3. Allowing a private parking club within the building.
These three elements of the proposal require the following processes:
1. A rezoning of the underlying zoning of Commercial Core I to Commercial
Service Center,
2. A major amendment to Special Development District No. 21,
3. A text amendment to Commercial Service Center to allow for a "private
club" as a conditional use,
4. A conditional use permit for a private parking club,
5. A conditional use permit to allow for residential dwelling units in the
Commercial Service Center zone district.
The purpose of the worksession today is to introduce the Town Council to the
application. The request is scheduled to go to the Planning and Environmental
Commission on July 9, 2001. The Planning and Environmental Commission will
be making a recommendation to the Town Council on the rezoning, the major
amendment to Special Development District No. 21, and the text amendment to
the Commercial Service Center zone district. The purpose of today's
worksession is not to make decisions regarding the proposal.
II. CURRENT REGULATIONS
The Gateway is currently zoned Special Development District No. 21, with an
underlying zoning of Commercial Core I. Ordinance No. 9, Series of 1988,
TOWN OF VAIL
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approved the special development district, rezoning the property from Heavy
Service, and setting forth the development standards for the property. With the
underlying zoning of CCI, the uses of the building were limited by horizontal
zoning. The only deviation from the underlying zoning was from the height
requirement.
The purpose of the CCI zone district is:
The Commercial Core 1 District is intended to provide sites and to
maintain the unique character of the Vail Village commercial area, with its
mixture of lodges and commercial establishments in a predominantly
pedestrian environment. The Commercial Core 1 District is intended to
ensure adequate light, air, open space, and other amenities appropriate
to the permitted types of buildings and uses. The District regulations in
accordance with the Vail Village Urban Design Guide Plan and Design
Considerations prescribe site development standards that are intended to
ensure the maintenance and preservation of the tightly clustered
arrangements of buildings fronting on pedestrianways and public
greenways, and to ensure continuation of the building scale and
architectural qualities that distinguish the Village.
The applicant has requested a rezoning of the underlying zoning from
Commercial Core I to Commercial Service Center. The deviations from the CSC
zone district include: GRFA, lot size, setbacks, landscape area, and building
height. The purpose of the CSC zone district is:
The Commercial Service Center District is intended to provide sites for
general shopping and commercial facilities serving the Town, together
with limited multiple-family dwelling and lodge uses as may be
appropriate without interfering with the basic commercial functions of the
District. The Commercial Service Center District is intended to ensure
adequate light, air, open space, and other amenities appropriate to
permitted types of buildings and uses, and to maintain a convenient
shopping center environment for permitted commercial uses.
The only other property currently zoned CSC is Crossroads. CSC differs from
CCI primarily in that it does not vary the allowable and conditional uses in a
building by story. In addition, CSC has different development standards than
CCI.
The Vail Village Master Plan identifies the property as "Mixed Use". The Vail
Village Master Plan defines "mixed use" as
This category includes the "historic" Village core and properties near the
pedestrianized streets of the Village. Lodging, retail, and a limited
amount of office use are found in this category. With nearly 270, 000 sq.
ft. of retail space and approximately 320 residential units, the mixed use
character of these areas is a major factor in the appeal of the Vail Village.
Specifically regarding the Gateway property, the Vail Village Master Plan, in part,
states: "If existing approval expires this site should be studied to determine best
use."
Staff has identified the following goals and objectives from the Vail Village Master
Plan which effect this proposal:
Goal #1 - Encourage high quality redevelopment while preserving the
unique architectural scale of the Village in order to sustain its
sense of community and identity.
1.2.1 Objective: Encourage the upgrading and redevelopment
of residential and commercial facilities.
Goal #2 - To foster a strong tourist industry and promote year-around
economic health and viabilty for the Village and for the community
as a whole.
2.1.1 Objective: Recognize the variety of land uses found in
the 10 sub-areas throughout the Village and allow for
development that is compatible with these established land
use patterns.
2.4 Objective: Encourage the development of a variety of
new commercial activity where compatible with existing
land uses.
2.5 Objective: Encourage the continued upgrading,
renovation, and maintenance of existing lodging and
commercial facilities to better serve the needs of our
guests.
2.6 Objective: Encourage the development of affordable
housing units through the efforts of the private sector.
Goal #5 - Increase and improve the capacity, efficiency, and aesthetics of
the transportation and circulation system throughout the Village.
5.1 Objective: Meet parking demands with public and
private parking facilities.
5.1.3 Policy: Seek locations for additional structured
public and private parking.
In addition to the rezoning request, the applicant has requested an amendment
to the Commercial Service Center zone district, allowing private clubs as a
conditional use in the zone district. Currently, the zoning code defines "private"
as "A use, area, property or facility which is not public." The zoning code
currently allows private clubs as a conditional use in the following zone districts:
Residential Cluster
Low Density Multiple Family
Medium Density Multiple Family
Public Accommodation
Ski Base Recreation
The applicant is also requesting a major amendment to Special Development
District No. 21. The only deviation from underlying zoning when the Gateway
was originally approved with CCI as the underlying zone district, was from the
height restrictions. The public benefit identified for the SDD was a pedestrian
walkway on the north and west sides of the property. At the time, no employee
housing units were required. With the major amendment to the SDD, no exterior
changes are proposed. The addition of GRFA and the change in the underlying
zoning from CCI to CSC require a major amendment to the SDD. It is important
to note that with the change from CCI to CSC, the deviations from the underlying
zone district of CSC are greater than those from CCI, including but not limited to:
GRFA, lot size, setbacks, building height, and landscape area. According to
Section 12-9A-9 of the Zoning Regulations:
Development standards including lot area, site dimensions, setbacks,
height, density control, site coverage, landscaping and parking shall be
determined by the Town Council as part of the approved development
plan with consideration of the recommendations of the Planning and
Environmental Commission. Before the Town Council approves
development standards that deviate from the underlying zone district, it
should be determined that such deviation provides benefits to the Town
that outweigh the adverse effects of such deviation. This determination is
to be made based on evaluation of the proposed special development
district's compliance with the design criteria outlined in Section 12-9A-8 of
this Article.
III. REVIEW PROCESS
The proposal is currently scheduled for a final review by the Planning and
Environmental Commission on July 9, 2001. First reading of an amending
ordinance has tentatively been scheduled for July 17, 2001, depending on the
recommendations of the Planning and Environmental Commission. Because
there currently are no exterior changes proposed, the Design Review Board will
not be reviewing the proposal.
ARTICLE E. COMMERCIAL SERVICE C Lt-;TER (CSC)
DISTRICrF
12-7E-1: PURPOSE:
The Commercial Service Center District is intended to provide sites for general shopping and
commercial facilities serving the Town, together with limited multiple-family dwelling and lodge
uses as may be appropriate without interfering with the basic commercial functions of the
District. The Commercial Service Center District is intended to ensure adequate light, air, open
space, and other amenities appropriate to permitted types of buildings and uses, and to maintain a
convenient shopping center environment for permitted commercial uses. (Ord. 8(1973) § 10.100)
12-7E-2: REQUIREMENTS FOR ESTABLISHMENT; DEVELOPMENT
PLAN:
A. Review Required: Prior to the establishment of any Commercial Service Center District or
enlargement of District boundaries, the Town Council shall by resolution adopt a general
development plan for the proposed District. The development plan may be prepared by an
applicant for the establishment of the District or may be prepared by the Town. The
development plan shall be submitted to the Planning And Environmental Commission for
review, and the Planning And Environmental Commission shall submit its findings and
recommendations on the plan to the Town Council.
B. Plan Content: The development plan shall show the following information:
1. Existing topography and tree cover.
2. Proposed division of the area into lots or building sites, and the proposed uses to be
established on each site.
3. Proposed locations, dimensions, and heights of buildings on each site, and the locations of
parking and loading areas, access drives, principal public and private open spaces, and other
site plan features.
4. Relationship of proposed development on the site to development on adjoining sites.
5. Such additional information as the Planning and Environmental Commission and Town
Council deem necessary to guide development within the proposed district.
C. Plan To Be Guide: The development plan shall be used as a guide for the subsequent
development of sites and the design and location of buildings and grounds within the District.
All plans subsequently approved by the Design Review Board in accordance with Chapter 1. I
of this Title shall substantially conform with the development plan adopted by the Town
Council. (Ord. 8(1973) § 10.200)
12-7E-3: PERMITTED USES:
The following uses shall be permitted in the CSC District:
Banks and financial institutions.
Eating and drinking establishments, including the following:
Bakeries and delicatessens with food service.
Cocktail lounges, taverns, and bars.
Coffee shops.
Fountains and sandwich shops.
Restaurants.
Personal services and repair shops, including the following:
Barbershops.
Beauty shops.
Business and office services.
Cleaning and laundry pickup agencies without bulk cleaning or dyeing.
Coin-operated or self-service laundries.
Small appliance repair shops, excluding furniture repair.
Tailors and dressmakers.
Travel and ticket agencies.
Professional offices, business offices, and studios.
Retail stores and establishments without limit as to floor area including the following:
Apparel stores.
Art supply stores and galleries.
Bakeries and confectioneries, including preparation of products for sale on the premises.
Bookstores.
Building materials stores without outdoor storage.
Camera stores and photographic studios.
Candy stores.
Chinaware and glassware stores.
Delicatessens and specialty food stores.
Department and general merchandise stores.
Drugstores and pharmacies.
Florists.
Food stores.
Furniture stores.
Gift stores.
Hardware stores.
Hobby stores.
Household appliance stores.
Jewelry stores.
Leather goods stores.
Liquor stores.
Luggage stores.
Music and record stores.
Newsstands and tobacco stores.
Pet shops.
Photographic studios.
Radio and television broadcasting studios.
Radio and television stores and repair shops.
Sporting goods stores.
Stationery stores.
Supermarkets.
Toy stores.
Variety stores.
Yardage and dry goods stores.
Additional offices, businesses, or services determined to be similar to permitted uses in
accordance with the provisions of Section 12-7E-2 of this Article. (Ord. 16(1996) § 3: Ord.
27(1990) § 2: Ord. 8(1973) § 10.300)
12-7E-4: CONDITIONAL USES:
The following conditional uses shall be permitted in the C8C District, subject to issuance of a
conditional use permit in accordance with the provisions of Chapter 1.6 of this Title:
Any use permitted by Section 12-7E-3 of this Article, which is not conducted entirely within
a building.
Bed and breakfast as further regulated by Section 12-14-18 of this Title.
Brew pubs.
Commercial laundry and cleaning services.
Dog kennel.
Major arcade.
Multiple-family dwellings and lodges.
Outdoor operation of the accessory uses as set forth in Section 12-7E-5 of this Article.
Public buildings, grounds and facilities.
Public park and recreation facilities.
Public utility and public service uses.
Ski lifts and tows.
Theaters, meetings rooms, and convention facilities.
Type III employee housing units (EHU) as provided in Chapter 13 of this Title. (Ord.
6(2000) § 2: Ord. 10(1998) 2, 5: Ord. 22(1997) § 2: Ord. 16(1996) § 4: Ord. 14(1996) §
2: Ord. 8(1992) § 23: Ord. 27(1990) § 4: Ord. 31(1989) § 11: Ord. 20(1982) § 5: Ord.
6(1982) § 6(a): Ord. 10(1975) § 3: Ord. 8(1973) § 10.400)
12-7E-5: ACCESSORY USES:
The following accessory uses shall be permitted in the CSC District:
Home occupations, subject to issuance of a home occupation permit in accordance with the
provisions of Section 12-14-12 of this Title.
Minor arcade.
Swimming pools, tennis courts, patios, or other recreation facilities customarily incidental to
conditional residential or lodge uses.
Other uses customarily incidental and accessory to permitted or conditional uses, and necessary
for the operation thereof. (Ord. 6(1982) § 6(b): Ord. 8(1973) § 10.500)
12-7E-6: LOT AREA AND SITE DIMENSIONS:
The minimum lot or site area shall be twenty thousand (20,000) square feet of buildable area, and
each site shall have a minimum frontage of one hundred feet (100'). (Ord. 12(1978) § 3)
12-7E-7: SETBACKS:
In the CSC District, the minimum front setback shall be twenty feet (20'), the minimum side
setback shall be twenty feet (20'), and the minimum rear setback shall be twenty feet (20'). (Ord.
50(1978) § 2)
12-7E-8: HEIGHT:
For a flat or mansard roof, the height of buildings shall not exceed thirty five feet (35'). For a
sloping roof, the height of buildings shall not exceed thirty eight feet (38'). (Ord. 37(1980) § 2)
12-7E-9: DENSITY CONTROL:
Not more than forty (40) square feet of gross residential floor area (GRFA) shall be permitted for
each one hundred (100) square feet of buildable site area, and gross residential floor area shall
not exceed fifty percent (50%) of total building floor area on any site. Total density shall not
exceed eighteen (18) dwelling units per acre of buildable site area. (Ord. 50(1978) § 19: Ord.
12(1978) § 2)
12-7E-10: SITE COVERAGE:
Site coverage shall not exceed seventy five percent (75%) of the total site area. (Ord. 17(1991) §
11: Ord. 8 (1973) § 10.607)
12-7E-11: LANDSCAPING AND SITE DEVELOPMENT:
At least twenty percent (20%) of the total site shall be landscaped. The minimum width and
length of any area qualifying as landscaping shall be fifteen feet (15') with a minimum area not
less than three hundred (300) square feet. (Ord. 19(1976) § 11A: Ord. 8(1973) § 10.609)
12-7E-12: PARKING AND LOADING:
Off-street parking and loading shall be provided in accordance with Chapter 10 of this Title. At
least one-half (1/2) of the required parking shall be located within the main building or buildings.
No parking or loading area shall be located in any required front setback area. (Ord. 19(1976) §
11A: Ord. 8 (1973) § 10.610)
12-7E-13: LOCATION OF BUSINESS ACTIVITY:
A. Limitations; Exception: All permitted and conditional uses by Sections 12-7E-3 and 12-7E-4
of this Article, shall be operated and conducted entirely within a building except for
permitted parking and loading areas and such activities as may be specifically authorized to
be unenclosed by a conditional use permit and the outdoor display of goods.
B. Outdoor Display: The area to be used for outdoor display must be located directly in front of
the establishment displaying the goods and entirely upon the establishment's own property.
Sidewalks, building entrances and exits, driveways and streets shall not be obstructed by
outdoor display. (Ord. 34(1982) § 4)
Application Supplement
For Amendments to the
VAIL GATEWAY BUILDING
Town of Vail, Colorado
June 11, 2001
1. Introduction
The Vail Gateway Building was originally proposed in the late-1980's and during the review
of the project there was a great deal of debate regarding how this parcel of land should be
developed. The parcel's location at the "gateway" to Vail Village made it a very strategic
parcel of land, however it's physical separation from the Village's pedestrian corridors
presented a number of other challenges. Ultimately the project was approved as Special
Development District No. 21 with an underlying zoning of Commercial Core 1 (CC I) and in
the early 1990's the Gateway Building was opened with a mixture of retail shops,
restaurants and residential condominiums.
Over the past 11 years it has become apparent that the retail and restaurant aspects of the
project simply do not work. At the time of this application all restaurant and retail spaces
within the building are vacant. Reasons for the failure of businesses within the building
cannot be attributed to any one source, however it seems very evident that the site's isolation
from the pedestrian areas along Meadow Drive and the Village core make it difficult to
attract pedestrians to the project. While only one block off of Meadow Drive, the Gateway
Building is apparently too far "off the beaten path" to sustain retail and restaurant uses.
All commercial space within the building is owned by one entity (the six residential units are
owned by individual owners). In response to the failure of retail and restaurant uses, the
owner of the commercial space has spent the past year evaluating a variety of different
development programs in an attempt to revitalize what can only be described as a distressed
property. Existing zoning of the property has proven to be a major constraint to assembling
a feasible re-development program for the building.
The fundamental problem with the revitalization of the building has proven to be the CC 1
underlying zoning. As with any SDD, the underlying zoning establishes permitted and
conditional uses for the property. The CC 1 district essentially allows for only retail and
restaurant uses on street level. While this zoning was deemed appropriate for the original
developers concept for the building, history has demonstrated that retail and restaurant uses
are not viable. Due to the limited range of uses permitted on the street level, the CCI zone
district presents a major constraint to the revitalization of this building.
Vail Gateway Building, Vail, Colorado Page 1
Braun Associates, Inc.
The proposed revitalization of the building is intended to provide viable commercial activity
in this mixed-use area of the Town and would be accomplished primarily by simply
broadening the range of commercial uses permitted within the building. The major elements
of this revitalization proposal include the following:
• A change to underlying zoning in order to allow for office and other commercial uses on
the street level of the building,
• The addition of two residential dwelling units on the third floor,
• Establishment of a "parking club" within the building, and
• All proposed modifications will take place within the existing building, i.e. no
physical expansions of the building are proposed.
The zone change is intended to allow for office use on the street level of the building and
will also maintain the mixed-use character of the building. At the same time, this change
will allow for a use (office) that is not dependant upon pedestrian traffic. Employees,
visitors, and activity will be introduced to the site that at the same time will help support
other retail and commercial businesses in the surrounding area. The parking club concept
was developed in response to the over abundance of parking already existing on the property
(after accounting for the changes in potential uses, the property will have a surplus of 39
parking spaces). The applicant believes that this can be a successful use for the property by
providing guests and residents the opportunity for "close-in" parking and club amenities,
thus reducing demands placed on the town's parking structures. The proposed residential
units on the third floor represent a limited expansion of a land use that has proven to be a
viable use on the site. Total project density will be within the density levels originally
approved by SDD No. 21.
The proposed re-development package, taken as a whole, provides a win-win solution for
both the owner of the building and the community.
