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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2008-09 Amending Chapter 4, Recommendations-Overall Study Area and Chapter 5, Detailed Plan Recommendations, Lionshead Redevelopment Master PlanRESOLUTION NO. 9 Series of 2008 A RESOLUTION AMENDING CHAPTER 4, RECOMMENDATIONS - OVERALL STUDY AREA AND CHAPTER 5, DETAILED PLAN RECOMMENDATIONS, LIONSHEAD REDEVELOPMENT MASTER PLAN, PURSUANT TO SECTION 2.8, ADOPTION AND AMENDMENT OF THE MASTER PLAN, AMENDING THOSE ELEMENTS OF THE MASTER PLAN REFERENCING THE NORTH DAY LOT RECOMMENDATIONS AND REQUIREMENTS, TO FACILITATE THE REDEVELOPMENT OF THE NORTH DAY LOT WITH AN EMPLOYEE HOUSING PROJECT, PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION CENTER, AND CREATING A FUTURE DEVELOPMENT SITE, AND SETTING FORTH DETAILS IN REGARD THERETO. WHEREAS, on December 15, 1998, the Vail Town Councii adopted the Lionshead Redevelopment Master Plan; and WHEREAS, on April 6, 1999, the Vail Town Council adopted Ordinance 3, Series of 1999, which amended the Zoning Regulations and created Lionshead Mixed Use 1 and Lionshead Mixed Use 2 Districts; and WHEREAS, Section 2.8 of the Lionshead Redevelopment Master Plan outlines a procedure for amending the Master Plan; and WHEREAS, Vail Resorts Development Company has submitted a development application to the Town of Vail Community Development Department proposing certain amendments to the Master Plan related to the North Day Lot; and WHEREAS, the Town of Vail Planning and Environmental Commission has held a public hearing on the proposed amendments on April 14, 2008, and has forwarded a recommendation of denial, of the amendments to the Town Council by a vote of 3-2-1; and WHEREAS, the purpose of the amendments is to amend those elements of the Master Plan referencing the North Day Lot recommendations and requirements to facilitate the redevelopment of the site with an employee housing project, transportation center, and future development site; and WHEREAS, the Town Council finds that conditions have changed in the Lionshead Study are which warrant the proposed amendments and that said amendments are in keeping with the goals, objectives, and policies prescribed by the Master Plan in general. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE TOWN COUNCIL OF THE TOWN OF VAIL, COLORADO: The Town Council of the Town of Vail hereby amends the Lionshead Redevelopment Master Plan as follows: 1 Chapter 1 - Executive Summarv 1.3.5 Transit Create dispersed transportation centers in Lionshead to accommodate local and regional transit, local shuttles, skier drop off, and charter buses. Locations for these facili#ies may include the North Day Lot, the Lionshead Parking Structure, and West Lionshead (aka EverVail). Relocate the existing Lionshead Place regional bus stop to North Day Lot, Lionshead Parking Structure, or West Lionshead area. 1.3.6 Service and Delivery DELETED) Chapter 3- Existina Conditions Assessment 3.9.4 Vail Associates Employee Parking Vail Associates currently utilizes two large surface parking lots within the study area for its employee parking needs. The North Day Lot (see figure 3-15), with a capacity of approximately 105 cars, is located behind the Landmark tower and is the site proposed for a transportation facility, employee housing, and other uses contemplated under the zoning on the property (LMU-1). The west day lot, located just west of the Marriott parking structure, has an approximate capacity of 160 cars and represents a significant development opportunity. Parking displaced by redevelopment of these sites must be replaced within the Lionshead study area to satisfy the ground rule requiring no net loss of parking. The displaced parking will be provided in West Lionshead within a parking structure included as part of the EverVail project. Chapter 4- Master Plan Recommendations - Overall Studv Area 4.5.2.1 Relocate the Regional Transit Stop It is recommended that the Lionshead regional transit stop, currently located at the Lionshead Place cul-de-sac, be relocated to the proposed North Day Lot, the Lionshead parking structure, and West Lionshead. This will provide a Lionshead connection between the regional transit system and the Town of Vail transit system. In addition, visitors and employees coming to Lionshead by regional bus will arrive at a defined portal instead of the current "back door" on Lionshead Place. Finally, this will remove the large regional buses from West Lionshead Circle and Lionshead Place. It may be possible to locate elements of a regional transit stop in the West Lionshead area in conjunction with a new ski lift and parking facility. However, given its location on the periphery of Lionshead, this area may not be the most viable location for a regional transit stop. Notwithstanding the above, facilities for skier drop-off, private shuttle vans and Town of Vail in-town buses should be included in the design of the ski lift and parking facility. In 2006, the Town of Vail initiated an update of the Vail Transportation Master Plan. In addition, the Town initiated a development competition for the Lionshead Parking Structure redevelopment, which would include a transit facility. It is anticipated that the Transportation Master Plan update along with the conclusion of the Lionshead Parking Structure redevelopment process will provide direction on the ultimate location for a Lionshead Transit Facility and/or the type of transit facilities that may be necessary in West Lionshead. 2 4.5.2.3 Create a New Stop at the North Day Lot Transportation Center A new Town of Vail transit stop at the proposed dispersed transportation center on the North Day Lot will replace the existing stop at Concert Hall Plaza. Likely to be on the west Vail transit routes, this stop will coordinate with the regional bus stop and deliver west Vail transit riders to the newly created north Lionshead pedestrian portal. 