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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1997-04-01 Town Council MinutesIt MINUTES VAIL TOWN COUNCIL MEETING April 1, 1997 7:30 P.M. A rE lar meeting of the Vail Town Council was held on Tuesday, April 1, 1997, in the Council Chambers of the Vail Mu al Building. The meeting was called to order at approximately 7:30 P.M.; 1uL:11 I►d14:9vaV*►ill MEMBERS ABSENT: Robert W. Armour, Mayor Sybil] Navas, Mayor Pro-tem Kevin Foley Rob Ford Paul Johnston Ludwig Kurz Michael Jewett TOWN OFFICIALS PRESENT: Bob McLaurin, Town Manager Pam Brandmeyer, Assistant Town Manager Tom Moorhead, Town Attorney Holly McCutcheon, Town Clerk The first item of business was the Vail Youth Award Presentation. Paul Johnston explained that the purpose of the alwas to recognize local youth, and to give students a chance to experience resorts in other countries. The awa is given annually to high school juniors from Battle Mountain High School and Vail Mountain School. Paul then introduced 1997 recipients, Alissa Ferri from the Vail Mountain School and Chad Sewell of Battle Mountain High School. Both will participate in the youth exchange in Australia. Mery Lapin extended his appreciation to the Town for making the program possible. Next Council members moved to the first item on the agenda, Citizen Participation, of which there was none. Agenda item number two was Ordinance No. 7, Series of 1997, first reading, an ordinance amending Section 15.02.020© of the Municipal Code of the Town of Vail to Provide for the Adoption of an Annual Elevator Inspection Fee. Mayor Armour read the title in full. Town Building inspector Dan Staneck was present to answer any questions from Council members. Town Attorney, Tom Moorhead stated it was appropriate to consider an increase in the elevator permit fees, and that the building department recommended adopting those set forth by Northwest Colorado Council of Governments. Such fee, he said were consistent with other provisions of the Town's Code. The fees, once adopted, would be maintained with the schedule of construction fees in the building division of the Community Development Department. Tom explained that fees would be adopted by reference, so that any future changes in fee schedules could be approved by resolution. He said copies of the schedules would be maintained in the appropriate department. Syyoved to approve Ordinance No. 7, Series of 1997 on first reading, and Paul Johnston seconded the motion. A was then taken which passed unanimously, 6-0. Item number three was Ordinance No. 8, Series of 1997, first reading of an Ordinance Establishing a Traffic Offense for Failure to Provide a Complying Policy or Certificate of Self-insurance. Mayor Armour read the title in full. Town Attorney, Tom Moorhead presented the item and provided the following background: Council had directed the Town Attorney to prepare a proof of insurance ordinance consistent with that provided in the State Model Traffic Code, enabling violations of the ordinance to be prosecuted in the Town of Vail Municipal Court as opposed to County District Court. Tom stated the staff recommendation was for approval of Ordinance No. 8, Series of 1997, on first reading, and was recommended by Town Municipal Judge, Buck Allen, as well as Police Chief, Greg Morrison. Sybill moved to approve Ordinance No. 8, Series of 1997 on first reading, with a second by Rob Ford. A vote was then taken which passed unanimously, 6-0. Fourth on the agenda was Resolution No. 13, Series of 1997, a Resolution Approving and Adopting the 1997 Ford Park Management Plan, which amended the 1985 Ford Park and Donovan Park Master Plan. Mayor Armour read the title in full. Town of Vail Staff on hand to answer questions included Assistant Town Manager, Pam Brandmeyer; Public Works Director, Larry Grafel; Park Superintendent, Todd Oppenheimer; and Town Planner, George Ruther. Larry Grafel and Todd Oppenheimer presented the item and stated that the 1997 Ford Park Master Plan was co lete following a two year process which involved the participation of leaseholders and stakeholders, and was fa(Wed by Town of Vail staff. Staff recommendation was for approval of Resolution No. 13, Series of 1997. Todd Oppenheimer asked Council to consider final changes as discussed at an earlier work session. Public input was heard by Jim Lamont on behalf of the East Village Homeowners Association, who thanked town staff for the hard work and effort that had gone into the process. Vail Town Council Evening Meeting Minutes April 1, 1997 Sybill Navas moved to approve Resolution No. 13, Series of 1997, using the language contained in the draft dated March 17, 1997, and the modifications (see attached) as explained by Todd Oppenheimer. Kevin Foley seconded the motion and a vote was taken which passed unanimously, 