In order to allow for these changes, the following five applications have been submitted:
• Change to the underlying zoning from Commercial Core 1 (CC 1) to Commercial
Service Center (CSC). This change will allow for office uses on the ground floor of
the building. The CSC district is a more appropriate zoning for the property based
on the Town's Land Use Plan and Vail Village Master Plan.
• Major amendment to SDD No. 21. This amendment will allow for minor changes to
the development plan and to development standards and also acknowledge the
change to the underlying zone district.
• Zoning text amendment to the Commercial Service Center zone district. This
amendment will allow for "private clubs" as a conditional use.
Vail Gateway Building, Vail, Colorado Page 2
Braun Associates, Inc.
• Conditional Use Permit application to allow a private parking club on the property.
• Conditional Use Permit application to allow the existing and proposed residential
uses. The CSC zone district requires a Conditional Use Permit for residential uses.
The following sections provide additional information on each of these five applications.
Vail Gateway Building, Vail, Colorado Page 3
Braun Associates, Inc.
II. Rezoning from Commercial Core 1 to Commercial Service Center
The change in underlying zoning from Commercial Core 1 to Commercial Service Center is
proposed in order to allow for a wider range of uses on the property, specifically the
introduction of office uses on street level. With the exception of the "horizontal-use
zoning" found in the CC1 district, there are very few differences in permitted and
conditional in the CC1 and CSC districts. There are some slight differences in the
development standards (i.e. setbacks, building height, etc.) of these two districts. However,
SDD No. 21 establishes development standards for this property and as such, any
differences between the development standards of CC1 and CSS are academic.
The only other site in Vail currently zoned CSC is the Crossroads Plaza. Crossroads is
proximate to the Vail Gateway property and also has a very similar context to Vail Gateway.
Both sites are located along the Frontage Road and both are located on the periphery of Vail
Village. Both properties have been developed as mixed-use projects with office, retail and
residential uses.
When the Gateway Building was originally proposed the property was zoned Heavy
Service and was occupied by a gas station. Not long after the Gateway Building was
approved, the Vail Village Master Plan (VVMP) was adopted. This Plan designated the
Gateway site as "mixed use". The Plan also defined a portion of the Village as
Commercial Core 1 and the Gateway Building was not included within this area. As
such, the current CC1 zoning is in conflict with the land use designation of the VVMP.
The proposed change to CSC would be consistent with the VVMP's mixed-use
designation and bring the property into greater compliance with the Plan.
The criteria which the Town uses to evaluate a rezoning request include:
1) Is the proposed zoning suitable with the existing land uses on the site and
adjacent land uses?
Response:
The uses listed in the CSC zone district are nearly the same as those contained in
the CC] district. The location of uses within the building differs in that the CSC
zone allows office uses on any level of a building. In terms of compatibility, the
CSC zone district is consistent and complementary of the uses located on-site and
on neighboring properties. The proposed CSC zoning will continue to allow
mixed uses consistent with the Vail Village Master Plan and the Vail Land Use
Plan.
2) Is the amendment preventing a convenient workable relationship with land
uses consistent with municipal objectives?
Vail Gateway Building, Vail, Colorado Page 4
Braun Associates, Inc.
Response:
The proposed CSC zone district will provide for mixed-use development
consistent with the Vail Village Master Plan. By furthering the goals of the
VVMP, this proposal is consistent with municipal objectives.
Vail Gateway Building, Vail, Colorado Page 5
Braun Associates, Inc.
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LEGEND
3 > E M1XEL USE Pl arL FACE fPAR!{ING
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LOW DENSITY RESIDENTIAL
This map designates the Vail Gateway Building as "Mixed-Use."
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This map shows the Vail Gateway Building outside of the area designated for M zoning.
3) Does the zoning provide for the growth of an orderly, viable community?
Response:
The proposed CSC zone district will provide for orderly growth by allowing for
uses that are consistent with Town goals. This zone change will also allow the
owner greater flexibility in the range of land uses that will be permissible on the
property. In doing so, this will provide for a more viable property and a more
viable community.
4) Is the change consistent with the Land Use Plan?
Response:
The proposal complies with the Land Use Plan and the Vail Village Master Plan and
specifically the following policies:
Vail Land Use Plan:
1.1 Vail should continue to grow in a controlled environment, maintaining a
balance between residential, commercial and recreational uses to serve
both the visitor and the permanent resident.
1.3 The quality of development should be maintained and upgraded whenever
possible.
1.12 Vail should accommodate most of the additional growth in existing
developed areas (infill areas).
2.2 The ski area owner, the business community and the Town leaders should
work together closely to make existing facilities and the Town function
more effectively.
3.4 Commercial growth should be concentrated in existing commercial areas
to accommodate both local and visitor needs.
5.1 Additional residential growth should continue to occur primarily in
existing, platted areas and as appropriate in new areas where high hazards
do not exist.
Vail Village Master Plan:
Goal #1 Encourage high quality redevelopment while preserving the unique
architectural scale of the Village in order to sustain its sense of
community and identity.
Vail Gateway Building, Vail, Colorado Page 8
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1.2 Objective: Encourage the upgrading and redevelopment of residential
and commercial facilities.
1.2.1 Policy: Additional development may be allowed as identified by
the action plan as is consistent with the Vail Village Master
Plan and Urban Design Guide Plan.
Goal #2 To foster a strong tourist industry and promote year-round
economic health and viability for the Village and for the
community as a whole.
2.1 Objective: Recognize the variety of land uses found in the 10 sub-
areas throughout the Village and allow for development
that is compatible with these established land use patterns.
2.4 Obiective: Encourage the development of a variety of new commercial
activities where compatible with existing land uses.
2.5 Objective: Encourage the continued upgrading, renovation and
maintenance of existing lodging and commercial facilities
to better serve the needs of our guests.
Goal #5 Increase and improve the capacity, efficiency and aesthetics of the
transportation and circulation system throughout the Village.
5.1 Objective: Meet parking demands with public and private parking
facilities.
5.1.1 Policv: For new development that is located outside of the
Commercial Core 1 Zone District, on-site parking shall be
provided (rather than paying into the parking fund) to meet
any additional parking demand as required by the Zoning
Code.
5.1.5 Policv: Redevelopment projects shall be strongly encouraged to
provide underground or visually concealed parking.
Vail Gateway Building, Vail, Colorado Page 9
Braun Associates, Inc.
III. Maior Amendment to Special Development District No. 21
The Vail Gateway Building was developed in accordance with the provisions of Special
Development District No. 21. An amendment to SDD No. 21 is necessary to acknowledge
the change in underlying zoning and to allow for one change to the previously approved
development plan.
Physical changes to the building are limited to interior modifications only. No modifications
are proposed to the exterior of the building. As such, there are no changes to building
height, setbacks, site coverage, etc. Interior changes include the proposed change of uses,
the addition of two new dwelling units and the addition of 4,723 square feet of GRFA. Of
these three changes, only the addition of GRFA requires an amendment to the existing SDD
(the potential change of uses is addressed by the proposed change in underlying zoning and
the addition of two dwelling units does not require an amendment because the existing SDD
allows for up to 12 dwelling units and there are only six units currently on the property).
SDD No. 21 currently allows for 13,000 square feet of GRFA. Proposed modifications to
the building would increase this number to 17,160, or an increase of 4,160 square feet. The
vast majority of this new GRFA is a result of converting existing commercial square footage
to GRFA. Of the new GRFA proposed, only 963 square feet of the 4,160 square feet is
actually new floor area. This new floor area is created by infilling the mezzanine space on
the third floor in the old Michael's Restaurant.
The proposed amendments to the development plan are in conformance with the Special
Development District review criteria, as applicable to this application, as described below:
A. Design compatibility and sensitivity to the immediate environment,
neighborhood and adjacent properties relative to architectural design,
scale, bulk, building height, buffer zones, identity, character, visual
integrity and orientation.
Response:
The bulk and scale of the project are already defined by the existing
building and therefore the proposed amendments do not have an impact on
bulk and mass.
B. Uses, activity and density which provide a compatible, efficient and
workable relationship with surrounding uses and activity.
Response:
This re-development plan provides for a mixture of office, retail,
restaurant, service, and residential uses on the property. The building is
located in a "mixed use" area identified by the Vail Village Master. The
Vail Gateway Building, Vail, Colorado Page 10
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uses located on adjacent properties; residential, lodging, retail, and
offices, are compatible with the proposed development program.
C. Compliance with parking and loading requirements as outlined in
Chapter 12-10 of the Town of Vail Municipal Code.
Response:
All existing on-site parking and loading facilities will remain unchanged.
The proposed changes to uses within the building will, however,
significantly reduce the need for parking and loading and delivery
facilities. Excess parking spaces are proposed to be utilized as a parking
club. Refer to the attached CUP application for this club.
D. Conformity with the applicable elements of the Vail Comprehensive
Plan, Town policies and Urban Design Plan.
Response:
There are no changes proposed to the exterior of the building and as such
this criteria is not relevant.
E. Identification and mitigation of natural and/or geologic hazards that
affect the property on which the special development district is
proposed.
Response:
The proposed amendment has no impact on this criterion.
F. Site plan, building design and location and open space provisions
designed to produce a functional development responsive and sensitive
to natural features, vegetation and overall aesthetic quality of the
community.
Response:
There are no changes proposed to the exterior of the building or the site
and as such this criteria is not relevant
G. A circulation system designed for both vehicles and pedestrians
addressing on and off-site traffic circulation.
Response:
There are no changes proposed to the exterior of the building or site and
as such this criteria is not relevant. It is anticipated however, that the
proposed changes to the building will result in significantly less vehicular
traffic to and from the site. This is primarily due to the elimination of
Vail Gateway Building, Vail, Colorado Page 11
Braun Associates, Inc.
3,760 square feet of restaurant space that will be replaced by two
residential units.
H. Functional and aesthetic landscaping and open space in order to
optimize and preserve natural features, recreation, views and
functions.
Response:
There are no changes proposed to the exterior of the building or the site
and as such this criteria is not relevant.
1. Phasing plan or subdivision plan that will maintain a workable,
functional and efficient relationship throughout the development of
the special development district.
Response:
There is no phasing proposed with this amendment.
Vail Gateway Building, Vail, Colorado Page 12
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IV. Text Amendment to Commercial Service Center Allowing Private Clubs
A text amendment to the Commercial Service Center zone district is proposed to allow for
"private clubs" as a conditional use. Subject to approval of this text amendment, it is the
intention of the applicant to gain approval of a conditional use permit for a private club at
the Gateway Building. This club would be established to utilize the excess parking spaces
within the Gateway Building. Refer to the attached CUP application for additional
information on this club.
"Private clubs" are currently listed as conditional uses in the following zone districts:
Residential Cluster,
Low Density Multiple-Family,
Medium Density Multiple-Family,
High Density Multiple-Family,
Public Accommodation, and
Ski Base Recreation.
Examples of private clubs in Vail include the Vail Athletic Club, the Cascade Club, the
Passport Club and the Vail Village Club (now closed). The Passport Club at Golden Peak is
a recent example where the Town approved a conditional use permit for a private parking
club that was defined as a "private club".
Allowing for "private clubs" as a conditional use provides the Town with the ability to
review a specific proposal to ensure it is compatible with other uses on the site in the area
before permitting the use on the property. This allows the Town ample control over land
uses while at the same time allowing the landowner flexibility in the management and use of
its property.
The proposed text amendment is consistent with permitted and conditional uses in the CSC
zone district and appropriate for those specific properties currently designated as CSC.
Vail Gateway Building, Vail, Colorado Page 13
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V. Conditional Use Permit - Private Parking Club
There are currently 89 parking spaces within the Gateway Building. This number of spaces
was provided in response to the uses originally proposed for the building. Original uses were
dominated by restaurant and retail uses that happen to have relatively high parking ratios.
With the changes proposed by these re-development applications, the amount of required on-
site parking is significantly reduced. The following table summarizes uses contemplated for
the building and the resulting parking requirement:
Use Sa. Ft./Units Ratio Parking Reouired
Office (1) 12,573 2.7 spaces/1,000 34
Parking Club 240(3) 0 0
Residential 8 2/unit (2) 16
50
(1) It is assumed that all 13,600 square feet of commercial space is utilized as office. The proposed CSC
zoning will also allow for retail and restaurant uses within this space. If such uses occur, any increase in
required parking will reduce the number of spaces available for the parking club.
(2) Town code requires 1.4 spaces per dwelling unit, however existing declarations designate 2 spaces per
unit.
(3) The Parking Club sq. ft. could be increased without increasing the need for parking on the site.
As proposed, 39 "excess" spaces will result on the property. The proposed parking club will
make these spaces available for use, thereby relieving some pressure on the Town's parking
structures. The parking club would have the following features:
¦ Utilization of up to 39 parking spaces,
¦ A small club facility that would provide a lounge area, restrooms, changing room,
storage, etc.
¦ Valet service, which among other things will allow for very efficient use of
previously approved "tandem spaces"
¦ Parking spaces may be sold, leased or made available on a daily fee basis.
A parking club is a relatively new use to the Town of Vail. There is a demand for parking
close to the Village Core and the ski portals that has adequate amenities for users (i.e., locker
rooms, dressing areas, ski storage, etc.). On this property, the parking spaces already exist in
an enclosed structure. Provisions existing within the Town's code could allow for these
excess spaces to be leased. This conditional use permit will essential allow the applicant the
right to provide guest services in conjunction with the parking: This is analogous to efforts
the Town has taken to provide "guest service" facilities such as ski storage and rest rooms at
the Village Structure.
"Conditional" uses are uses that are generally deemed compatible with other permitted and
conditional uses within a zone district, subject to compliance with specific review criteria. If
Vail Gateway Building, Vail, Colorado Page 14
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the review criteria are met by the PEC, the use is deemed compatible and approved. The
following are the review criteria for a conditional use permit:
A. Relationship and impact of the use on development objectives of the Town.
Response:
The proposed private parking club is consistent with Town objectives to provide a high
level of service to guests and to maximize the use of private parking. This use is
expected to lessen demands on the Town's existing parking facilities.
B. Effect of the use on light and air, distribution of population, transportation
facilities, utilities, schools, parks and recreation facilities, and other public
facilities and public facilities needs.
Response:
The proposed parking club will have no adverse impacts on these factors. The parking
club is expected to lessen demands on the Town's parking facilities.
C. Effect upon traffic, with particular reference to congestion, automotive and
pedestrian safety and convenience, traffic flow and control, access,
maneuverability, and removal of snow from the streets and parking area.
Response:
The parking club will generate traffic to the site, however it is anticipated that at full
utilization, each parking space will generate only one in-bound and one out-bound
trip each day. Even with parking club traffic, the overall mix of uses proposed for
the property will result in a reduction of vehicle trips to the property. This is
primarily due to the reduction in the number of restaurants located in the building.
D. Effect upon the character of the area in which the proposed use is to be located,
including the scale and bulk of the proposed use in relation to surrounding uses.
Response:
The proposal does not change the bulk and mass of the existing building and therefore
has no impact on this criterion.
Vail Gateway Building, Vail, Colorado Page 15
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I
VI. Conditional Use Permit - Residential Uses
A conditional use permit is necessary to allow for the existing and proposed residential uses
on the property. The residential uses have been in place on the property for the last 11 years.
Two additional units are proposed for a total of eight dwelling units. Issues of compatibility
of residential uses with commercial activities have proven successful on this project and
throughout the Town of Vail. Additionally, the Vail Village Master Plan recognizes this
area as "mixed use", appropriate for a mixture of retail, office and residential uses.
The following are the review criteria for a conditional use permit:
A. Relationship and impact of the use on development objectives of the Town.
Response:
The proposed residential dwelling units are consistent with Town objectives and master
plans. The Vail Village Master Plan designates this site as "mixed-use The proposed
density of dwelling units proposed is less than that originally approved for the site by
SDD #21 (12 units were originally approved, eight are proposed).
B. Effect of the use on light and air, distribution of population, transportation
facilities, utilities, schools, parks and recreation facilities, and other public facilities
and public facilities needs.
Response:
The proposed residential dwelling units will have little, if any, impact on these issues.
C. Effect upon traffic, with particular reference to congestion, automotive and
pedestrian safety and convenience, traffic flow and control, access,
maneuverability, and removal of snow from the streets and parking area.
Response:
Two proposed dwelling units will have little to no affect on these factors. The overall
proposed mix of uses on the property will reduce the number of vehicle trips to the
property. This is primarily due to the reduction in the number of restaurants located in
the building.
D. Effect upon the character of the area in which the proposed use is to be located,
including the scale and bulk of the proposed use in relation to surrounding uses.
Response:
The proposal does not change the bulk and mass of the existing building and therefore
does not have an impact on this criterion.
Vail Gateway Building, Vail, Colorado Page 16
Braun Associates, Inc.
VII. Project Development Statistics
Lot size = 24,154 sq. ft. or 0.5545 acres (verify)
Develoament Standard CSC CO SDD 21 Existine Development Proposed Plan
Density 18 units/acre (9.98 units) 25 units/acre (13 units) 21.6 units/acre (12 units) 10.9 units/acre (6 units) 14.4 units/acre (8 units)
GRFA 40% (9,661 sq. ft.) 80% (19,323 sq. ft.) 54% (13,000 sq. ft.) 50% (12,077 sq. ft.) 71% (17,160 sq. ft.)
Setbacks
Front 20' 0' 18' 18' no change
Side 20' 0' 20' (S), 15' (N) 20' (S), 15' (N) no change
Rear 20' 0' 1' 1' no change
Site Coverage (max.) 75% 80% 64% 64% no change
Landscape Area (min.) 20% 0% (no reduction) per plans as constructed no change
Building Height 35'flat/38'sloping 43' (40% of roof), 33' per plan as constructed no change
Commercial Space no limitation no limitation no limitation 16,348 sq. ft. 12,813 sq. ft.