4.6.6 Creation of a New Transportation Hub on the North Day Lot A principal component of the Lionshead transportation and circulation nefinrork is the creation of dispersed transportation facilities in the Lionshead area. This facility will remove transit and service vehicles from other areas of Lionshead and create a major new entry point into the Lionshead pedestrian core. All or portions of these dispersed transportation facilities may be located on the North Day Lot, the Lionshead parking structure, or in West Lionshead. This concept is fully discussed in chapter five. 4.7.3.2 North Day Lot Transit Center DELETED) 4.9.4 Potential Housing Sites Following are specific sites that have been identified as suitable for locals and employee housing (see Map W). 4.9.4.3 Vail Associates Service Yard Holy Cross Site, Vail Professional Building, Cascade Crossing, North Day Lot, and the former gas station site All redevelopment in West Lionshead will need to conform to the Town's housing policies and requirements. In order to create activity and vibrancy in West Lionshead it is appropriate to include some dispersed employee housing opportunities for permanent local residents in proposed developments in the area consistent with these policies. Perhaps the most promising locations to replace the Sunbird affordable housing project and to conform to the Town's housing policies and requirements for new employee housing generation in Lionshead are the North Day Lot, Vail Associates service yard, and Holy Cross site. However, housing is not the only use these three properties will need to support. The North Day lot is considered to be the preferred location for a significant housing project in Lionshead to replace the Sunbird affordable housing project and provide housing for new employee generation. The North Day Lot may also need to accommodate a transit center on the ground level of the development site. Additionally, it may be necessary to develop a higher revenue-generating product on a portion of the Vail Associates service yard, Holy Cross, Vail Professional Building, and Cascade Crossing sites in order to defray the cost of road and infrastructure improvements. In planning the site, the following issues need to be considered. While it is important that buildings here be visually consistent with the overall character of Lionshead, the desire to maximize the housing potential may make appropriate the following deviations from standard development parameters: a. Density The site offers a unique opportunity to achieve significant density. It is recommended that the standards for density (units per acre) be increased at 3 this location to allow for a greater number of employee housing units. While it is important that buildings here be visually consistent with the overall character of Lionshead, the desire to maximize the housing potential may make appropriate the fotlowing deviations from standard development parameters. b. Building Height for Employee Housing It may be appropriate to allow for a greater overall building height than is otherwise allowed under the Lionshead Architectural Design Guidelines. Any increase in building height will need to be reviewed on a case by case basis by the Town of Vail, and any eventual building height will still need to be visually appropriate for this location. c. Parking It may be appropriate to reduce the parking requirements for employee housing at this location given the sites proximity to transportation facilities, jobs, and pedestrian routes. In consideration for reducing employee parking for the housing provided on this site, parking for other employees of the owner provided on this site should be considered. Excess parking may be used to satisfy the no net loss of parking policy or for future parking requirements of other development on the property. d. Site Coverage and Landscape Area and Setbacks Consideration should also be given to increasing site coverage and reducing setbacks and landscape area in order to maximize the amount of employee housing on the site and/or due to impacts associated with the development of a public transportation facility on the property. With any deviation to development standards prescribed in the master plan and zoning regulations, consideration of impacts should be afforded to the neighboring residential uses to the North Day Lot. Any design with such deviations will need to be sensitive to creating good designs with mitigation measures such as heated sidewalks and welt planned landscape materials. Additionally due to impacts from the Town's dispersed transportation center on neighboring residential uses, mitigation measures should be provided to buffer and screen residential uses. e. Encroachments on Town Land The Town of Vail owns a small parcel of land on the north side of the north day lot which accommodates the pedestrian bridge over the interstate highway. This land was dedicated to the Town by Vail Associates in 1976. In order to allow for more efficient layout and development of employee housing on the site and/or the dispersed transportation facility, the Town should give consideration to allowing development of employee housing and/or transportation uses on this parcel of land as part of the development of the north day lot. Figure 412 - Delete this figure found on page 4-35 as it is duplicative of figure 5-13 found on page 5-26 Figure 413 - Delete this figure found on page 437 4 Chapter 5- Detailed Plan Recommendations 5.1 Lionshead Tourist Information Center The Lionshead Tourist Information Center is currently located just west of the entry to the Lionshead parking structure and is accessed directly off the frontage road. If the entrance to the Lionshead parking structure is relocated as shown in figure 5-1 this existing facility will need to be relocated. Potential locations for the center include the Future Vail Civic Center, the parking structure, and West Lionshead. 