6-0. Mayor Armour then thanked town staff for their hard work. Council then moved to agenda item number six, which was to vote for and appoint one member to the Local Lic'Ig Authority. Ballots were distributed and tallied, and Kevin Foley moved to appoint William F. (Bill) Bishop to til an unexpired term ending June, 1998. The motion was seconded by Paul Johnston. A vote was taken and approved unanimously, 6-0. Agenda item number seven to vote for and appoint two Art In Public Places board members was then discussed. Ballots were distributed and tallied. Kevin Foley moved to reappoint Jim Cotter and to appoint Kathy Zaden to serve three-year terms expiring in February, 2000, to the AIPP board. Rob Ford seconded the motion. A vote was then taken which passed unanimously, 6-0. Mayor Armour thanked all of those who participated in submitting letters of interest. Agenda item number five was a discussion of the Seibert Circle Art in Public Places (AIPP) project. AIPP Chairperson, Kathy Langenwalter and coordinator, Nancy Sweeney, presented the item. Council members were asked to provide a recommendation for selection of an artist to design an art piece for Seibert Circle. Kathy Langenwalter then provided gave a history of the project, and explained the process that had been undergone. She said originally $13,000 had been paid to Winston & Associates for landscaping and design work at Seibert Circle, and that Council had decided to move forward with a creation of an art piece that would draw upon the area's natural beauty and history, would serve as a popular gathering place, and respect the desires of Vail founder Pete Seibert. Na& Sweeney recounted the selection process in detail, which included creation of goals, specific criteria and a natil7r.al call to artists, compiling and mailing of materials, and a process to put a selection jury in place that would review responses. Of the 700 responding to the call, 80 proposals were submitted from across the country, she said. Four semi-finalists were eventually chosen. On March 20 presentations were made and the jury and AIPP Board presented its recommendation to proceed with a design development plan with Artist Jesus Bautista Moroles and Design Workshop. Jim Morter, local architect, and a member of the jury said the group's recommendation was to work with the design team together with the community to product a strong visual landmark and a meaningful tribute to Peter Seibert. He said there was a dilemma, as Pete Seibert didn't agree with the recommendation, and that his criteria had changed from what the jury had previously understood it to be. Jim then stated that the jury and AIPP Board would never try to push a design that Pete didn't endorse, but that the selection process should still be honored in order to maintain Vail's credibility. Therefore, Jim said, the issue is being brought to the Council for a policy decision. Public input was then heard. Pete Seibert said he'd been asked to serve on the selection jury which he declined, and his son Calvin served at his request. Pete continued, stating that there was never any attempt made by any of the artists to meet with him. He felt the pieces proposed were too contemporary, and better suited for Lionshead. W* Miller, Pepi Gramshammer and Joe Staufer urged Council to support a more traditional design that would tell the story of Vail's history. Jim Slevin expressed respect for honoring Pete, but said he would hate to see another bronze statue in Seibert Circle. Artist Elaine Calzolari, one of the semi-finalists in the competition, expressed disappointment ion the latest developments. She said her colleagues spent hundreds of hours preparing for the competition because they thought it was a clear and fair process. She then offered the following suggestions: first, to leave the selection of the Seibert Circle art piece in the hands of the AIPP and look for another site for a more traditional tribute to Pete Seibert, perhaps on top of Vail Mountain; allow a fifth Seibert Circle proposal to be presented to the AIPP Board and jury for similar evaluation, or a possible public vote, or use a site in Lionshead as a possible site for the AIPP selection, and allowing the finalists to reconfigure their works to address the request for a more traditional piece in Seibert circle. Jim Lamont of the East Village Homeowners Association said he was appreciative of the efforts of the AIPP and challenged the community to work together to find a solution. Town Manager Bob McLaurin asked Council for more time to discuss with those involved, a solution that Pete Seibert would embrace, and would maintain the integrity of the process. Ma• Armour and Kevin Foley complimented the selection jury and AIPP for following through with the project in a professional and thorough manner. Both Mayor Armour and Parks Superintendent, Todd