Parking Club 240 sq• ft.
(included in commercial space)
Vail Gateway Building, Vail, Colorado Page 17
Braun Associates, Inc.
9chuttz
SQAURE FOOT CALCULATUNS
EXISTING SF CQLCS PROPOSED SF CQLCS ~
RESTAURANT: 9 RESTAURANT: 0 > °
OFFICE: 0 OFFICE: 10,323 ° Q 9°O
RESIDENTIAL: 12,37 RESIDENTIAL: 17,160 Q (0)09
RETAIL: 6,904 RETAIL: 0 m LL o
COMMERCIAL: 2,250 Q
oo~
TOTAL EXIST 28,735 'PARKING CLUB` : 240
TOTAL PROPOSED 29,973
DATE: 6/7/01
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DESIGN REVIEW BOARD AGENDA
Wednesday, June 20, 2001
3:00 P.M.
PUBLIC MEETING RESULTS
PUBLIC WELCOME
PROJECT ORIENTATION / LUNCH - Community Development Department 12:00 pm
MEMBERS PRESENT MEMBERS ABSENT
Clark Brittain
Bill Pierce
Hans Woldrich
Andy Blumetti
Charles Acevedo
SITE VISITS 2:00 pm
1. Andersson residence - 4995 Juniper Lane
2. Law residence - 4460 Glen Falls Lane
3. Vail Heights - 2059 Chamonix Lane
4. Vail Marriott - 715 W. Lionshead Circle
5. Lodge at Vail - 174 Gore Creek Drive
Driver: Allison
PUBLIC HEARING - TOWN COUNCIL CHAMBERS, 3:00 pm
1. Andersson residence - A final review of a proposed addition. Allison
4995 Juniper Lane/Lot 9, Block 5, Bighorn Subdivision.
Applicant: Mats & Andrea Andersson, represented by Eric Johnson
MOTION: Charles Acevedo SECOND: Andy Blumetti VOTE: 5-0
APPROVED WITH 1 CONDITION:
1. That the deck rails on the secondary unit be finished to match the
deck rails on the primary unit.
2. Weiss residence - Final review of proposed addition. Ann
3838 Bridge Road/Lots 11 & 12, Bighorn 2nd Addition.
Applicant: Gary Weiss, represented by Steve Riden
MOTION: Bill Pierce SECOND: Hans Woldrich VOTE: 5-0
APPROVED WITH 3 CONDITIONS:
1. That the addition be approved by staff once there is PEC approval, approved
hazard mitigation, and Public Works issues are resolved.
2. That the living room windows be more consistent with others on the building.
3. That the tower design be reviewed by staff.
1 TOWN OF PAIL
3. Law Residence - Conceptual review of a new single-family residence. Allison
4460 Glen Falls Lane / Lot 9, Forest Glen Subdivision.
Applicant: Don and Susan Law, represented by S.H. Cole Construction
CONCEPTUAL - NO VOTE
4. Marriott Hotel - A final review of a proposed seasonal tent for s~ecial events Allison
715 W. Lionshead Circle/Lots 4 & 7, Block 1, Vail Lionshead 3` Filing & Lots
C & D, Morcus Subdivision.
Applicant: Vail Marriott
MOTION: Bill Pierce SECOND: Charles Acevedo VOTE: 5-0
APPROVED WITH 2 CONDITIONS:
1. That the tent be removed no later than Oct. 30, 2001 and must be reapplied for on
a yearly basis.
2. That different surfacing material & tent be explored prior to next year's application.
5. Beaver Dam residence - Proposed changes to approved plans. Bill
383 Beaver Dam Road/Lot 3, Block 3, Vail Village 3`d Filing.
Applicant: A2Z Holding, LLC, represented by Fritzlen Pierce Architects.
MOTION: Andy Blumetti SECOND: Hans Woldrich VOTE: 4-0 (Pierce recused)
APPROVED WITH CONDITIONS:
1. That the fire requirements be met using non-combustible corrugated, roof material
with approved non-wavy fascia details.
2. That pre-patina copper be used.
3. That the similarity and rigidness of windows be changed.
4. That the door & garage door details be changed to remove the "x's."
6. Lodge at Vail - Final review of a new planter wall and pedestrian walk. Brent
174 Gore Creek Drive / Lot A, Block 5C, Vail Village Filing #1
Applicant: The Lodge at Vail, represented by Charlie Viola
TABLED
7. Vail Heights Phase III - Replace retaining wall. Ann
2059 Chamonix Lane/Lot 16, Vail Heights.
Applicant: Vail Heights Phase III Condominium Association
MOTION: Clark Brittain SECOND: Bill Pierce VOTE: 5-0
APPROVED WITH 3 CONDITIONS:
1. That the adjacent property owner's approval be required.
2. That a building permit be required.
3. That it be troweled to look like stucco with no stones to be added to the finish.
Staff Approvals
Parker residence - Change bay window to 2 double hung windows. Allison
483 Gore Creek Drive/Lot 7, Vail Village 4'h Filing.
Applicant: Foxhall and Helen Parker
2
John Galt - Wall and hanging signs. Ann
193 Gore Creek Drive/Gore Creek Plaza.
Applicant: Charles H. Rosenquist
Logan residence - Minor changes to approved plans. Allison
814 Potato Patch Drive/Lot 3, Block 1, Vail Potato Patch.
Applicant: Logan Family Trust
Knight residence - Window/door replacement. Judy
385 Gore Creek Drive, #201/Lot 14-1, Vorlaufer Condos.
Applicant: Constance B. Knight
Town of Vail entrance sign - Host of the 2001 Mountain Bike World Championships. Ann
Main Vail Roundabout/Lot 9A, Vail Village Filing 2.
Applicant: Town of Vail
Sorotta residence - Deck removal, enlarge 2 windows, roof extension, relocate doors. Bill
1593 Matterhorn Circle/Lot 28, Matterhorn Village.
Applicant: Sandy Sorotta
Johnson residence - 74 sq. ft. Interior conversion, window & door replacement. Bill
174 E. Gore Creek Drive/Lot A, The Lodge Apt. Condo.
Applicant: Judith Johnson
Lucas residence Reroof. Judy
4337 Streamside Circle/Lot 7, Bighorn '4m Addition.
Applicant: James and Sari Lucas
Collins residence - Addition of 151 sq. ft. Bill
1115 Hornsilver Circle/Lot 8, Block 1, Vail Village 8'h Filing.
Applicant: Carol C. Collins
Zopf residence - Balcony addition. Brent
894 Spruce Court/Lot 9, Block 3, Vail Village 9th Filing.
Applicant: 894 Spruce LLC
The applications and information about the proposals are available for public inspection during
regular office hours in the project planner's office, located at the Town of Vail Community
Development Department, 75 South Frontage Road. Please call 479-2138 for information.
Sign language interpretation available upon request with 24 hour notification. Please call 479-2356,Telephone for the
Hearing Impaired, for information.
3
PLANNING AND ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION
PUBLIC MEETING SCHEDULE
Monday, June 25, 2001
PROJECT ORIENTATION / - Community Development Dept. PUBLIC WELCOME 12:00 pm
MEMBERS PRESENT MEMBERS ABSENT
Site Visits : 1:00 pm
1. Irwin residence- 1956 Gore Creek Drive
2. Schroeder residence - 100 E. Meadow Drive, Units 335 & 337.
3. Lionshead Commercial Core
4. Weiss lots - 3834 & 3838 Bridge Road
5. Frazier/Dahl lots - 3816, 3826 & 3828 Bridge Road
Driver: George
11(**3
NOTE: If the PEC hearing extends until 6:00 p.m., the board may break for dinner from 6:00 - 6:30
Public Hearinq - Town Council Chambers 2:00 pm
1. A request for a work session to discuss amending certain residential zone districts in the
Town of Vail to allow home day care facilities subject to the issuance of a conditional use
permit and a home occupation permit.
Applicant: Town of Vail
Planner: George Ruther
2. A request for a variance from Section 12-6D-6 (Setbacks), Vail Town Code, to allow for the
construction of a garage within the required front setback, located at 1956 Gore Creek Drive
/ Lot 45, Vail Village West Filing #2.
Applicant: David Irwin
Planner: Brent Wilson
3. A request for a major amendment to Special Development District #6, to allow for the
conversion of 2 residential units into 1, located at 100 E. Meadow Drive, Units 335 & 337/Lot
O, Block 5D, Vail Village 1St Filing.
Applicant: Patricia & Gerardo Schroeder, represented by Fritzlen Pierce Architects
Planner: Brent Wilson
4. A request for a worksession to discuss a minor subdivision proposal, located at 3834 & 3838
Bridge Road/ Lots 11 & 12, Bighorn Subdivision 2"d Addition.
Applicant: Gary Weiss, represented by Steve Riden, Architect
Planner: Ann Kjerulf
1 TOWN OF PAIL
5. A request for a worksession to discuss a minor subdivision proposal, located at 3816, 3826,
and 3828 Bridge Road/ Lots 8, 9, & 10, Bighorn Subdivision 2" Addition.
Applicant: June Frazier and Jeff Dahl, represented by Steve Riden, Architect
Planner: Ann Kjerulf
6. A request for a worksession to discuss allowing ski storage as a permitted or conditional use
on the first floor of a building in Lionshead Mixed Use 1 & Lionshead Mixed Use 2 Zone
Districts.
Applicant: Town of Vail
Planner: Allison Ochs
7. A request for a conditional use permit, to allow for the construction of an athletic field,
located at 610 N. Frontage Rd. West/ A portion of Tract C, Vail Potato Patch. A full metes &
bounds legal description is available at the Department of Community Development.
Applicant: Town of Vail
Planner: Allison Ochs
8. A request for the review of a proposed text amendment to Chapter 11, Design Review, of the
Zoning Regulations to allow for procedural changes to the performance bond process as
prescribed in the Vail Town Code.
Applicant: Town of Vail
Planner: George Ruther
9. Approval of June 11, 2001 minutes
10. Information Update
The applications and information about the proposals are available for public inspection during
regular office hours in the project planner's office located at the Town of Vail Community
Development Department, 75 South Frontage Road. Please call 479-2138 for information.
Sign language interpretation available upon request with 24 hour notification. Please call 479-2356,
Telephone for the Hearing Impaired, for information.
Community Development Department
Published June 22, 2001 in the Vail Trail.
2
VAIL VALLEY VLOVAj
TOURISM & CONVENTION BUREAU
100 East Meadow Drive • Suite 34 • Vail, CO 81657
June 22, 2001
Dear Town Council:
I wanted to thank you for your continued support of Vail America Days. The Town and
Vail Resorts contribution of $10,000 each has enabled us to increase Vail's Fourth of
July fireworks display. We have increased the quality of the show by 35% over the 2000
performance.
It is incredibly refreshing to see two entities within the community step up and make sure
this community celebration is the quality of event we have come to expect. I commend
the Town and Vail Resorts for being there for the community in a time of need. Along
with the support of Gallegos Corporation, we hope to see our best Independence Day
celebration to date. If you get a chance to thank Andy Daly and the Gallegos family, I
would greatly appreciate it.
Have a great Fourth of July!
Thank you,
Heath
Vice President
Group Sales Reservations Visitor Services Business Office
1-800-775-8245 1-800-525-3875 (970) 479-1014 (970) 476-1000
FAX (970) 479-2364 FAX (970) 476-6008 FAX (970) 479-7162 FAX (970) 476-6008
Website: wwwvisitvailvalley.corn E-mail: vvtcb@visitvailvalley.com
APR-14-1900 00:09 P.02
June 19, 2001
Vail Recreation
a 1' S T R I C T
700 S. Frontage Road East Town of Vail Council
Vaal, Colorado 51657 75 South Frontage Road West
970.479.2279 Vail, CO 81657
f 970.479.2197
www.vailrec.com RE: VAIL CENTER
Dear Council Members,
VAIL VOLP CLUB This letter serves to express our Support for the Vail Center on behalf of the Vail
1778 Vail Valley Drive Recreation District. We discussed our goals and revisited our mission during our
479.235
F 479,23555 annual Board Retreat and unanimously support the Vail Center concePt
GOL.FMADm-NANCF. Although our primary mission is to provide our residents and guests with quality
1275 Vail Valley Drive recreation programs and services, we also understand our role in the betterment of
479.2262 Vail as a total community. The Vail Recreation District, has, therefore, been a
f 479.3451 very active partner with the Town of Vail in moving the Vail Center project
forward. The addition of a year-round second sheet of ice, a quality skateboard
PARK MANTMANCt park, and a family entertainment center will create a central location where we as a
700 S. Frontage Road East community can gather. The possibilities of attracting hockey and figure skating
y g
479.2457
f 479.2281 camps during our shoulder seasons are endless, and will be a great economic
generator for all of us.
VAIL TENvis CEN=
700 S. Frontage Road East One of the concerns regarding the -operations of the Vail Center will be the lease
479.2294 agreement between the Town of Vail and the Vail Recreation District. 'We are
f 479.2281 hopeful that the new agreement will be for a term concurrent with our existing
lease. The VRD is interested in executing the lease, for operating the recreational
JatIN A. Dn ARPNA components of the Vail Center, prior to September 30, 2001. We strongly feel that
321 Lionshea ead Circle
479.2271 all components of the recreational facilities be in a finished state (including
f 479.2267 furniture and fixtures) prior to turning the facilities over to the VRD.
VAILYol1TH StstvIcE On behalf of the Vail Recreation District Board of Directors, we want to thank you
395 E. Lionshead Circle for your efforts in making the Vail Center a reality. You can depend on the Vail
479.2292 Recreation District and all Board members for our support toward attaining this
f 479.2835
c-h-.ion goal.
VAm NATURE CENTGR
Vail Valley Drive Sincerely,
479.2291
f 479.3459
MARICU NC Hermann Statifer Chris Moffet Ross Davis
700 S. Frontage Road East Chairman Vice Chairman Director
479.2446
f 479 2197 VRD VRD VRD
ADULT & YoL.rM $PORTS
700 S. Frontage Road East
479.2280 Nancy Stevens Tom Saalfeld
f 479.2281
www.spoftsstandiLigs.com• Director Director
VRD VRD
Or visit us Utn the web at:
www.vailrec.com
PLANNING AND ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION
PUBLIC MEETING RESULTS
Monday, June 25, 2001
PROJECT ORIENTATION / - Community Development Dept. PUBLIC WELCOME 12:00 pm
MEMBERS PRESENT MEMBERS ABSENT
Doug Cahill Diane Golden
John Scofield Dick Cleveland
Galen Aaslen
Chas Bernhardt
Brian Doyon
Site Visits : 1:00 pm
1. Irwin residence - 1956 Gore Creek Drive
2. Schroeder residence -100 E. Meadow Drive, Units 335 & 337.
3. Lionshead Commercial Core
4. Weiss lots - 3834 & 3838 Bridge Road
5. Frazier/Dahl lots - 3816, 3826 & 3828 Bridge Road
Driver: George
r.*-))3
NOTE: If the PEC hearing extends until 6:00 p.m., the board may break for dinner from 6:00 - 6:30
Public Hearinq - Town Council Chambers 2:00 pm
1. A request for a work session to discuss amending certain residential zone districts in the
Town of Vail to allow home day care facilities subject to the issuance of a conditional use
permit and a home occupation permit.
Applicant: Town of Vail
Planner: George Ruther
WORKSESSION - NO VOTE
2. A request for a variance from Section 12-6D-6 (Setbacks), Vail Town Code, to allow for the
construction of a garage within the required front setback, located at 1956 Gore Creek Drive
/ Lot 45, Vail Village West Filing #2.
Applicant: David Irwin
Planner: Brent'Wilson
MOTION: John Schofield SECOND: Chas Bernhardt VOTE: 5-0
DENIED
TOWN OF VAIL
1
3. A request for a major amendment to Special Development District #6, to allow for the
conversion of 2 residential units into 1, located at 100 E. Meadow Drive, Units 335 & 337/1-ot
O, Block 5D, Vail Village 15t Filing.
Applicant: Patricia & Gerardo Schroeder, represented by Fritzlen Pierce Architects
Planner: Brent Wilson
MOTION: Doug Cahill SECOND: John Schofield VOTE: 5-0
RECOMMENDATION OF APPROVAL WITH ONE CONDITION:
1. The applicant shall submit a revised condominium map to reflect the approved
amendment for review and approval by town staff by no later than June 25, 2002.
4. A request for a worksession to discuss a minor subdivision proposal, located at 3834 &
3838 Bridge Road/ Lots 11 & 12, Bighorn Subdivision 2nd Addition.
Applicant:. Gary Weiss, represented by Steve Riden, Architect
Planner: Ann Kjerulf
WORKSESSION - NO VOTE
5. A request for a worksession to discuss a minor subdivision proposal, located at 3816, 3826,
and 3828 Bridge Road/ Lots 8, 9, & 10, Bighorn Subdivision 2nd Addition.
Applicant: June Frazier and Jeff Dahl, represented by Steve Riden, Architect
Planner: Ann Kjerulf
WORKSESSION - NO VOTE
6. A request for a worksession to discuss allowing ski storage as a permitted or conditional
use on the first floor of a building in Lionshead Mixed Use 1 & Lionshead Mixed Use 2 Zone
Districts.
Applicant: Town of Vail
Planner: Allison Ochs
WORKSESSION - NO VOTE
7. A request for a conditional use permit, to allow for the construction of an athletic field,
located at 610 N. Frontage Rd. West/ A portion of Tract C, Vail Potato Patch. A full metes &
bounds legal description is available at the Department of Community Development.
