HomeMy WebLinkAbout1974-07-02 Town Council Minutes0
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MINUTES
REGULAR MEETING
TOWN COUNCIL OF THE TOWN OF VAIL
2 JULY 1974
The regular meeting of.the Town Council of the Town.of.Vaii,,
Colorado, was convened at 7:35 P.M., July`2, 1974, in :the .
Council. Room of the Vail Municipal Building._
Mayor John Dobson and the-.fbklowing councilmembers were
present:
Josef Staufer
Kathy Klug
Tom Steinberg
John Donovan
Gerry. White -
Joseph Langmaid
Also present were:
Terrell J. Minger,""Own Manager
Gene A. Smith, Town Attorney
Ordinance.No. 9, Series of 1974,.AN ORDINANCE PROHIBITING
DELIVERY, SERVICE,, AND OTHER COMMERCIAL MOTOR VEHICLES FROM
USE OF STREETS., IN ZONING DISTRICT COMMERCIAL CORE 1,BETWEEN
11:00 A.M. AND 2:00 P.M. DAILY FROM JULY.24., 1974 THROUGH
OCTOBER 31, 1974, AND AMENDING THE MUNICIPAL TRAFFIC CODE
AND THE TOWN CODE OF VAIL, was introduced on first.reading.'
Councilman White moved to.approve the ordinance; Councilman
Steinberg seconded,the motion; the vote.was unanimous_,in favor;
and the motion carried. The Town Clerkwas then instructed .
to publish Ordinance.No. 9 as,approved on first reading-.,
Ordinance No.. 10, Series of 1974, AN ORDINANCE MAKING.A
SECOND SUPPLEMENTAL APPROPRIATION FROM THE GENERAL FUND'%
OF THE 1974 BUDGET AND FINANCIAL PLAN FOR THE TOWN OF'VAIL,.
COLORADO, was introduced on first reading. Councilman
Staufer moved to approve the ordinance on first reading;
Councilman Donovan seconded the motion; the vote was unanimous
in favor; and the motion carried. The Town Clerk was then
instructed to publish Ordinance No. 10 as..approved>on first
reading.
Ordinance No. 11, Series..of.1974, AN EMERGENCY ORDINANCE
CREATING A CONSERVATION TRUST FUND, FOR THE TOWN.OF VAIL,
COLORADO, PURSUANT -TO HOUSE,BILL`NO. 1084 ENACTED. BY THE_
1974 GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF COLORADO, was introduced
on first.reading. Councilwoman Klug moved to approve the
ordinance;' Councilman Langmaid seconded the. motion;.the vote
was unanimous in favor; 'and the motion carried. The Town
Clerk was then instructed to..publish Ordinance No..11 as
approved.
Resolution No. 15, Series of 1974, a resolution for the
development of the Vail Nature Centre and the transfer of
part of an appropriation,.wasintroduced by the town manager.
He explained that the appropriation.was for $12,000.00 to.
be used in the rehabilitation of the.Antholz building.
Councilman Steinberg moved to approve the.resolution; Council-
man Langmaid seconded the motion; the vote was unanimous in
favor;.and the motion carried.
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town of veil N
box 100 office of the town manager
vail, colorado 81657
(343) 476-5613 July 12, 1974
Town Council
Planning Commission
Town of Vail, Colorado
P.O. Box 100
Vail, Colorado 81657
As you know a joint meeting of the Council and the Planning
Commission is scheduled for tomorrow, July 16, at. 2 P.M.
to discuss the Commercial Core problems. Because of the
. great concern regarding Tracts A and B at the present time,
I am requesting that the matter be discussed tomorrow instead.
I know you have all given the matter considerable thought
already, but am taking the liberty of outlining some of the
problems and still unanswered questions as I see them, and
trust it may be helpful as background information for our
meeting:
This summer the recreational fields around the Golden
Peak area have been used by more people, and have offered
more exciting events for both participants and spectators
than ever before. Far more townspeople and guests than
ever before have become aware not only of the fields them-
selves, but even more of the magnificent open view to the
east along the golf course, and beyond to the majestic
Gore Range.
There is suddenly a great fear that the so-called
Northwoods development to be constructed by Vail Associates
immediately to the east of the playing field will seriously
impare the incomparable sweeping view to the east, and limit
expansion of recreational facilities in that direction.