Oppenheimer noted the piece recommended by the selection jury was not a final proposal. VaiL Town Council Evening Meeting Minutes ApriL 1, 1997 Paul Johnston moved to table action on the Seibert Circle art piece to allow as much time as needed to explore other options. Ludwig seconded the motion, and a vote was taken which passed, 5-1, Kevin Foley opposed. Item number eight on the agenda was an appeal of a variance approval (4-2; Moffet and Pratt opposed, Aasland absent) made by the Planning and Environmental Commission on February 10, 1997. Applicants Art and Elaine Kelt� were granted a front setback variance of 5' - 6" to allow an additional one -car garage to be constructed at 1034 Ho t+ take Circle/Lot 5, Block 6, Vail Village 7th Filing. Diana Donovan, a neighbor, had appealed the decision, noting the variance had not met the criteria and findings of the Town Code and constituted a grant of special privilege. Town of Vail Planner Dirk Mason presented the item, stating that staff recommended that the Town Council overturn the Planning and Environmental Commission's approval of a 5- 6" front setback variance. Rob Ford recused himself from the issue. Dirk referenced a memo dated March 4, 1997 to the Town Council and reviewed the following consideration of factors: 1) . The relationship of the requested variance to other existing or potential uses and structures in the vicinity. 2) The degree to which relief from the strict and literal interpretation and enforcement of a specified regulation is necessary to achieve compatibility and uniformity of treatment among sites in the vicinity or to attain the objectives of this title without grant of special privilege. 3) The effect of the requested variance on light and air, distribution of population, transportation and traffic facilities, public facilities and utilities, and public safety. Dirk stated the following findings had to be made before granting a variance: 1} That the granting of the variance will not constitute a grant of special privilege inconsistent with the limitations on other properties classified in the same district. 2) That the granting of the variance will not be detrimental to the public health, safety or welfare, or materially injurious to properties or improvements in the vicinity. 3) That the variance is warranted for one or more of the following reasons: a) The strict literal interpretation or enforcement of the specified regulation would result in practical difficulty or unnecessary physical hardship inconsistent with the objectives of this title. b) There are exceptions or extraordinary circumstances or conditions applicable to the site of the variance that do not apply generally to other properties in the same zone district. c) The strict interpretation or enforcement of the specified regulation would deprive the applicant of privileges enjoyed by the owners of other properties in the same district. Jim Morter, Architect for the Applicants, stated his reasons for believing there was a physical hardship and that the granting of the variance should be upheld. Council members felt that the variance awarded the applicant by the PEG constituted the granting of a special privilege. Town Attorney Tom Moorhead stated his feeling that the PEC findings were unsubstantiated. Kevin Foley then moved to overturn the PEC approval of the variance request, based on the following findings 1. That the standards and conditions imposed by the requirements of Title 18 (Zoning) have not been met. 2. eThat the granting of the variance will constitute a grant of special privilege inconsistent with the limitations on other properties classified in the same district. 3. There are no exceptions, extraordinary circumstances, or conditions that are applicable to this site that apply generally to other properties in the Primary/Secondary Residential zone. In addition, any hardships which have been presented, have been self imposed. 4. The strict interpretation or enforcement of the specified regulation does not deprive the applicant of privileges enjoyed by owners of other properties in the Primary/Secondary Residential district. Ludwig seconded the motion. A vote was then taken which passed unanimously, 5-0-1 Rob Ford abstained. Agenda item number nine was Town Council call-up of a Planning and Environmental Commission unanimous approval (6-0) of a major exterior alteration located at the Creekside Building, 229 Gore Creek Drive/LotA, Block 5B, Vail Village 1st Filing. Applicant: Michael Ditch. Town Planner, Lauren Waterton presented the item and provided the following background: On March 24, 1997, the PEC approved, with three conditions, a request for a major exterior alteration to allow for 1,050 square feet of an existing deck area to be enclosed to allow for an outdoor dining deck with approximately 10 tables. Lauren stated the staff