Applicant: Town of Vail
Planner: Allison Ochs
MOTION: John Schofield SECOND: Brian Doyon VOTE: 5-0
APPROVED WITH FOUR CONDITIONS:
1.. That a gate will be provided on the w/sw corner of the field
2. That staff will consider and explore the possibility of a boulder wall to create a berm for the
fence.
3. That amplified sound will only be allowed as part of school activities.
4. That the school is considered the primary user; the Town is secondary and the VRD is
third and this shall be indicated in any agreement regarding the field.
2
1
8. A request for the review of a proposed text amendment to Chapter 11, Design Review, of the
Zoning Regulations to allow for procedural changes to the performance bond process as
prescribed in the Vail Town Code.
Applicant: Town of Vail
Planner: George Ruther
RECOMMENDATION OF APPROVAL TO TOWN COUNCIL PER THE STAFF MEMO.
9. Approval of June 11, 2001 minutes
10. Information Update
The applications and information about the proposals are available for public inspection during
regular office hours in the project planner's office located at the Town of Vail Community
Development Department, 75 South Frontage Road. Please call 479-2138 for information.
Sign language interpretation available upon request with 24 hour notification. Please call 479-
2356, Telephone for the Hearing Impaired, for information.
Community Development Department
3
COUNCIL FOLLOW-UP
ji'IC QUESTIONS FOLLOWUP
2001
1/23/01 PEDESTRIAN BRIDGE (TO THE EAST GREG H.: The load capacity continues to be an issue; is it Staff will supply estimate for replacement, removal, reinforcement, etc.
OF THE INTERNATIONAL BRIDGE) time to remove the bridge altogether, continue to monitor
and control "load", or take steps to buoy up the
foundation/support?
5/15/01 EASEMENT W/CASCADE CLUB GREG H.: What is the status of the easement between the Agreement attached.
Diana Donovan town and Cascade in re: to construction grading at Donovan
Park?
5/22/01 LETTER TO JOE MACY BOB: Prepare letter of thanks for Joe for his many years of Attached.
Rod Slifer service to this community, the ski area, and the county.
6112/01 EXTENDING IN-TOWN SHUTTLE TO BOB/MIKE ROSE: Can the in-town shuttle be extended to
NATURE CENTER the Nature Center?
Diana Donovan
6/12101 JOINT COUNCILM/TCB BOARD OF MARY/PAM: Please schedule a work session to discuss the Scheduled for July 24th work session.
DIRECTORS MEETING proposed merging of the VVTCB with the Chamber.
6112/01 SITZMARK GARBAGE/GREASE PIT RUSS/GEORGE/BOB: Write letters to all restaurateurs
Chuck Ogilby using the Sitzmark central trash/grease enclosure (to
include, Blu's, Lancelot, Left Bank, Sweet Basil).
6/19/01 DONOVAN PARK PAVILLION GEORGE/TODD 0.: It has been said the quality of the
Diana Donovan "inside" materials is being compromised by the expense for
"outside" materials.
6/19/01 NEWSPAPER BOXES BOB/SUZANNE/GREG H.: With the number of newspapers A letter was mailed to the publication distributors on June 19 (and copied to
Rod Slifer having been diminished, Rod has supplied photos of those Council) putting them on notice that consolidation will be reviewed following
around town showing about 50% occupancy. Perhaps some a staff audit in early July.
could be removed entirely? (A set of photos has been
supplied to both Suzanne and Greg.)
F;lmcasterlbsalterlagendalfollowupl6-26-01 cfu
June 26, 2001 - Page 1
Vail Recreation
D I S T R I C T May 29, 2001
700 S. Frontage Road East Pam Brandmeyer
Vail, Colorado 81657 Town of Vail
970.479.2279 75 South Frontage Road
f 970.479.2197
www.vailrec.com Vail, CO. 81657
RE: Joint meeting between VRD and TOV Council
VAIL GOLF CLUB
1778 Vail Valley Drive
479.2260
f 479.2355 Dear Pam,
GOLF MAINTENANCE
1278 wail valley Drive
479.2262 Thank you for scheduling the joint meeting for Tuesday, June 26> 2001
f 479.3451 at 1:00 p.m. at the Town of Vail Council Chambers. We would like to
use this time to discuss the following issues:
PARK MAINTENANCE
700 S. Frontage R
oad East I Education on VRD budget.
479.2457
f 479.2281 2. Capital Improvements over the past 5 years.
3. Dobson's Capacity.
VAIL TENNIS CENTER 4. Ford Park.
700 S. Frontage R
oad
294 5. pDonovan Pa~rk' 'Phase II Completion.
479.2
f 479.2281 ~0. Rt~.p. wvlw ?fiC
It will probably take at least two-and-half-hours to cover all these
JOHN A. DOBSON ARENA topics. Thank you again for your cooperation and we are looking
321 Lionshead circle forward to the meeting. Please contact me at 479-2461 if you have
479.2271 Y
f 479.2267 any questions regarding this matter.
VAIL YOUTH SERVICES
395 E. Lionshead Circle Sincerely,
479.2292
f 479.2835 '~~j/~~-/J~?~
VAIL NATURE CENTER
Vail Valley Drive Piet Pieters
479.2291
f 479.3459 Director
Vail Recreation District
MARKETING
700 S. Frontage Road East
479.2446
f 479.2197
ADULT & YOUTH SPORTS
700 S. Frontage Road East
479.2280
f 479.2281
www.sportsstandings.com
Or visit us on the web at:
www.vailrec.com
TOWN OF VAIL
Department of Community Development
75 South Frontage Road
Vail, Colorado 81657
970-479-2138
FAX 970-479-2452
www. ci. vail. co. us
MEMORANDUM
TO: Vail Town Council
FROM: Department of Community Development
DATE: June 26, 2001
SUBJECT: "Par Three" Parcel / Tract A, Vail Village Filing 13 - Land Use
The "Par Three" property in East Vail has been identified as a potential location for a
new dog park. Our understanding of a dog park is that it is a location where dog owners
can take their pets to run loose within a fenced area. Dog parks are especially popular
in urban city settings and in communities requiring that dogs be kept on leashes when in
public parks.
According to the Official Town of Vail Zoning Map, the "Par Three" property is zoned
"Outdoor Recreation." Pursuant to this designation, "active public outdoor recreation
areas"(such as a dog park) are a conditional use and subject to the issuance of a
conditional use permit. The approval process for the establishment of a dog park on the
property would involve a conditional use permit review by the Planning and
Environmental Commission (PEC). The Commission will evaluate the proposal for
issues such as parking, impacts to adjacent properties, public health and safety
concerns and environmental conditions would be addressed.
Additionally, a dog park proposal would be routed through the Design Review Board
process to ensure compliance with the, town's park design guidelines. A development
review process of 4-6 weeks would be typical for a project of this scope.
t0 RECYCLEDPAPER
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Y it) Class 4A ',i the color,t to Hitll courpele till the 111-h ,I Ni ll level," Rn:Id in Vail. The cum tha; %i, itl kc t. a t,i ifltl. But th :tt I
Wily Sports Wr it or SJI Ill Aetil, it , iallt 1, IIt The Vad AltitudL, Club showed its k ~_,:uhcr there will b a the A \iS 'gtlut i h (ilk, c i"tfl ,
`AIL - ThoMail hitu~tc~t-#%ni- hl- orl,-, to fiin,d, liieh ~chi-I ath- strilles quite ticcllatlher,'centlaglcs VNIS hcad coach Jco0w.ii U~~~ttuarl vill ht-mmmilt„r\~,,r,n~~-:r
riasw:s 00,*, WW, Ills-.,li line aild itr. tnun,I;n 'Clw , ill l _Ii Ik. Cuutt- Cult "t:rte Meet in Greeley bringing e\jvct~ lw'li ha~c lfI-i .c:,lrtc~s ~,ut iiiect. bN ~:triirn,
hla+r,.3tt.N`, ,,,i,tl nt t~. l'r::cil~e, t~re!u Au l ind the Ironic a,1cw of*inedals and ribbons. liar the team :;tact that it uiaprity of during
Th, t lui? , alll{'ic - "ill yilH l tr,l{It lll,l niL:C! I ,ihctlulc`d for [Ili I;, I~ -,I the format ion o th VMS the ratil,, w lit N from the Cb,"t) "It', ~tlilt„ to Il+t Ot till] to
;lmil .~It,,n the Vail ~,:r l.;Itt„I v,iPhingtocort- 2004, kids In ~,;,)'rkix,L
!,:,r ...rr ?I r Iri ~1 i h„ut it ttrrta n I t :~ittr+iC ,,,.rirltai~ had Vi1S u,l; ,_.,llt}t. it 1_alnst I I';1!! }i:tru and iii. u,n! r:. .,1_ I') cr=
,ihtai'1l ti:r,cl th; }na,,, LI ~utilt771t },tir_rvc, !i >:!i,.i
1 iu, < l _ Bt h lh f. the H1;j li.;ltlc l Lclun- Hit' ft (`uultll, liltit~ Sut`tLtt: ~n tr ti l „ll`
~lrratldc C;~:r. I. `hilt talll ~IrlrI T)rnm,uF. ;<Iti~.S. hlrllt~ ill` 'w'!! tlrhi lIlt, ,u"11111w
hill' itlC '1 11 ti51sJiii, itkC 31has, ` 1l „l till ik~int tr4'JIIAIi'lli t. i„tldf,l l.' W 1,'i ~1ry71'MI'li ,lf',Cl l IlElayN will] II!,"f +jlR, )i
t3 hi;fd' 4bhC~~• It lla;h t €lUt;,i=_ -i ,•n tt ilo fOr il,, l•,,L:, !nitl[tailliIll P °^,!;I i,!X,,. ±C:Ittl. ::i fC ~`iili tt) he tr,litw
'!;'I tit t hide., ajtc 31va+ of ht `h Ill1 ,t ~•lio me Nksiii io k l:~.litld •i. ,k !ll only he Gale tc t, 'k 111 ll'kek K l011e tit i JJ% 1,1 t"Jart ~jIW.
it's tIW ; i,','('!'rAr yuitc ;accotr,)hsh~;i v\. ,alted to have to 1, :Id to lh,r \',ill Ro,:reaucan rigid warriors 1nr tht: tii,i two yeWI.. pCtltmn tdlrly fiaxlli'
WS b db o f u1,w-1ki
VRD/TOV WORK SESSION;
1. BUDGET
Departmental bottom lines (graphics)
- Myth that golf supports all other recreation
2. CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS
- Discuss Cap Ex over past 6 years (graphics)
3. DOBSON CAPACITY
Dobson was re-classified as a basement type structure by the TOV
Building Department in 1999
- Capacity limit is 1,000 people
- $100K will increase capacity to 3,500 by installing a mechanical exhaust
system and addressing the egress issues
4. FORD PARK
- Future parking on the field will delay the opening of youth and adult
activities by several months
Staff parking
5. DONOVAN PARK
- Completion of phase II after May election - to include Clubhouse?
6. RED SANDSTONE FIELD
See management agreement between TOV/ECSD/VRD
7. VAIL CENTER
W6 C~ a . ~Gv # 1 1,
Maintenance Requirements , . irPmenu for TOVCabinets
1. All cabinets and boxes within must be functional.
2. Only white lettering will be used on boxes. This will be on the space
just below the window on the door of the Sho-Rack boxes. TOV will
do the lettering on newsvends.
I All cabinets and boxes within must be reasonably and presentably
maintained. No rack cards will be allowed. Window signs are ok.
4. There will be an annual review of these guidelines.
5. TOV will establish a hotline for us to call to report any problems,
broken or unsightly boxes that need attention. (Li 79.2-1is;/SUzinm)
6. TOV will notify each publication of any problems reported that
require their attention.
7. When TOV notifies a publication of a problem, that publication has
(2) weeks to respond.
8. Repeated offenses will lead to written notification, possible fines
and could result in that publication losing their space.
9. TOV will monitor empty spaces and look for any new racks showing
up in the area. TOV will immeditely pick up any racks not properly
registered to be in each location.
10. TOV will issue an annual letter stating what they have witnessed
and what they would like to see done or changed.
11. TOV is to establish written boundaries showing the area regulated
by this program.
12. Keep it simple - use common sense.
W5 OU-46.61 Ut14V- S
Eagle River
Watershed Council
Members of the Vail Town Council June 26, 2001
TOWN OF VAIL
75 South Frontage Road
Vail, CO 81657
RE: SUPPORT OF C-DOT FUNDING FOR VAIL PASS/ BLACK GORE CREEK SEDIMENTATION
Dear Members of the Vail Town Council,
On behalf of the board of the Eagle River Watershed Council and the members of the Black Gore Steering
Committee, I am writing to ask for a letter of support from the Town of Vail. This concerns the rehabilitation
and protection of Black Gore Creek due to years of traction sanding on Interstate 70 on Vail Pass.
On July 10, the Eagle County Commissioners will have a work session addressing the pollution of Black
Gore Creek by the tons of traction sand that have accumulated for the past 25 years. We are appealing for the
Vail Pass / Black Gore Creek issue to be prioritized by our County Commissioners for inclusion on the list of
regional priorities set by the Intermountain Transportation Region's Transportation Commission.
Currently, Black Gore Creek is not listed on the "20 Year Plan" or on the "Statewide Transportation
Improvement Plan" (STIP.) Adequate engineering plans, significant clean up and the use of best management
practices to address the issue cannot be funded until Black Gore is formally listed as a priority.
This listing is influenced by our County Commissioners and their lobbying of Governor Owen's
Transportation Commission. Without strong governmental and community support for funding to address the
problem, it will continue to be an un-funded maintenance problem rather than regional priority in line for the
estimated multi-millions of dollars needed to make a significant difference on Vail Pass. The C-DOT
Maintenance Department cannot solve this problem alone. They need our political support for funding of any
proposed solutions.
The continued heavy use of traction sand with current management practices will further degrade Black Gore
Creek and Gore Creek through the heart of Vail. The environmental impact to storage capacity for drinking
water and the economic impact from the potential loss of Gold Medal status for Gore Creek are just two of
the myriad reasons this is important to the Town of Vail. We must work to ensure the Interstate remains open
during winter storms. It is possible to use less sand in combination with some alternate techniques that can
still keep traffic moving during storms. Region I and Region II C-DOT staff need our support to secure
funding that enables them to implement both short and long term solutions to the problem.
We urge you to direct staff to prepare a letter of support for our County Commissioners that shares the Town
of Vail's strong commitment to appropriate priorities and funding levels to clean up the existing sand and to
prevent fiuther accumulation of sedimentation in Vail's waterways alongside Interstate 70.
Thank you for your commitment to an environmentally sensitive approach to this vital issue for the Town of
Vail. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me at 827-4203. We appreciate your support
of clean water and a healthy watershed in Vail.
Sinc Y'
Car line Bradford
Z~p - 4t"
Executive Director Attachments: Vail Daily series from September 2000
ERWC bradford@vail.net Tel. 970-827-4203 Fax 970-827-4210 P.O. Box 10 Red Cliff, CO 81649
Page A2-The Daily, Monday, September 18, 2000 970/949-0555/vaiidaily.com
u
SECTI •
• LOCALS' CORNER, A4
• EAGLE RIVER CLEANUP, A7
• AROUND THE MOUNTAINS, A8
~)falley
September 18, 2000
it .
Hi 9 hw T S d
an ecological disaster looming in the High Country?
By Stephen Lloyd Wood
- Daily Staff Writer
r
Thesis lays
Editors Mute: 7his is the firs( in a
fl: i3u7t serirs ekplorino the ec olc~~- x out evi ence
ical ilnpalc•t oil ricers, s•rreanis and
y~ x
It fi(i(/fe Uf Setlld ll.1'('Li fUl' trtl('r!U/1 U71 - ~.an~ag~
l/it' /Ilgit6 itS (/i [/it, tCillter.
1 .AGLE COUNTY - methodi- t ~
The 111St01'y, status and lOilg-
cally, Ken Neubecker hits the ~ x •
Tz 4+# x term effects of having r tens of
advance button on his slide projector,? thousands of cubic yards of
the mechanical clicks of a shutter and
"traction sand" spread Burin
the whir of a fan breaking the silence g
in an Avon conference room. winter on 1-70 along Vail Pass
and throughout the Black Gore
Around him, a dozen people sit - sir
Creek watershed has remained
some in shock, others disgusted- as
a" ! largely unknown, out of mind if
slide after slide not out of sight.
graphically illus-
tates what But Brian Douglas Lorch, a
uiet Crisis r= r former student of earth
Neubecker calls,,
~ ~ ~"~..,e..p«' ~ ~ : ~ resources and watershed sci-
"the quiet crisis." r ences at Colorado State Univer-
4p". T74 Click: "Here's
sity in Fort Collins, wrote a
a dead tree buried
by sand. There's a lot of dead trees n w master's thesis in 1998: "Trans-
up there," Neubecker says, referring =-r KK " " , t h port and Aquatic Impacts of
a U , T Highway Traction Sand and
to the Black Gore Creek Valley, a Salt Near Vail Pass, Colorado."
high alpine watershed just west of '..t Fr A .r , ww r
His inch-think, 148-page docu-
A~ ~
Vail Pass. n° «s 'Jwyvti
Click: "Here's a wetlands that's ~ ' +~„'~a~k+ ~`k.~,~~.~ty 1. _ ment was the first scientific
filled with sand. As you can see, it's Special to the Daily/Ken Neubecker study of the causes and effects
not clear; it's mucky. If you tried to Piles of sand akng the highway, like this one shown in the lower part of the photo, are up to 6 feet deep. salt the tons distributed and tons of sand and
walk in there, you'd go in up to your Often they tower directly above ponds and streams, where the sand eventually winds up. s in the watershed
since I-70 was completed over
neck." the pass in September 1978.