In order to understand what courses of action can be
taken to limit or eliminate the development proposed, if that
is the wish of the people today, it is necessary to understand
the history of the land involved.
The land belongs to Vail Associates. In August of 1972
the land was zoned HDMF.
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Several months ago Vail Associates came to the town,
to the Planning and Zoning Commission and eventually,
through extensive public hearings, to the people and to
the council.
The Planning Commission recommended approval of the
project, and the Council, with only Councilman Gerry White
dissenting, approved the project.
Vail Associates began preliminary excavation in early
summer, has suspended it temporarily, but plans to begin
work there again within 30 to 60 days. Since the formal
approval of the project, the company has undoubtedly
invested in extensive planning, design and marketing
efforts in connection with the project. Interest in pur-
chases of units has apparently been most encouraging, and
estimates of the profitability of the venture are high.
Paradoxically perhaps, the area's value as a development
site in many ways parallels its value as continued public
open space and recreational area.
The developers through a period of many months have
negotiated with the town and have received approval for
the project. Although there were serious misgivings
expressed by various town officials during the period
before approval, there was little or no objection expressed by
the people in the various forums provided, and the decision
of the Town Council was undoubtedly sound in view of the
legal constraints under which it was required to operate,
primarily in the area of the pertaining zoning of the land.
If the town is to maintain its credibility for rational
and legal action, then it certainly must acknowledge that
the developers have received approval to proceed with the
project as planned.
If we are to be sensitive to current wishes expressed
by many townspeople - some in official positions - some not,
we must learn and assess the exact nature of these concerns
and the extent to which they are held by the people.
• If it can be demonstrated, quickly and definitely that
serious or irreparable harm will be done to the town if this
project does proceed, then it is the responsibility of the
town government to do all in its power to eliminate or
limit this harm.
The town government's immediate task is to analyze
the threat of harm as objectively as possible, and with
the vital aid of public opinion, assess its importance to
Vail's future - aesthetically, environmentally and economically.
We must establish the priority of limiting or eliminating
this development in the overall list of needs and priorities
which we have already established.
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What are the specific questions we must answer in
order to make this assessment?
1. What land and how much development is involved?
Note: the developer has already acknowledged
that he will continue to take no action on Tract A (zoned
residential) anticipating possible purchase of this tract
by the town.
It is less clear as to the developers` intentions
regarding the soccer field. It has been our understanding
that this area would remain in its present use. Although
no development is planned there, there have been reports
that the Ski School has proposed changing the terrain for
instruction purposes, thereby rendering it useless as a
playing field. The success of this area as a multi -purpose
summer facility has been proved beyond question. It must
remain useable as such, and improved in all possible ways.
If our option to purchase Tract A remains available,
and if it can be established with Vail Associates that
the soccer field remain (preferably deeded to the town),
then the problem is narrowed to the Tract B development.
What are the questions to be answered here?
a. What will be the adverse effect upon the view
to the east from the soccer field area?
Note: An important aid will be composites of
photographs of the existing view and models of
the proposed development. These should be
accomplished at once.
What else do you think would be helpful?
b. If the Northwoods development were not to take
place, it would have to be purchased by the town.
A realistic estimate of this amount must be as-
certained. What will it be?
c. Can the town afford such an amount?
If so, how?
d. What effect would the purchase of this property
have on the ability of the town to proceed with the
development of facilities on the Antholz property?
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e. The Town of Vail and Vail Associates are close
to a major transaction regarding land acquisitions
etc. of great importance to the town, which have
been worked out over a long period of time, and with
apparent good faith and good intention evinced by both
parties. Would these transactions be endangered by
any action taken by the town in connection with the
Northwoods development?
Note: The Council and Planning Commission should
review and understand this situation completely. it
would seem obvious that the town's - or Vail Associates'
ability or desire to complete these negotiations will
be affected by negotiations regarding Northwoods.
While many other questions regarding the Northwoods
problem undoubtedly exist, I believe the ones I have out-
lined are vital, and ask you to give them as much thought
before the meeting as possible.
It is the responsibility of the town council, after
hearing the opinions of the townspeople, and the advice
and counsel of the Planning Commission, to adopt a policy
regarding the Northwoods development, and then to implement
it promptly. Time is very much of the essence.
The purpose of this special meeting will be to
establish an orderly, objective and prompt procedure for
handling this situation.
Please be sure to attend.
John A. Dobson
Mayor
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