5.8.3 Pedestrian Connections Through the Core Site There is a critical north-south pedestrian connection between the ski yard and the proposed transportation and skier drop-off uses on the north day lot. This connection will require at least one north-south penetration through the Vail Associates core site, and there is an opportunity to create a second one, as shown in figure 5-9. The east-west pedestrian corridor originating at the east Lionshead pedestrian portal should also be extended into the Vail Associates core site, connecting with the north-south corridors. These connections should be part of the "primary retail mall" (see site design guidelines, chapter 6) to reinforce the village character of the core. It is not necessary that flanking architectural forms be completely separated in order to define pedestrian corridors. Instead, opportunities to create significant architectural portals are encouraged to highlight the transition from one public space into another. 5.9 North Day Lot While the North Day Lot is a privately own parcel of land, consideration should be given by the owner and the Town to including transportation related uses on the ground floor. Ideally the uses to be considered for the site should include skier drop-off, local and regional transit, local and regional private shuttles, and charter bus drop-off and pick-up (see figure 5-13). By relocating these functions from their existing locations to easily accessible locations, this would improve the quality of vehicular and pedestrian circulation in Lionshead and create a significant new pedestrian portal into the center of the Lionshead retail mall. Based upon the results of the traffic study (see appendix A), the dispersed transportation facilities may include: a. Skier drop-off: Nine spaces are recommended at a minimum, but more should be built if possible to accommodate other program elements. b. Town of Vail transit: Two bus spaces are recommended to accommodate the West Vail transit loop and the possibility for an eastbound in-town shuttle stop. c. Regional transit: One bus space is recommended d. Charter buses: Three to four bus spaces are recommended. e. Local and regional shuttles: Four shuttle van spaces are recommended at a minimum. It should be noted that the North Day Lot is a small parcel of land and that the location and shape of this parcel may not allow for all of the uses identified above without having significant implications to traffic circulation patterns and the owners ability to develop the site with a quality development as allowed under zoning for the property (the site is considered one development site for the purposes of zoning). There needs to be a balance befinreen the development goals for the property and the impact of public uses on those goals. In order to meet the obligations of agreements regarding the Arrabelle project (core site), at a minimum skier drop off must occur on 5 this site. As discussed below, the Lionshead parking structure and West Lionshead also provide opportunities for some of the transportation functions identified above. Given the impacts of a public transportation use and to maximize the opportunities for employee housing on the property, development standards such as site coverage, landscape area, north side setbacks, and building height may be adjusted to afford more flexibility to the property owner see section 4.9.4.3) and approved by the Planning and Environmental Commission. In order to create more efficiency with the site development and to mitigate for the presence of a public transportation facitity on private property, the Town may atlow for encroachment of uses on the parcel of land owned by the Town on the north side of the north day lot. This encroachment may also help to mitigate impacts to adjacent properties to the south by maintaining adequate setbacks. There may be a need to move or enhance the pedestrian bridge abutment and access as part of the transportation facility. A critical consideration in the planning and design of this facility will be its impact on the adjacent Landmark Tower and Townhomes and the Wesfinrind.depicted in figure 5-13a, a linear building, screen, and/or landscape buffer is recommended at the southern edge of the site to screen the lower levels of the Landmark properties from the transportation facility. If necessary to provide adequate buffering a wall or fence in excess of 6' could be considered. This screen could house a bus shelter and waiting area, an information center, public restrooms, a small food and beverage operation, and an elevator core to the pedestrian mall level for ADA access needs. To the east, earthwork, landscaping, and/ or other screening measures should be considered to buffer the Wesfinrind. The dispersed transportation facility may be covered by employee housing or other uses contemplated by the Lionshead Mixed Use Zoning -1 and any exemptions/deviations discussed herein. Specifically, the design of the transportation center should address all impacts: visual, security, sound, and smell that may affect adjacent properties. Both the Wesfinrind and the Landmark should be closely involved in the transit center planning and design process. Since the adoption of the Lionshead Master Redevelopment Plan, plans were developed to locate a Transit Center at the North Day Lot. Integrating the number of uses mentioned above and addressing the neighborhood concerns regarding a transit center prompted the Town of Vail to evaluate alternative locations for a transit center. Alternative locations include: West Lionshead Lionshead Parking Structure North Day Lot In 2006, the Town of Vail initiated an update of the Vail Transportation Master Plan. In addition, the Town initiated a development competition for the Lionshead Parking Structure which would include a transit facility. It is recommended that the Transportation Master Plan update along with the conclusion of the Lionshead Parking Structure RFP process provide direction on the ultimate location for a Lionshead Transit Facility. 6 INTRODUCED, READ, APPROVED AND ADOPTED this 15th day of April, 2008. N y_ PA Richard D4CC11evv Tyor, own Vail S r ATTEST: rel Donaldson, Town Clerk 7