Addressing fellow members of as a Gold Medal Waters by the Col- "Sediment is by volume
the newly formed Eagle River orado Division of Wildlife for the the greatest single pollutant of
Watershed Council, Neubecker is a "
quantity and quality of trout, attract- surface waters, wrote Lorch,
man who wears several hats - typi- F , ing thousands of fly fishermen and now a resource specialist for the
tally fishing hats. He's president of~ their families every year from across Summit County Open Space
the council, a group of local water t
,,,r the United States and the world. Department. `Little research
experts, public and corporate offi- Gore Creek is fed by several has been published that evalu-
cials and local residents concerned streams, including Black Gore ates the impacts of traction sand
about the quality of the water in Creek, which
begins at the Black from highways on streams.
Eagle County; he's a board member as Lakes, two man-made reservoirs at How differences in the season-
of Trout Unlimited, a national cold- Vail Pass. The Black Lakes store a al tinting of traction sand inputs
water fisheries conservation organi- combined half a million acre feet of vs. natural sediment sources
zation; and he's assistant director of a ' water for a variety of uses down- might affect aquatic organisms
the Vail Nature Center, on the banks stream, including drinking water for also has not been investigated.
of Gore Creek in the middle of Vail.` the town of Vail and snowmaking for "The results of this study
Click: "Here's a whole hillside of Vail Resorts, operator of Vail Moun- may assist efforts to improve
nothing but sand and gravel. It's start- tain, the largest ski area in North aquatic habitats in Black Gore
ing to look like the Great Sand Vail Daily/Quentin Hunstad America. Creek by providing an impetus
Dunes," Neubecker says, pointing Ken Neubecker is president of both the Eagle River Watershed Coun- During the construction of I-70 - for changes in the management
out the once-pristine creek just a few eil and Trout Unlimited, a national eoldwater fisheries organization. a massive, five-year project that cel-. of I-70."
feet away. "You know, there's a lot He says sand firom winter op...~.;:ons on 1-70 "threatens to kill" Black ebrated opening day in September
you can't see from the highway. It's Gore Creek and is slowly pushing through Vail to the Eagle River. 1978 - crews actually moved the LorcWs thesis
substantial what's up there. But streambed of Black Gore Creek in at
what's frustrating is it doesn't have to storms to help motorists get up and creek, and if nothing's done it'll push least five locations. Now the stream discusses how:
happen." over Vail Pass, at 10,666 feet above its way into the Eagle River," lies within 500 feet of the interstate ¦ Plows and snowbtowers
Neubecker has become a crusad- sea level. By one estimate, that's the Neubecker explains. "It's what we for most of its nine miles from Vail often throw sand more than 100
er, too, against what he believes to be equivalent of at least an inch-thick call the quiet crisis. It's not a dra- Pass to the confluence with Gore feet from the highway. Vegeta-
an impending ecological disaster - blanket of sand on every square foot matic thing. It's more a creeping Creek at East Vail. For the next nine tion within 30 to 60 feet of the
the gradual filling of streambeds of the nine miles of four-lane road thing. People don't notice it." miles through Vail to Dowd Junc- highway is buried annually.
from Vail Pass downstream to the surface between Vail Pass and East tion, where the entire watershed ¦ Sand accumulations -
Eagle River with sediment, the result Vail. Waterway vs. freeway empties into the Eagle River, Gore estimated by CDOT at 100,000
of massive amounts of "traction The massive accumulation is Creek lies within six-tenths of a mile to 150,000 cubic yards - have
sand" delivered to the area every growing every year. By the highway Gore Creek is just one of many or less from the highway. 1-70 cross- suppressed plant growth on
year for more than two decades now department's own estimates, in many waterways draining the soaring Gore es the two creeks seven times. entire hillsides, leading to
by road crews with the Colorado places the sand is more than 3 feet Range, named after Sir George Gore, Vail Pass has become an impor- severe erosion directly into the
Department of Transportation. deep, with the volume of sand an Irish baronet' who visited Col- tant transportation corridor for streambed of Black Gore
An estimated 12,000 to 30,000 involved ranging G,-- 100,000 to orado in 1855..The stream is one of skiers, tourists, freight, commuters Creek. About two-thirds of the
tons of the stuff - a mixture of 95 150,000 cubic yards. the jewels of the Vail Valley, a sum- and just about everything else impor- sand rests along the highway.
percent sand and 5 percent salt - is Click: "Anything that hits the mer playground for water sports, tant to the economy of the region, as See Thesis, page A3
distributed over the paved lanes of ground eventually winds up in the such as kayaking and rafting. Since well as the state and Western part of
Interstate 70 every winter during creek. (Sand) is going to kill the 1992, the creek has been designated See Crisis, page A3
.NiONPp~fl,o4P'r1n.,9 ~Ol4.isa}~f Y s • ' ~ . M - ,Ka. .s:~ ~ Vii:.
Every wInternterCD0on l7 d7lostrlbutestensof thousands of tons of sand Every ,
west ofvailPass.Where
does It go? Into oncWlsdne Black Gore Creek
at the top of the Eagle River watershed.
m y
970/949-0555/vaildally.com The-belly, Monday; September 18, 2000---page A3
Crisis - Thesis
of drinking water for the town of
From Page A2 From Page A2 ' Vail. Vail Resorts also draw"
from the lakes, which have a
the nation. In 1998 alone, a daily average a, The balance is moving directly combined capacity of almost half
of 17,900 vehicles came over the pass. to the creek.' a million acre-feet of water, for
Over the years, CDOT has kept the x ¦ At 5 percent of the traction snowmaking.
High Country highway open virtually sand mix, an estimated 660 tons ¦ Most of the60 culverts
year-round. The department spends $2
keep of salt are applied to 1-70 at Vail originally built to,channel run-
million a year just to P traffic moving Pass every year. Salt can be ,a off toward sediment,collection
on the 100-mile stretch of I-70 between A< source of at least 10 minerals - ponds are clogged, damaged or
Denver and East" Vail throughout win- chloride, sodium, phosphorus, otherwise ineffective: Culvert
ter, including distributing more than
cadmium, nickel, lead, zinc, failures appear to have caused at
55,000 tons of sand. chromium, copper and cyanide least five landslides directly into
It takes only a walk or a bike ride that can damage vegetation, Black Gore Creek.
along, the recreation path west of Vail pollute, rivers and lakes, and ¦ Num6rous settling ponds
Pass, however, to see the damage to the reduce fish and animal popula ranging from a few feet to a few
local environment from all that sand. tions. Chloride levels in Black hundred feet across - built to
Black Gore Creek provides an alarming Gore Creek are up to 80 times' capture sediment before it reach-
example. Sandbars and other features higher than in similar creeks. es the creek or the Black Lakes
now threaten to eliminate habitat for fish The toxic effect of salt on trees - have been filled to capacity,
by filling in pools and undercutting and shrubs canhe:observedupto breached or failed.
banks, lessening the suitability of the Daily file photo 500 feet from the roadway.. ® More than 50 percent of
streambed for spawning and limiting the One accident on 1-70, near Vail Pass can bring traffic to a standstill. Keep- ® Sand Ns eliminated habi- the sand reaching the creek
population of insects, the primary food ;ing traffic flowing is.important°to the local, regional and national economies, tat for fish rii Black Gore Creel: comes frgtri 13 distinct drainage
source for the fish. sandin$the htgiiway,durin winter striri+ts is the only way CDO'1 has devised b fi
y llipg in, pools slid undercut- points. Almost 20 percent comes
,
Downstream to the town of Vail, to do that safely. ling hanks lessening the suit- from two specific :drainage.
where the economy largely depends on a ability of the, streambed for points near a westbound run-
natural setting for outdoor recreation and highway department maintains a 200-foot Pass, as well as prevent future accumula spawning and limiting the.popu away truck ramp..
tourism, potential economic damage. easement. through the White River Nation- tions. lar]on of insects, the primary ¦Infourofsevenwatersarri-
looms as well, from: a] Forest over Vail Pass to operate 1-70, "We've created a monster. We recog- food source for the fish. pies, suspended sediment linked
¦ Loss of summer tourism related to with a memoranda n of understanding nize that," says feff Kullman, CDOT's ¦ Acres of wetlands and to highway sources was more
fly fishing, a multi-million dollar industry between the U.S. Forest Service and the director of Region 1, which for mainte- riparian areas are inundated with than 10 times greater in the Black
boosted by the Gold Medal Waters desig- state making the highway department and nance purposes stretches from Denver to sand, changing their physical Gore Creek than in similar, near-
nation and, in turn, fewer fishermen and the federal agency responsible for envi- East Vail. "But the I-70 corridor is unlike characteristics, by creeks, including upper Gore
their families visiting the valley. ronmentai damage. any other in the Wester: Hemisphere. ¦ Sediment has filled at least Creek and Polk Creek. '
¦ Decreased water storage in the Sources contacted for this series - And who else keeps a highway like that five beaver .ponds along the 8 Rising traffic density is
Black Lakes, which supply drinking water including officials with the U.S. Environ- open over mountain passes 24 hours a day, creek, reducing habitat for likely to increase the amount of
for the town of Vail and reserves for snow- mental Protection Agency - warn that 365 days a year? beavers, as. well as for . other traction sand required to main-
making by Vail Resorts. violations of the federal Clean Water Act "We're in a `Catch 22' every day " species including the Western tain safe driving conditions.
of 1977 are a possibility. Highway depart- Kullman adds, "The same people who boreal Toad; an endangered 0 The biological integrity of
Water quality ment officials say the possibility of law- complain about the sand would complain species in Colorado Black Gore Creek is not being
v5. public Safety suits by a variety of plaintiffs is a primary if the pass is closed and they're losing 0 'Sediment buildup has maintained as mandated by the
motivation for devising a plan to clean up business and money. So we're trying to reduced storage capacity in the Clean Water Act.
Then there are the legal aspects. The the sand that has accumulated on Vail serve a lot of different interests." Black Lakes, an important source Stephen Lloyd Wood
Page A2-The Daily, Tuesday, September 19, 2000 970/949-0555tVaildeily.com
SECTION',,, l 1 h
" • HOTEL TAX, A4
- • FROST CREEK, AS
• WILDERNESS/ECONOMY, A8
Valley
September 19, 2000
1
H's 0
i waY sand has
wn id
0 s es
ownstreani
By Stephen Lloyd Wood r, << 4 _ f a Ral t „
--Daily Staff Writer
E
Editor's note: This is the second in `Golden trout
afive -partseries. h worth millions
EAGLE COUNTY - Hundreds . ti
of thousands of cubic yards of sand to Vall, and
tossed on Interstate 70 at Vail Pass dur-
ing snowstorms x a k Eagle County
are creeping,
rain b EAGLE COUNTY - Of
grain by grain, the more than 9,000 miles of
down our streamsi t t ,J trout streams in Colorado,
and rivers.
167.8 miles have been desig-
,~t fC 's r
What is the +k" nated Gold Medal Waters b
potential environ v the Colorado Division of
mental damage? ~
Wildlife, which since 1992
How and when r rx r'~"
will it affect the has sought to label fisheries
that provide "outstandin
p g
local economy? :!s
"It's the to KATI EB angling opportunities for large
top trout."
of our watershed. It's what people first. k s
see when they come here. We'd like it Vail's Gore Creek is one of
to look like a mountain stream, not the q just 13 streams statewide -
Mississippi River," says Tambi Katteb,~ and the only one in Eagle
County - to share that honor.
a member of the Eagle River Water
Thanks to the thousands of
shed Council, a local watchdog group t
anglers who come to fish there,
with an interest the stream is recognized as a
in maintaining
valuable source of revenue for
tuiet Crisis the high quality the town. .
of Eagle Coun- Russell Forrest, Vail's
ty's water. "I Vail Daily/David Mamella community development
don't think Alan Czeukusch'and Tom Thompson take a fish population census of the Black Gore Creek on Sept.13. director, we've seen the He divided the total retail ales
effects down- ties to grow every year. The sand is not of fly fishing outfitters in town
streani of Vail yet. But it's going to Fast facts reusable and gravity is slowly pulling by the estimated number of
begin in Vail and continue to move it all downhill - into Black Gore trout in the Gold Medal stretch
downstream " What are Got¢ MedalWaters, stretches designated Gold Medal.. Creek before heading downstream, of Gore Creek, between Red
The 1,000-square-mile Eagle River ? The Colorado oivislolt,' of Waters: _Gore Creek; the Blue RIyer, "It's adouble-edged sword. Our Sandstone Creek and Dowd
watershed above the Colorado River is Wildlife dwafds 16: GW~. Wdal. " the Colorado River; the Fryingpart economy depends on that road being Junction.
a region with 14,000-foot peaks tower- Waters designation, to* .;reac of, :Rivet'; the Guntiison River; .1 open. As important as that is, we also "Each fish is worth about
ing over deep, forested, glacier-carved strearns that have a high quality of ::.Delaney t3utte take; the North Flat- can't afford to have our watershed $320 a year," Forrest says.
valleys. It's also a region where water- aquatic habitat, a htgli percentage to Rlver; the Rio Grange; the hoar- degraded," says Katieb, aformer Eagle "That really is the `golden
based recreation - such as skiing, 0 trout 14inches odoiiger.and0& Ing;..Foik giver; the touthPlatte County environmental planner. "We trout.-
snowboarding, fishing, kayaking and f potential for trophy trotit fishing," . Rivet, including. theMiddie and ` have an incredibly important fishery Downstream, the rest of
rafting - is the engine driving the To qualify, a stream or lake must South forks; spinney lviountain:. that's a large part of our economy. If Eagle County reels in millions
local economy. have a naturally reproducing trout Reservoir; and Steamboat Lake. we don't protect it, we'll see econom- of dollars every year from fly
Vail Pass, at 10,666 feet above sea population with a minimum stand- ? The wildlife division periodically ' is impacts." fishing. Six years ago, Ken
level, is one of the watershed's many ing stock of 60 pounds per acre and monitors the waterways, shockitigg.a Most of the movement occurs dur- Neubecker, president of Trout
headwaters. Born there is Black Gore contain an average of at least 12 portion of a stream electronicallyi ing the heavy spring run-off, when the Unlimited, a national cold
Creek, which flows west nine miles to quality trout per acre. and counting and meeasuring, the. streams are high and their force moves water fisheries conservation
East Vail to join Gore Creek for anoth- ! Central to the program are special stunned fish. A Gold l I al !!1!aters tons of sediment. Experts say this organization, did his own cal-
er nine-mile journey past the Vail Golf regulations designed taensure pop- designation, can be '&e listed" if::. spring's run-off, though brief, was culation. He used gross rev-
Course, through the town of Vail and ulation.s of large fish. On most Gold habitat konditioris ate,such that the exceptionally powerful and may have enues of the half-dozen
into the Eagle River at Dowd Junction. Medal..INatets, _ for. example, bag, trout population cal,`q longer meet moved more sand downstream than outfitter stores in the county
Vail Pass was never considered a pass, possession and size limits are used, the criteria; or socio-economic con- ever before. For the first time, small and a rough estimate of the
actually, until roads were built up and Arid 4ackle Can etirlsist: only of anti- ditions or land-use changes are such. beaches and sandbars are noticeable on number of fishermen hiring
over it -first U.S. Highway 6, com flctal flies and'lures that it is deemed to. be in the best, the banks of Gore Creek within the fishing guides, staying in
pleted in 1940, and later Interstate 70, The:13 Colprdovatetways with . interest of the people of the statt~: , town of Vail itself. hotels, eating in restaurants,
which opened in 1978. The mission buying gasoline and shopping
was to connect the growing city of Sand vs. fish with their families. He estimat-
Denver with the Western Slope and the Department of Transportation distrib- decades, however, the buildup of sand ed the fly fishing industry
rest of the western United States. utes an estimated 12,000 to 30,000 tons along the highway in many places is Upstream and east, of town, the alone brought between $15
of the stuff, a mixture of 95 percent more than 3 feet deep, with CDOT's problem in Black Gore Creek is much million and $20 million a year
Piling on sand and 5 percent salt, over the free- own estimates of the volume of sand deeper. Sand has clogged wetlands,
way every winter during cold weather involved ranging from 100,000 to See Crisis, page A3 See Golden, page A3
1-70, of course, is the source of the and storms to help motorists get up and 150,000 cubic yards.
traction sand problem. The Colorado over the pass. After more than two The massive accumulation contin-
l . T Yom'.
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O
Ot#(~Swf~~ul~k~olgfYaltPass,M~here- onlytotheerwironme~,andwnldltfie,butmthe ~,y~ratlki~Isriith~i~fkT,u~dtfieU.~.Fifrest; frY>~tt~,+ina~o~r$6m~ionCieanap p~4lpmfira~n~pxltwate{quahty
daes,lt t~fortttNai)3~udt,puteGteek osai "6oldMedalWaters',.fly:Servicereallt®aucters,tnawrtcsnaki.ftingeona,
tit+~ ecoriom~VYU's P~~~tht,Cretlc,a3imilarstt~arxiwithsimilar. ' nasaymuchmoreagt~stve~ctiatis
atthe,topt~faiflwervvt~taratd fishinpdestgnationoouldt~att~eHrstthintoga simple(pgntrlttNstcierafCt411rt`.'f+rtiFfucay n~ctntandafcos&eticam€ctw+m;',
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97049-0555/vaildaflY.corn Da/Iy,?uesday, September 19, 2000-Page A8
Crisis - Golden
From Page A2 stream near the Vail Nature Center," Sand vs. snowmaking great" he says. `'There's quite a backlog
says Neubecker, who teaches nature of material up there." From Page A2
classes there as an assistant director. One more detriment to the massive Gelvingays thewaterdistricthasspent
filled in beaver ponds, formed sandbars 'Then came all this sand. Two weeks accumulation of sand is on top of Vail Pass roughly $17,000 already this year fixing into, the.econor'
and small beaches and accumulated in later, the reds were all gone, all covered itself. Two man-made wafter reservoirs broken culverts and other maintenance at 'That's got 'to be much
virtually every nook and cranny of the up." there, the Black Lakes, store up to half a the lakes, with $40,000 more expected by more today," :Neubecker says. "And
streambed - visible to anyone walking Caroline Bradford, a Watershed million acre feet of water for a variety of year's end. He intends to bill the state for a lot of these people are big
or riding a bike along the ,:,..pion path Council member, says it takes just four uses downstream, including drinking the work. spenders. The. „stay at the Sonnenalp
east of Vail Pass. to six years for the loss of spawning water for the town of Vail and snowmak- "We're required to makethewetlands hotel (in Vail and bu thousands of
"As you fill the river with sand, the beds to become apparent in the number ing for Vail Resorts, op-ator of Vail work,"' Gelvin says: "CDOThas an agree- dollars worth f of fishing gear."
insects the fish feed on have no place to and the average size of a stream's trout Mountain. went to reimburse us for the cost." One well-known local fly-fishing
live," explains Chuck Ogilby, a Vail population. That's the life span ofatyp- The ski c-.-'F-.Y, with the capability "As far asenAronmentalL., is con- establishment Gorsuch. Outfitters,
Town Council member and an active ical large trout. of making snow on 350 acres of terrain, earned, this is major, adds Carol Russell, has high-end, stores in Vail and
outdoorsman with years of experience "If natural restocking can't l.at r,; n, plans to more than double that, to 750 an internal consultant with the U.S. Envi-' Edwards. A guide there, Dan Chal-
in water issues. "You choke off trout by in a few years there's just no more big acres. While an additional reservoir has 1 V1"11V1MJ Protection Agency. "You have fant, says Gore Creek is being "loved
killing off their food supply." fish," Bradford explains. been F.,)F.-edtoservetheextra need, cur- to look at this holistically. If you start muck- to death by 'fishermen and water
Ifeliminating the trout's food supply Katieb says that's already the case rently much of that water comes out of ing up the works, it unravels the whole bal- sportsmen. Black Gore Creek is alost
weren't. enough, sand buildup could in Black Gore Creek. "We did a fish Gore Creek Releases from the Black ance of things. It's amazing to see the ause; he adds, at least in the business
slowly eliminate their spawning beds, study last fall," she says. 'The number Lakes also augment stream flows in the long-term impacts:' sense.
too, as explained in a 148=page master's of fish, as well as the size, is very poor. late fall, helping maintain habitat for fish Russell says sand buildup not only "Sand is choking off that creek.
thesis by Brian Lorch, a former student That's an early indication something's and other riparian wildlife when streams changes a fishery but actually "slows a We don't take people up there any
of earth resources and watershed sci- wrong." are at their lowest - and most of the river down," raising the water level and, more," Chalfant say's. "There's not a
ences at Colorado State University-Fort Neubecker is even more emphatic, snowmaking happens" ' eventually causing foods:, Other cone- lot going ori'?
Collins: calling several stretches of that stream Dennis Gelvin, general managerofthe quences,inelude higher costs for needs Glen Lokay, president of Gore
"Sand and fine gravel can eliminate "dead." Eagle RiverWaterand Sanitation DistriM ranging from .road maintenance to drink- Creek Fly Fishermen Inc. and owner
habitat by filling in pools and undercut which supplies water and water treatment ing water. of Vail Fishing Guides; has lived in
banks, limiting the size and numbers of Sand vs. fly fishing to Vail and much of Eagle County, says `°Tm , sent facilities have to filter out the valley for a quarter-century. He
trout. (It) lessens the suitability of the • traction sand is slowly filling the lakes,dis- particulate matter. If there's a lot of sedi- estimates 80 to f00 guides in the area
(streambed) for spawning and survival The fly fishing business the trout reel placing water and thus reducing their star- ment in the water, it's a lot more.,expen- now depend on fi§hing for their liveli-
of incubating embryos. Sediment may in undoubtedly will suffer as the sedi- age capacity. While the displacement is sive to filter,',' Russellsays.'.. "Health hood. While.they normally lead their
smother eggs by depleting intergravel mentation process continues. Gore only a "few percent" of the total, he says, .problems don't come from theseditbenr clients to remote locations on larger
oxygen
throuaLi "1t ie Mown iil coultl fiiecome "serious" it it continues, itself, but from its
, limit levels,, trap p fry attempting to Creek Vail, since r Tf is effects on filtration." rivers, such as the .upper Eagle and
invertebrate pop- 1992 has been 'designated, as Gold So Katieb, Neubecker; Bradford and the Colorado, he lametrts talk of a
ulations required by predatory fish." Medal Waters by the Colorado Division` Sand vs. water quality other members of.the Watershed Council sandy future for Gore and Black Gore
Ken Neubecker; president of the of Wildlife. The movement of the sand along with fishermen, guides and gov- creeks. J
Watershed Council as well as Trout threatens this distinction;' Wetlands constructed below the reser- ernment officials - are watching with', "Twenty-five years ago, the fish
Unlimited, a national cold-water fish- "The Gold Medal designation is voirs have been inundated with sand, too, trepidation as sand keeps accumulating were a lot bigger here. But there's a
eves conservation organization, says he based on the biomass of fish per acre," Gelvin says, from Vail Pass to Dowd Junction.. lot of pressure and environmental
witnessed the elimination of trout Vail's Ogilby explains, referring to the "]t used to be a nice little wetlands, but `'The culprit is us. We need to keep the stress on those streams," Lokay says,
spawning beds in Gore Creek for the division's required 60 pounds of "quali- the sand has interfered," Gelvin says, road open, but we need to maintain the "Sedimeot's.doing a lot of harm...:
first time this year. ty trout" per acme of stream. "That'll go adding that until this year the water district quality of our watershed. There's a lot at' I'd like to see'it corrected."
"Early this spring, I was showing fast. We could lose the designation and would "try to scoop out the sand. stake," Katieb says. "We're all down- .
some kids all the reds (fish eggs) in the thus lose notoriety." "But the accumulations became too ~uuuli of this issue." - Stephen Lloyd Wood
i
Page A2-The Daily, Wednesday, September 20, 2000 970/949-055Uvaiidaily,com
SECTIQI
GETTING IT STRAIGHT
THE HEADLINE ON PAGE A6 OF THE SEPT. 19 EDITION
OF THE VAIL DAILY SHOULD HAVE SAID:
h ealley
"GYPSUM TOWN COUNCIL REVOKES LIQUOR LICENSE"
September 20, 2000
1
•
a legal quagmire
It comes talists' outcries, the EPA ultimately
ordered the Forest Service and the ski
company to restore the wetlands to its
down to a original state as soon as possible. The
possibility of a fine by the EPA, pos-
sibly in the millions of dollars,
defi nit io n remains.
111 Compare that 0.7-acre violation to
the estimated 12,000 to 30,000 tons of
By Stephen Lloyd Wood traction sand the Colorado Department
- - Daily Staff Writer of Transportation tosses on Interstate
70 every winter during storms to help
motorists get up and over Vail Pass.
Editor's note: This is the third in a
i Massive accumulations line Interstate
five-part series. y' r
*~f 70 for most of its nine miles between
am-Y ` Vail Pass to East Vail. Entire hillsides
EAGLE COUNTY - If the envi- are buried, acres of wetlands are inun-
ronmental and economic damage
dated, and Black Gore Creek, a once-
from hundreds of thousands of cubic pristine mountain stream, is being
yards of sand i: slowly choked off by the mixture of 95
accumulating
percent sand and 5 percent salt.
throughout our "The wetlands violation up at Cat-
,;ICtet Crisis
watershed
t ! F ~ ~ aF egory III literally pales in comparison,"
` z, - . 4 r>~ ~ ~r~~'` ~m :~a~
All d appear dismay = explains Tambi Katieb, a member of
a g x ~ ,
ing, the I gal ~ k " ri
k. ,t the Eagle River Watershed Council. "If
as sets are
p rr- you added up all the wetlands suffo-
dowm-ight bewildering.
Vem
eating under traction sand and ravel,
A myriad of local, state and feder-
tuF, , 4
it's far more than 0.7 acres." g
a] agencies are involved in building - Vail Resorts still faces the possi-
and maintaining safe highways and y w i L `"r special to the Daily/Ken Neubecker bility of a steep fine and remediation
managing the use of public lands. But Above: In winter sand from high costs, as well as the complications of
unlike most environmental issues - '
i way operations gets thrown or having logging trucks move the Blue
in which private interests, such as log- 3 plowed off bridges and directly Sky Basin timber through Vail Vil-
ging, mining, real estate and ski com- into ere6ks. Some piles of sand lage, over a tiny piece of land
panies, deplete natural resources, . infringed upon once. CDOT has liter-
damage the environment or threaten r on their banks are up to 6 feet
deep. The. bridges are part of the ally poured sand into the Black Gore
wildlife -this one is quite different. highway system, considered a Creek watershed for decades with lit
This ecological concern asks the s nonpoint-source of 'pollution by tle notice from regulators or environ-
bureaucrac itself to weigh the envi- mentalists, despite the far greater
ronmental consequences of its taxpay- the EPA.
ecological damage over time.
er-funded actions against the public ti
,
good of those actions. t Left: Most of the 60 culverts bunt A matter of legal
"We don't even know how to « to drain 1-70 over Vail Pass, like address this issue," acknowledges this one, are inundated and now interpretation
Rocky Smith of Colorado Wild, a a~ c serve no purpose. If part of a fae- The Clean Water Act is a 1977
r .z
Durango-based group of environmen- tory or water treatment facility, amendment to the Federal Water Pol-
talists that made its name battling Vail however, they might be considered lution Control Act of 1972, which
Mountain's Category III ski expansion a° point-sources by the EPA. regulates the discharge of pollutants
area, now known as Blue Sky Basin.
' into the waters of the United States.
"With most things, it's clear what to Resorts to haul logs cut for the ski The amendment made it illegal to dis-
do because there s an obvious culprit." area expansion inadvertently had charge any "toxic pollutant" from a
Category III provides an interesting
rs,Y crossed 0.7 acres of sensitive wet- point source,' whicli; is a specific
comparison with. the road sand accu- lands high on Battle Mountain. The location such as the end of a pipe
mutation along Vail Pass. In suminer U.S. Environmental Protection emerging from a factory or a sewage
1999, inspectors with the U.S. Army 11, Agency closed the road and cited the treatment facility.
Corps of Engineers discovered a tem- ski company for violating the federal A road or highway, by its linear
porary logging road built by Vail y Clean Water Act. Amid environmen- See Crisis, page A3
i ongress passes the Organic te' utional Environmental Policy Act ongress passed the Clean Water Act, an auiend-
IAet; indicating, the legislative etablishes a national policy for the nrent to the Federal Water Pollution Control Act
Bbody considered watershed nvironment "to promote efforts which on 1972, setting the basic structure for regulating
§protection to he paramount will prevent of elinduaie.damage to the discharges of pollutants to the waters of the United
ito -'if not the exclusive nviromnent and biosphere and stimu- ojtstruction of States. The amendment make it unlawful for any
~rpose of establishing ate the health and welfare of man." I-70 over Vail person to discharsg any pollutant from a point
Pass begins.
est reserves avigable waters without a perntit.
n
y e .S. Forest Service I memorandum'of undeistandung between J l
issues a special use permi[ CDOT and the Forest Service takes effect, a ational Fures~ 11lanagement Act is Mover Vail
to the Colorado with an easennent issued to the transports- enacted It requires strong measures to Pass is
Department of Highways. tion department to allow the construction "protect water resources and fish habitat completed.
[innber har-
of I-70 for the purpose of "constructing, Vestnting detrimental and road impacts construction."
ves
mairntairtinng, operating, improving and
future reconstruction of the highway."
i'M
ltg,
R Ell
t ~~Fm t>'~fT?7 •`+'.}v~k~' '~r 1~~~#A ~~wlll~i ~{~t't1irP Y' ~ t~ ~~Kiraav r,..
E e .,..a ~L$11 Qt~1'i1~ - + ? i or litoseathteatn4l NflkfRtil4pQ ~i?IltllfOf,iAW541iFS.~rQy~lfl~ V@1lt' $11!!x'$ gf'1001 08"UpN '*W.06dCGi}'[le, +Att@!'F,i lPlp t4,,4dBp' SI;t#d
¢fiand#~ ?ar4xtY+u! Y ra?,;. t:kuci"n 4widtciand?h,~us,i`16ans+t+a
Y orra
*-fly- ±??Ifr?: UCwa
. ;
tdra ~tlail' "GoWMedMlatets
dcjas~b~uE?o',, ~errrHaeraallzas~uc~3stiinctuut,opuld,htrlgeala';;, `tG~eekp..tttllathe8![+'i~ti~sy?3+iiar, PxPeFtsaay+niki.atore ressiweactioeiis
thetopofth~'~agleRideiwatershed:,' thl~gk94++totic4uldbe.tlieftrstthtp9,tao "9-.
1
sim a definitio
n the;feiieraE Qeitn, Wale Act £ 9r ~tnrmitatihl. heca?y lath erid.oficourse it all ¢4a?es down .
a ffitgtlfl8y,'
Ii•
970/949=0555%vailda11y.66tn The Daily, Wednesday, September 20, 2000--Page A3
Crisis - - -
From Page A2 ,
nature, is considered a "nonpoint A Precedent for sediment . another lawsuit, this time against the 200-foot easement through the impacts," Dolan says. "We're
source," however. And pollution Forest Service. They want the feder- White River National Forest with a nowhere near regulating the sanding
from nonpoint sources - whether Point source or not, the matter of al agency to provide at least some memorandum of understanding of passes. That would be a huge
sediment, fertilizer, oil, chemicals, sedimentation from' highways has funding toward a 10-year, $22 mil- between the Forest Service and the undertaking."
bacteria or even acid - may not be received attention by the courts. lion erosion and drainage control state. That makes the transportation
considered a regulatory part of the In 1998, the Sierra Club sued the project that ultimately will put a department and federal agency Fear of litigation
Clean Water Act if it's delivered to city of Colorado Springs and the "hard surface" on the road to Pikes responsible for any, environmental
the waterway "by rainfall or Forest Service in federal court, Peak. damage. CDOT and Forest Service officials
snowmelt moving over and through accusing the city of mismanaging Freeman says the argument is the Construction of the interstate, are well aware they are vulnerable to
the ground." the 20-mile gravel road, to the same concerning traction sand accu- however, began in 1973, and envi lawsuits' by a variety of plaintiffs
"The Clean Water Act is supposed, 14,110-foot summit of Pikes Peak. mulation on Vail Pass. ronmental studies were c.,...Yleted in litigation that could force them to
to protect the integrity of the water The city operates the highway, "There are legal technicalities.... 1975 - two and four years, respec- take drastic measures to clean up the
chemically, physically and biologi- which draws, about 300,000 tourists It's a complicated situation," Free- tively, before the Clean Water Act massive amounts of traction sand on
tally. The EPA first focuses on them- a year. The Forest. Service is,respon- man says. "They clearly are degrad- was enacted in 1977.. Vail Pass, as well as prevent it from
ical," explains Carol Russell, an sible for managing the public lands. ing the watershed, but it's not clear To further complicate the matter,' happening again.
internal consultant with the EPA in Since 1970, crews had delivered an whether it's a violation of the Clean run-off from highways is considered "Vail Pass is our next immediate
Denver. "Trying to draw a discrete estimated 1.5 million tons of gravel Water Act. "storm water" by the Colorado concern. If we don't start taking some
line between point vs. nonpoint to the Pikes Peak Highway - more "We argued that highway Department of -Public Health and mitigation measures on our own
source and regulatory vs. non-regula- than 15,000 truckloads in the past drainage system is; indeed; a point Environment, to which the EPA dele- soon, somebody through legal chan-
tory is difficult.... (But) as defined; decade alone - and a large portion source Freeman adds. "It should be., •r gates authonty; over storm.watermat, nels will force us into it," says Jeff
certain portions of a highway such of it was spilling off the road, 'erod- .regulated." _ ters A mumca al, storrr~ sewers stein Kullman, the transportation depart-
.
as drainages - 'could be a point ing the landscape and smothering Ed Brink, a lead enforcement offi, permtt..rssued by. the department, is ment's director for Region I, which
source." streams, wetlands and; fragile alpine. cer With the EPA, says'settli hg the necessary only ur txe5 °t5f 100;000 for maintenance purposes stretches
Mike Claffey, a project manager grasses. and plants, the Sierra Club „ Pikes Peak Highway, case may have people or mnre'such 4s'"b aver, l ake- from the Kansas border, to Vail Pass.
for the Army Corps of Engineers argued. left more questions„ than' ansWers, wood, Aurora and Colorado Springs. "CDOT has been identified as the pri-
involved with Vail's Category III "They just 1,6pt Ibringing more with the point-, vs. nonpoint-source Kathy Dolan, "stormw'aterprogram mary polluter. The worst-case sce-
vioiation, says the point of the blade truckloads of gravel every year," says question remaining unresolved. coordinator for the depattmeAt., says nano is a lawsuit.... If that happens,
used to bulldoze the temporary log- Michael Freeman, an attorney with "From an environmental stand- sand is a "pollutant" under the Col- you can bet some major stockholders
ging road across the wetlands was the the Earth Justice Legal, Defense point, both., are bad-. and need to be.. orado Water Quality Control Act in Vail will be applying pressure."
specific point-source for pollution. Fund, which represents the Sierra addressed` says Brink. who is a state version of the Clean Water::Act Tom L. Thompson, the Forest Ser-
"Vail Resorts. literally put fill Club. involved with the Category III case, but the department has; no author-, vice's deputy regional forester for the
material into the waterway," Claffey The city settled the lawsuit last too "TSi re's still a lot of catching up ity' over CDOT outside the larger Rocky Mountain Region, says the
explains. Hypothetically, if CDOT year, agreeing to pay $100,000 to do r municipalities:. "best defense is being proactive" in
placed a dump truck load of sand in a toward the environmental group's 'Key in the matter statewide,, she correcting the problem.
wetlands, to stare it there, that would legal bills and $300,000 over four VUhat:,that means says is: the definition of point- vs. "At some point you have to trust
be `a point-source discharge. But years to begin repairing the damage. nonpoint source pollution.. the courts to understand," Thompson
when they put it on the highway, it This year a federal judge signed off at Vail `Pass "You might say it's a matter of says. "Just bringing lawsuits because
becomes a nonpoint-source dis- on the settlement, opening the door In the case of 1-70 over Vail Pass, semantics, but any shade.or shift, in a there's no answer is as bad as deny-
charge., for the city to join the Sierra Club in CDOT is the operator, maintaining a definition can have dramatic ing there's a problem at all."
Page A2-The Daily, Thursday, September 21, 2000 970/949-05551vaildaily.com
SECTIC ri h
" • CAMP HALE, A4
fir., • WHITEWATER PARK, A6
• AROUND THE MOUNTAINS, A9
Va ey
September 21, 2000
traightening out traight reek
S C
the story of a multi-million-dollar
y cleanup
By Stephen Lloyd Wood`
Daily Stall Writer } Will best
EAGLE COUNTY - Answers for
how to clean it[) hUndred, of thousands } g ~a q g
Of cubic }accts of sated from the bank antL~en.li~~t l ~
.111[1 llc_i, Of E'laL'l; Gor~: CnCCI,. a: tllc
top of [he E«4Ic P-~ivCl V4ak~lSitcd, may practices
F g
lle C.t`;l Uf hcaY 112 Stltntni r"UUIttY'" - " " ~r~" I
_ f
f WW1
`;.:fil l tull[.rt(oil
4+«4+, t r tx .'i i,ll ;!t' ':t r;'til7lt vI IIK: 11[11,:-
~YdPlt'd` K P'ESG r"ww- X' ,h~' -
:tl)pk I,r, Slitli z
the Stl;t1 L l it'Ch
UiU ll, 1, )f „ 1 tf. +
r s z r.3.~.. CC 4tortU 141? Ut UIc'it yV ,'I„
ul`< [u ',t;,trl~, =i~ r -'T"1?~ "r Cu~z' ,r(l les~url'11i1~L~ =uui tru:Il
fUr IVdLtl'I Ito I, er ?•r 4a » _ 1R~ d,'V'li C:^ ~(3r Ln Ull(iti [th'
,ll:ll pulJlirltr 111,~uk)un U1 J)a', 1,01 it ,llz rK,t t fig'. ' Y 1 r
hl'e 'Y.trt OI lhl hlslVl'V' of the 1111eI'olat< bUildLip ut sedln le nta.lon. j
1'
Called best nwllarelllclll prai
70 culriclur above Straight Creek, a r ' ( Lices, many were the first of
voce pristine alpine stream will head their kind. They inc(nded:
water, on the Continental Divide. ® "Modified silt fences," or
..Straight Creek is all ongoing pro-
; "check dams" along the shoal-
.
ject," says Terri Tiehen, an environ- der that filter runoff.
mental planner with the Colorado ¦ "V Gutters" alon- the
Department of Transportation in Den- r ? y, shoulders to better direct run-
ver. "I've worked on it for 10 years,' 4 w off toward slope drains.
and we're only scratching the surface.' & ~t u 4 i. - _ ¦ "Slope drains," or PiPes
Tiehen in earning a m .
asters '
that direct run-off off the road-
degree at Colorado University inz wa
Y
Denver; studied environmental poli-
cy and law specializing in water qual-~ n, basins built in stair-step fash-
ity issues. In 1991, she prepared a " K ion to trap sedimentation.
28-page paper on sedimentation ¦ "Collection ponds," or
within the Straight Creek watershed , large basins designed to trap
focusing on 1-70 as the primary
any remaining sedimentation
source. before it reaches the stream
"Although nonpoint sources are below.
not specifically regulated under the In implementing the best
Clean Water Act, it is apparent that management practices, for
the intent of the law has not been met example, CDOT installed 220
where Straight Creek is concerned,"y check dams and 12 collection
Tiehen wrote. "The national mandate r - - ponds along the shoulders and
to construct the interstate committed drainages of I-70 above
both the highway department and the
Forest Service to see it through. It f Straight Creek between 1992
and 1994. It soon became
was to be constructed in order to meet obvious, however, that these
the changing needs of our society and measures were not adequate to
to provide a national defense high- catch the massive amounts of
way in a timely manner. All other 't
sedimentation involved. Nine
considerations were put aside. ty percent of the check dams
"To date, no suits have been special to the Daily were damaged or destroyed by
brought against the agencies involved. The Eisenhower Tunnel, at 11,112 feet above sea level, is the highest vehicular tunnel in the world. In rockslides, the sheer weight of
However, they are potentially vulner- the 1990s, the Colorado Department of Transportation spent nearly $6 million in an attempt to clean-up the sediment, or accidents
able. If a lawsuit were to originate in sediment from Interstate 70 that threatens Straight Creek below. along the highway. And the
this case, it is likely that a court would ponds filled with sediment so
insist that nonpoint source controls be Straight Creek is about six miles lung, rapidly CDOT crews were
implemented at (their) expense." descending front higher than 13,000 Fast facts unable to keep up.
Since then, Tiehen has managed a feet above sea level above the western Nevertheless, crews were
$6 million Straight Creek cleanup portal of the Eisenhower Tunnel to the The primary objectives of the ing the physical characteristics of the able to remove 1,100 tons of
project, funded primarily with state Blue River below the Dillon reservoir, EPA-funded Section 319 Grant Pro- stream. material from the remaining
and federal highway dollars. at 9,386 feet. According to records jest: ? improve overall water quality. check dams in 1993. In Sep-
"No other project is comparable," kept by the U.S. Geological Survey, ? Reduce the amount of'sedi- ? Minimize the impact on wet- tember 1995, they removed
Tiehen says today, adding that simi- the 18.3-square mile Straight Creek merit from sanding operations. lands and riparian area. 300 tons, or 4 tons of material
Jar projects in California and Mon- watershed receives 30 to 40 inches of ? Establish effective methods for ? Manage for dispersed day-use from each of the remaining
tana do not deal with reducing precipitation a year, compared to 25 to sediment "trapping," such, as silt recreation along the corridor. check dams.
sedimentation from a major interstate 30 inches received in the 12.6-square- fences, cheek dams and settling ?:Protect the integrity of Straight _ A primary goal of the gro-
at such a high altitude. mile Black Gore Creek Watershed. ponds. Creek as a designated municipal ject, implemented as a demon-
"We've definitely seen some vis- Annual run-off from the Straight ? Restore the fishery by improv- waterway,: stration in the first place, was
ible signs of recovery," Tiehen adds. Creek watershed, as measured by a - to recover 25 percent of the
"We just can't quantify them." gaging station at Dillon, is 11,180 sediment involved. That
acre-feet, compared with 12,490 acre- straight-line path, is the primary Division of Wildlife. means 75 percent remained,
Straight facts feet of run-off from Black Gore drinking water supply for the town of The I-70 corridor directly above and still remains unaddressed.
on Str _ ht Creek . Creek, as measured before it rneets Dillon. The Blue River below it, just Straight Creek is an engineering mar- See Cleanup, page A3
g reek Creek in East Vail. like Vail's Gore Creek, is designated vel, and one of the most-travelled and
Much like Black Gore Creek, Straight Creek, aptly named for its Gold Medal Waters by the Colorado See Crisis, page 3
' "?wa.ro <m,i ~'+f r ~ h ,r}; x bz,M~s' r ~t ~r ~ rv ~ d
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970/949-0555tvalldally.com The Daily, Thursday, September 21,2000--Page A3
Crisis - - - - Cleanup
From Page A2 From Page A2
economically critical stretches of has contributed even more sediment ing going on," Ray says. problem in the Black Gore Creek Water quality experts and trans-
highway in the nation. In 1998, for to the watershed than the winter trac- watershed, west of Vail Pass. The portation officials agree that after
example, a daily average of 27,100 tion sanding operations, which in the Taking action EPA could very well apply the carne all these measures were taken, it
vehicles passed through the Eisen- 1990s averaged more than 10,000 regulations there, too. will take at least 20 years to see any
hower Tunnel, carrying everything tons a year. That same year, Ray adds, Con- `Black Gore Creek is on the bub- noticeable improvements to
from local commuters and tourists to Robert Ray; watershed service gress passed the Intermodal Surface ble, says Jeff Kullman, CDOT's Straight Creek even without fur-
building materials and transcontinen- program director for the Northwest Transportation Enhancement Act, director of Region 1, which for.main- ther.crosion or traction sand appli-
tal freight. One Sunday in August this Colorado Council of Governments, making "a whole lot of money avast- tenance operations stretches from the cations.
year, almost twice that many, a or NWCCOG, says a number of local able for bike path construction and state border with Kansas to East Vail. "It has 'long been acknowledged
record 47,812 vehicles, made the officials brought the matter to road maintenance. The cleanup com- Kullman, along with local water that Straight Creek will never be 'a
journey. CDOT's attention as early as 1989. mittee recommended CDOT apply quality experts, says having federal stream of pristine value," CDOT's
Before it opened to the public in Soon thereafter, the Colorado Divi- for the federal grant, as well as to the regulations applied to Black Gore Terri Tiehen wrote in 1996 as part of
March 1973, the Eisenhower Tunnel sion of Wildlife did a study of the fish EPA for that agency's Section 319 Creek could slow - or halt any her final report on the restoration pro-
the highest vehicular passageway population in Straight Creek. Grant. In the end, with awards current or pending cleanup efforts. ject. "It (is) evident that many years
of its kind in the world at 11,112 feet "The water quality was good, but totalling about $4 million, including "A TMDL would initiate a formal would pass before significant
- was known as the Straight Creek there was a significant loss of fish $208,000 from the EPA and process," he says. "Government, as improvements could be realized in
Tunnel. habitat," Ray 'says now. "County $120,000 from the Forest Service, you know, is very bureaucratic." Straight Creek. Therefore, remedia-
commissioners looked at Straight "CDOT took some action," Ray says. Joe Macy, a member of the board tion efforts would require extensive
At what price Creek and said, Boy, we don't like In 1998, after having funded a por- of directors for the Eagle River planning, large amounts of funding
to water uali ? what's going on here.' They, felt„ tion of the Section 319 Grant Project ..Watershed . Council,, says slapping and time."
q CDOT had built the highway'years - with mixed results - the EPA federal regulations on Black Gore - Stephen Lloyd Wvoc,
That engineering marvel, howev before, and basically walked away. It applied Section -103(d) of the Clean Creek should be a last resort. _
er, came at a price to the Straight was time they took responsibility," Water Act, which requires states to "It's always better to deal with P. E.E.P[ Eagle County
Creek watershed, where the hillsides With a mission `to restore the list bodies of water that do not meet issues without a regulatory hammer,`'
are steeper than those above Black water quality of Straight Creek to the "designated beneficial uses," says Macy. "(Those regulations) . Recycling
Gore Creek, west of Vail Pass. Con- greatest extent possible," those local That process, called "TMDL" for would affect other users down-
structing a four-lane interstate high- officials formed the Straight Creek total maximum daily load, required stream." Have a New Web Site!
way leading to and from the tunnel Clean Up Committee in 1992. It Colorado to identify the "maximum Macy is also in charge of govern-
required 192 acres of "cut slopes" included members from the Council allowable pollutant" Straight. Creek ment relations for Vail Resorts,
above the proposed roadway and 166 of Governments, CDOT, the U.S. can absorb before it fails to meet owner and operator of the largest ski
acres of "fill slopes" below. Crews Environmental Protection Agency, those uses - and to submit a plan for area in North America. The ski com- 1 t
blasted massive amounts of material the U.S. Forest Service, the Colorado restoring the watershed, The EPA piny has rights to use water from
from the hillsides to form a platform Department of Public Health and finally approved the TMDL for the Gore Creek for snowmaking on hun-
on which to install the interstate, then Environment, the Colorado Division Straight Creek watershed on Aug. 11. dreds of acres of ski slopes in win- , o
left much of it exposed to the ele- of Wildlife, Summit County, the While sediment eroding from the ter. +
ments. Since then, revegetation town ofSilverthorne,thetown ofDil- barren slopes above Straight Creek "I'd rather see (the transportation
efforts at that altitude have met with lon, and the Dillon Valley Metro Dis- has been far worse than at Vail Pass, department) do a lot more before they
limited success. As a result, erosion trict. sand buildup from winter operations get pushed into it. That's what hap- http-.//web.vall.net/peep
from the slopes above Straight Creek "There was a lot of head-scratch- alone is recognized as the major pened at Straight Creek," Macy says.
Page A2--The Daily, ,Friday, September 22, 2000 970/'949-0555fvalidally.com
,1.
- SECTIO
• LALA ATTORNEY WOES, A4
• VAIL VALLEY TOURISM, A6
• AROUND THE MOUNTAINS, A9
hpValley
September 22, 2000
10F
rr t S
Wh_
at s
being done about it.
By Stephen Lloyd Wood LL _
Daily Staff Writer
I
Editor's note: This is the final
installment of a five part series. ; r ? z,
EAGLE COUNTY - As the z,' s , s it v "There's no question it's
altering the landscape. I think
massive accumulation of sand along;
Interstate 70 west of Vail Pass con- more money should be avail-
tinues to grow, able for this
so do the U.S. Rep, Scott Mclrutis,
utet Crisis thoughts of
R-Grand Junctbn
¢ f1 kr JF A Y ka s' . cleanup and
as e t
prevention
of i "Everyone involved, from
the minds in
water quality- government officials to fisher
" n needs to come to the
experts, transportation officials and a men,
sl a } yJ
U.S. congressman. r ` I table with CDOT. We need to.
" µxj
3\ `
I stopped off the side of the road find a solution. We can't afford
the other day and stepped into it knee- a b 14to wait another 20 ears."
deep," says Scott McInnis, R-Grand . ` y
« - Tambi Katieb, board
Junction, of a recent trip Vail r~4 s r k
k ,<< 4 N a member of the Eagle River
Pass on his way to Denver and Wash-
.s Px urg . F C t~ Watershed Council
ington, D.C. "That really got my _4 „
attention. It's a problem areal mess."p~,' r < f
~r ? , tirJ t
The sand, an estimated 12,000 to ,r 1kL ,9h`- "To pay Peter you may have
30,000 tons of the stuff, is tossed on to rob Paul. As it is, I can't
the paved lanes of I-70 over Vail Pass absorb this in my maintenance
every winter during storms to provide Voll Daily/David Manzella
Some attempts by COOT and the. Eagle River Water and Sanitation District are being made during sum- budget. This is bigger than can
traction for automobiles. Since the `
pass was opened more than two mer months to remove sand from the roadway. Much of the sand, however, is cast or plowed off the road- be solved with any (existing)
decades ago, an estimated 100,000 to way during !Hinter and unretreivable. budget."
150,000 cubic yards of sand has built - Jeff Kullman,
up off the roadway in what used to be ment's finances are structured now, COOT official
a pristine alpine valley. An unknown paying for such operations would have
amount has inundated the wetlands to come out of CDOT's maintenance "My theory is somebody
and streambed of Black Gore Creek. budget, which is far less than that for TjteColarado, Depatttnt~ttf Trnst 1J5, the 041
tEt ssed (squid. someday will invent something
Members of the Eagle River construction. For example, for fiscal porkat(on tstakingtxteasurestQSitn metes Ice ~ieratures to provide traction on snow or
Watershed Council, a group of local year 2001 the budget for maintenance fiat the Viand }irUbletrt;., inct#clJrtg: above 20:44 ees`Far? The
. ice that's biodegradable. We're
water experts, public and corporate in Region I, which stretches from the P+erltidIcaiEysY ptC~t~someof sub;ttte '4te6S.~dedr i the getting close to that. We're
0, wl
officials and local residents concerned Kansas border to East Vail, is $22.5 the Sad before d led the toad s o SttCitl o 6f itrt6ori~
about the quality of the water in Eagle million. The budget for capital way, sect trarispot ng tt dllwh the } en tnte(z k. .,y sw eenvi- already using less sand than
County, say measures taken by the improvements in the region is more mour5titt toast`Vai#r- whet a .it rt>t~ntists aS fe f ~tiri{dlife:. " before."
Colorado Department of Transports- than seven times that - $163 million. used16 , t1d brats algiag the vhtlltk stet qustty pens shy t"#ai -Chuck Lorwaid,
lion are "a good start" toward decreas- Jeff Kullman, CDOT's director of drs q 1711 fttl .noise abateiraf: have prcVen tn;~oncttl~tvie COOT official
ing future sand accumulations. But a Region I is well aware of the sand f3utidsn a $6Cl0,ty1Q petxrtanQat, Tong new prc#ut t; tls early as
much more aggressive approach is problems He says the best option for ou d fadl)Ity. a , at
.p ` i s wtllte a l d !vl F3O,'i& 'What's needed is a plan by
needed to address the massive dealing with it is convincing Gov. the sand before It's deployed 1Paviii; st0t ehlolldit?n that
amounts already piled high off the Bill Owens' Transportation Commis- Dusty;Ittri me wtnte(;°weathet at tnef scrouvn,tettem attires CDOT to address it and funding
roadway and on the banks of the creek, sion, which oversees the state trans- more;than O QOtI feet shove Sep dpw77
n i lnus 1(1 degr ngtli- . for the manpower and equip
they say. With or without federal reg- portation department, that it needs to level kvas erat#ing large i uarttttte raf irr, galled j& $leer, is r aural soli, ment necessary to do a better
ulations, they say, a comprehensive shift budgetary priorities more the sapd-salt rriixtufe from the huge ' stand? rtiafle from citrus byproducts job."
plan for cleaning up Vail Pass needs to toward maintenance and away from piies there, deiiverin it dlreCtly.into that melt&snow and ice, then dis- -Joe Macy, board
materialize. The sooner the better. its historical priority. the Black Lakes:- solves member of the Eagle River
"Everyone involved, from gov- "To pay Peter you may have to rob ? Increasingly spraying magnesium 1 Requiring truckers more-'often to
ernment officials to fishermen, needs Paul," Kullman explains. "As it is, I chloride onto the roadway v~hen . use . snows `chains, reducing the Watershed Council
to come to the table with CDOT," can't absorb this in my maintenance conditions are right... Adopted in amount of sand necessary.
says Tambi Katieb, a member of the budget. This is bigger than can be "The watershed movement
Watershed Council's board of direc- solved with any (existing) budget." is one of the most refreshing
tors and a former Eagle County envi- Kullman says, CDOT has four need to know what. immediate mea- Vail Pass - and throughout the state. and encouraging trends on the
ronmental policy planner., "We need hydrologists studying Vail Pass now, sures can be taken and a prioritized Huge curbs could be constructed to entire American landscape....
to find a solution. We can'Cafford to and his staff is preparing a plan for plan for how to get more bang for the contain runoff from highways, with The waters literally bring them
wait another 20 years." cleaning it up. He hopes to submit that buck. For example, if we had $20 mil- extensive drainage systems and catch
plan to the commission in November. lion, would we be better off spending basins and sediment ponds along the together."
It all comes "We're trying to educate the a lot of it up front or spreading it out, way. Regular maintenance operations - Secretary of the Interior
Transportation Commission. They say, $2 million a year for 10 years?" could be conducted to clean out the Bruce Babbitt
down to money,
really don't know the magnitude of sand, keeping the systems operating
The greatest obstacle to any major the problem, but they pull the purse ghat if ? at full efficiency.
cleanup is funding, which in the end strings. We need to impress upon Similar methods have been
all comes from taxpayers. them both from a business and a legal If money were no object, a variety applied in building new roads
The way the transportation depart- point of view," Kullman says. "We of methods could be employed at See Crisis, page A3
,w
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pfta sof sartfi7R l er, " %0*4 P M Y grow~!igevettr .t? ? .
imar>ikwiltliifetivtco;t?~d' ye~rtrffCK~al~:!,ritMCt%7t'anyiitl+e:US.Poresfi ~ fii~lno~ rtg;SP"mittiariup P!pble,mifiiamgvttingrvorsec oiCwate~quall.F
as:it gttllYt} Cqr . eek iaxatecvnx~~+I?x CaIdAA~d~t:1HKe!':f#v r ,
S~Cv~.te~ii€esuccez5,intouiScoul,,d,lttng«rk~R~. prplA~o~~ti ~t~t4astn~'41~t ~Tearhy~i}thsimrfar':> ~ e~cReetS~a~+"msich,rreagg~ess4veactii>Pies
at,~f7 3ula ,the wateisti d h1A dasiQnet q(J,CQPld liet!1e first t*9t9 4a " `.&m e.definiti min#he. ' I t lean AtetRcG l £aiA ' it Coon n swy, i the ed. of t?456 it Ali s cri a d er"
kat r9i# , , e M p W a e. vw .
„ tect~ra t ~ ty X in e
Ft;t91el,OnOy
J.?f'lddr-l .~.rr. .~}.w .l. ill .l lS,1 Ill}111v1•-0w ,.i a..l ,l r?// f I)~?• ..-r. ~l.IY.a.'.Y 1'Y-1 a"~ 4 tv4r'i.^~ y,w~rl • .e. e. 1 .Y: )
970%949-0555/vaild0 lyycom . The Daily, Friday, September 22; 200 Page A~
Crisis
From Page A2 `
already. CDOT is spending $100 adding more lanes to I-70, which Members of the Eagle River
million to reconstruct U.S. Highway would surely exacerbate the prob- Watershed Council are determined to
40 over Berthoud Pass, at 11,315 feet lem. press for a solution to the sanding
above sea level between Georgetown problem at Vail Pass, as well as other
and Winter Park. There, an extensive Watershed management local, regional and national concerns.
system of sediment ponds and other "We all have a vested interest in
traps has been incorporated into an Things are happening at the local seeing the best quality water. If it's
entirely new drainage system. level, too. The Eagle River Water- being degraded, it has negative
The ultimate solution, imagines shed Council, reborn in January impacts on us all," says Joe Macy, a
Chuck Lorwald, CDOT's mainte- when it merged with the Eagle River member of the council, as well as a
nance superintendent for Region I, Environmental Business Alliance, is governmental relations officer for
would be to eliminate the need for a new community-based group that Vail Resorts, owner and operator of
sanding operations altogether. That hopes to work with a wide range of ski resorts at Vail, Beaver Creek,
could be accomplished by heating private and public entities to protect Breckenridge and Keystone.
the roadway to more than 35 the Eagle River and the habitat it sup- "What's needed is a plan by CDOT k
degrees - incorporating a system ports. Unlike many environmental to address it and funding for the man-
similar to ones that heat sidewalks groups, the Watershed Council is power and equipment necessary to
and private driveways at Vail and made up of water quality experts, do a better job."
Beaver Creek. Lorwald would use local and state officials - even cor- And now, perhaps, the sand pilings
nuclear energy, at least in this fanta- porate officers - unlikely to partici- up on Vail Pass and in Black Gore rt
sy. pate in demonstrations or threaten Creek will be addressed in Washing-
He is optimistic, meanwhile, that litigation. ton, home of the federal Transporta- a x
technology eventually will provide Hundreds of similar watershed tion Department and the Federal
an answer to future sand accumula- groups have formed across the Unit- Highway Administration. < y
tions. ed States as people, realize water Rep. McInnis says he'll- look k fi w,
"My theory is somebody some- quality issues, like water itself, flows ing into the situation.
~
day will invent something to provide downhill - and not necessarily "At least one congressman has
traction on snow or ice that's across the arbitrary boundaries of stopped off the side of the road, gone 3 x €
biodegradable," Lorwald says. towns, counties and states. out there and crawled in it," McInnis'' g
"We're getting close to that. We're "The watershed movement is one says. "There's 'a question it's alter
already using less sand than before." of the most refreshing and encourag- ing the landscape. I think more " N
For example, he says, two new ing trends on the entire American money should be available for this
products to be tried this winter - landscape," U.S. Secretary of the w
M100 and Ice Slicer - are "just the Interior Bruce Babbitt told National
beginning." Public Radio in July. "This idea that special to the Daily Y1,
Just about everyone contacted for local citizens get together and have Forested areas near highways,
this series agrees it would be far bet- an organizing principle, which is not like this one, near 1.70 in the,: }
ter in the long run to build alternative just a typical 48-acre tract or some- Black Gore Creek watershed, are
means of transportation - trains, thing behind a neighbor's fence. The being buried by sand from winter ;~f.
perhaps, or a monorail - instead of waters literally bring them together." highway operations.
Page A14-The Daily, Friday, September 29, 2000 970/949-0555/vaiidaily.com
'C
SECTION
STEVE POPE
C nt Publisher, publislier@vaNdaih,.corrr
DON KO(;ERS
Managing Editor, editor@vaildaiby.coui
September 29, 2000 -
AN EDITORIAL
Heading o the sari at the Pass.
A quiet- group has unearthed merit of our regulatory system, a of keeping I-70 open over Vail nothing else. Well, it's about time. waterway, making its way toward
the quiet crisis - the grain by spotlight on a glaring deficiency in Pass during winter. 1-70 along the Vail Pass needs the town of Vail. And we the
grain buildup of otherwise mnocu- pollution laws. You see, Vail sits How could this be? Well, in high curbs, catch basins and sedi- public, this newspaper, the regula-
ous sand spread across 1-70 along at the heart of a telling environ- essence it boils down to language, ment ponds that CDOT builds and tory agencies, even the squawkiest
the Vail Pass during snowstorms mental irony, a legal definition. If pollution has regularly maintains to at least cut environmental groups - simply
that is oh so slowly ruining a On the backside of the moun- a "point" fora source, the mighty the flow of more sand off the high- failed to notice.
watershed. tain overlooking Vail and 1-70, a arm of the law may sweep in. If way. The agency ought to get to Instead, this was left to an alert
The Eagle River Watershed dirt road built to haul out timber deemed "nonpoint," such as this work on this immediately. college student doing a master's
Council, made up of professional cut for the Blue Sky Basin expan- stretch of freeway, greater damage But priorities will have to thesis to discover and measure;
people not easily given to the all. sion to Vail Mountain nicked a can more easily occur since the change if CDOT is to make any the Watershed Council to brie- to
too common histrionics associated wetlands area, intruding on a 0.7- law is considerably more vague on real headway with the problem light; and a newspaper reporter
with the rowdier environmental acre patch. this type of pollution source. along the Vail Pass. Money devot- finally to dig into and report.
groups, has done the public, land As a result, Vail Resorts and Thank the well-meaning Clean ed to road construction of the sort Enough so a congress natt- not
regulators and the Colorado the Forest Service had to clean up Water Act o1.1977 for that. that piled layer upon layer upon known for crying wolf at every
Department of Transportation a the damage, and VR still faces a The case of Vail Pass may help layer of asphalt betweenEagle and ecological scare, Rep. Scott Mcln-
great favor. hefty fine that could reach into the change things for the better, Edwards this summer is not alto- nis, was disgusted when he took a
How? Simply by pointing out million of dollars - quite proper- though. thanks to the Watershed cited to cleaning up the messes short hike oil( Vail Pass to check
the obvious. Hundreds of thou ly. Of course environmental Council. Colorado Department of they leave along the pass and other out the problem for himself.
sands of tens of sand scattered of) groups, the always yelping Col- Transportation officials now say vulnerable stretches of road. There A little more attention like this
the freeway over a nine-mile orado Wild as well as more credi they are well aware of the prob simply are not the fluids set aside
and that definition "nonpoint" may
stretch have piled up over the ble watchdogs, raised a fuss lem, though they've done almost 1'or Life maintenance required to get the revision it sorely needs it
decades since 1978 and slid into again, quite properly. The folks nothing over the decades to keep ke,~p all that tonnage out of the we are to he serious about ourenvi-
the Black Gore watershed. who guilt the road there, albeit at their sand from duri1ping into the creek. CDO'I's budget for fiscal rofmrental responsibility nation-
Trout spawning grounds and the Forest Service's direction, watershed practically bythedune. 2001 includes $161 million for wide,
co- boils are gone, heaver ponds deserve their punishment. We CDOT regional director Jeff road improvement in our region Shatnc on all of us if this does
buried, and other wildlife depleted don't dispute that. Kullutan says hydrologists are and just $22.5 million for rnaintc- not happen. And that is areal pos
as this gritty tide works its way But on their way to Vail to raise studying the damage, planning fiance. sibility if' we fail to demand
downstream. Next Lai-get: The rare the alarm over the 0.7-acre eco- how to clean it up, preparing a In other words, ore seventh of stronger definitions, more alert
Gold Medal , reek ('()I* prize trout logical insult, the regulators and report. They hope to convince the the money spent oil building roads regulation. and a better quality of
h,aL rtiu, through Fail proper. the advocates all ignored the governor`s commission oversee- goes to tailing care of them. activism - as modeled by the
fhr buildup of,and right under watershed beneath them quietly ng CDOT that this problem trust So the sand tide, unabated, is quiet, thorough work of the Water-
W11, V, heels also serves as an indict- being strangled by the very means be solved, for legal reasons it'' slowly burying a sensitive alpine shed Council.
i
e- *?1 VaiidaFFi/.cotn The
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sand clean
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By Stephen Lloyd Wood
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Daily Stab Weimer
EAGLE COUNTY = The
1^ h '
prospect of cleaning . up massive
amounts of highway wild accumulat-
ing at Vail Pass, before it reaches our »
streams, and rivers, appears to be get-
ting some traction at even higher lev-
els.
Officials with the Colorado Depart- f
ment of Transportation are presenting JIt : .
the issue of sedimentation from high- 3 "
ways to the state TransY~..don Cbm-
mission today at its regularly
scheduled work session in Denver.. .
But in light of a.tttajor makeover in theca
state's transportation budget --made Vail Rairy/uavId,Manzena
necessary by passage of Amendment The Colorado Department of Transportation has a huge task ahead in
23, a public education funding initia- cleaning up massive accumulations of highway traction sand along
tive far more , questions than Interstate 70. Working with the Eagle River Water and Sanitation, Dis-
answers rernaln as to how, when or if met this summer, ODOT retrieved 23 thick ,loa&of sSand ~rorh the Vail
a cleanup will begin Pass area alone, hauling it downhill tb fast Vall.to be used ie' con-
"We're just.ttyi. tb:set the stage: struoting berms, such as the ones pictured above, tfrat wlli :help
It's important for (the cp inmissioriets) deflect sound •6 tho' highway away tkont FgcaF;h'otrtes.,, "
.to know it's coming;" Kandace Clay-
brook, deputy maintenance superin- Perhaps timing could not be worse, Health and Environment and other
tendent for CDOT's Region I, said however, for asking the 11-member entities, to combine forces on the high-
Tuesday. "This is a big issue. It's transportation commission to 4vp.,,ve way sand problem.,
looming, but the money, aspect is stag- funding for any substantial highway 0 A shift of $150,000- within the
geting." sand cleanup efforts. department's maintenance budget to
CDOT distributes an estimated CDOT's finances are structured in fund preliminary sand cleanup.work.
12,000 to 30,000 tons of highway sand such a way that paying., . for any nextyear along I,-70 at, both` Vail Pass
a mixture 4,,95 percent sand and 5, cleanup operation; would have'' to and above Straight Creek, we5f of'the
percent salt over the lanes of Inter- come out of the maintenance budget; Eisenhower Tunnel.
state 70 over Vail Pass every winter which for Region I this fiscal year is in Permission to draft a "formal
during of raction In storms the te to help $22.5 million. The region's capital action plan" for a major cleanup effort
motorists g
get t than improvements budget, by by compari in years to come.
two decades . since the highway son, is seven times as much, or $163 Kullman, ever the optimist,' said
opened, the buildup of sand in many million. Tuesday he has received verbal sup- ;
places is more than three feet deep, Gov. Bill Owens, meanwhile, has port for his resolution from at least
with CDOT's own volume estimates pulled back his $13.2 billion budget. three transp.,,tauon; commissioners,
ranging from 100;000 to 150,000 He did so before last week's election who could make a decision at their
cubic yards. The massive accumula- in case Amendment 23, a public, edu- regular meeting on Thursday.
lion continues to . w, each year. cation funding initiative; passed - once they give the the go-ahead,
Highway sand .is not reusable, which it did, giving education a lion's we'll, be looking at hiring consul-
officials official's say, and gravity' is share of state money. Beginning ran. tarts," Kullman'said. "By this time
slowly pulling it all 'downhill - into 1, unless other areas of the' state bud next year, we hope to have a formal
Black Gore Creek, at the top of the get are cut, surplus funds for highways plan"
Eagle River watershed, before head- and other needs may go toward edu- Locally, members of the Eagle
ing downstream: Accumulatrohs are cationinstead River"VCtatetshedCouncil saidtfibe
now being identifiedmiles away iri the ' T at ineans an 0- 9tiriiated $200 mil encour'agerl by" C"~O T's t cent its
streb 'd "bf 'Got e, & in Vail. lion to $290 million may have to come to get a ;Handle on highway sand at
Eventually they. ;will appear in and out bf CDOT's statewide budget -for Vail s Pass. But they Want to see
along the Eagle River potentially fiscal year 2002; which begins July 1. specifics on how te'department plans
threatening the trout ; 1diation, as "So asking the commission for to do more
well as the area's multi-niilh6i%dollar $100 million' to clean, up Vail 'Pass "It's' getting ,good play now;
fly-fishing industry. would $e; a bad strategy right now;;' CDOT's shade a good start; said lien
To its credit, CBOT did d"o' some Claybrook explained Neubecker, president pf the waterrshed
work at Vail Pass this summer. Work- Nevertheless, Jeff Kullm council and bf Trout Unli mited.
ing vPith"the Eagle River Water and MOT's director of Region I which "Hopefully the comttussioners will
Sanitation District, CWT retrieved 23 stretches from Vail Pass to the Kansas say, "good,job-, here's some money.
truck loads' of sand from the Vail Pass border said he'll be presenting a CT)bT, ineanwhiie, is sending rep-
area alone, hauling it downhill to East three-part resolution to 'the .commis- resentatives to Vail' Thursday to
Vail, where they've used it to construct si.,.:r-15 today concerning sedimenia- update the watershed council on its
berms, which will help deflect sound tion from I-70 in the High Country. He intentions at Vail Pass. Two pre . senta-
from the highway away f om local said the resolution seeks; dons - "Lessons learned, from
homes. Other signs of progress include 0 An intergovernmental agree- Straight Creek" and "The Cleanup of
the completion of a new sand storage meet, or IGA, among CDOT, the U.S. Black Gore Creek" -'are on offer, at
facility at the pass and the restoration Environmental Protection Agency, the the Vail Library, beginning at 4 p.m.
of a small wetlands area, Colorado Department; of Public The meeting is open to the public.