recommendation was for approval of the major exterior alteration with three conditions, and referenced the staff memo to the PEC, dated March 24, 1997, for a complete description of the request. Lauren noted the request was also scheduled for DRB review. App cant, Michael Ditch, who is proposing a new restaurant for the space, presented drawings and a model of the prcMed alteration for review by Council members. Pepi Gramshammer, an adjacent property owner, was concerned about how trash would be removed from the site. Paul Johnston then moved to uphold the PEC approval of a Major Exterior Alteration at the Creekside Building, with a second from Ludwig including conditions as approved by PEC. A vote was then taken which passed, 5-1, Rob Ford Vail Toth Council Evening Meeting Minutes April 1, 1997 voting in opposition. Tenth on the agenda was a report from the Town Manager. In addition to his written report, Bob McLaurin distributed a final draft of the 1997 Community Survey and asked for Council comments. Bob also presented the Council with a proposed budget for the West Vail roundabout and asked Council to authorize him to enter into a contract with the low dder, buckles Construction of Steamboat Springs to move forward with the $5.37 million project. Minor matters areW pending with the army core of engineers, Bob said, but he expected those issues to be resolved very soon. Ludwig moved to authorize the Town manager to enter into a contract with Duckles Construction contingent upon discussions yet to be had with Colorado Department of Transportation, the Army Core of Engineers, and other property owners. Paul seconded the motion. A vote was then taken and passed unanimously, 6-0. A motion was then made by Ludwig to adjourn into executive session to discuss personnel issues. Rob seconded the motion. There being no further business the meeting was adjourned at approximately 10:40 p.m. Respectfully submitted, L-4�14L� Robert W. Armour, Mayor ATTEST; H cCutcheon, Town Clerk Minutes taken by Holly McCutcheon (*Names of certain individuals who gave public input may be inaccurate.) Vail Town Council Evening Meeting Minutes April 1, 1997 �y TOWN OF VAIL 7s South Frontage Road Colorado 81657 970-479-2100 FAX 970-479-2157 MEDIA ADVISORY April 2, 1997 Contact: Suzanne Silverthorn, 479-2115 Community Information Office VAIL TOWN COUNCIL HIGHLIGHTS FOR APRIL 1 Work Session Briefs Council members present: Armour, Foley, Ford, Johnston, Kurz, Navas --Interviews for Board Appointments The Council interviewed two community members for an open position on the Local Licensing Authority and six applicants for two openings on the Art in Public Places • Board. See evening meeting briefs for selection of appointments. --Ford Park Management Plan In reviewing final changes to the Ford Park Management Plan, the Council agreed to eliminate policy statement 13, which had listed the park as a potential location for a future community parking structure should the need arise. In suggesting removal of the controversial policy statement, Council member Sybill Navas also successfully convinced the other council members to modify policy statement 12 as a compromise to allow the town to maintain flexibility by reviewing each situation on a case -by -case basis. Policy statement 12, the only reference to parking in the document, will read as follows: "Adequate parking for the needs of the park are to be provided in the park and at the Village structure." During public input, Jim Lamont of the East Village Homeowners Association offered some technical suggestions, while representatives from the Vail Village Commercial Property Owners Association and the Vail Recreation District continued to advocate for elimination of policy statement 13. Tom Steinberg suggested the addition of a stairway for better access from the soccer field to the park. Also, Arturo Brillembourg of Northwoods Condominiums expressed concerns about congestion on Vail Valley Drive, while Kaye Ferry of the Vail Village Merchants Association said she wouldn't object to a parking structure under ground, noting that Vail already has a parking problem. Diana Donovan asked that parking for the park be included as an allowable use within the document. She also suggested adding fences around the retaining walls, preserving the mature trees by the Manor Lodge bridge and combining the school house and Nature Center operations. Mike Ortiz, manager of the tennis center, expressed concerns about a plan to relocate a tennis court at the town's expense, noting safety and feasibility issues. For more information, contact Todd Oppenheimer, TOV park superintendent, at 479-2161. (more) C• RECYCLEDPAPER TOV Council Highlights/Add 1 --Update on Public Works Seasonal Housing Development Andy Knudtsen, senior housing policy planner, said the town's seasonal housing development for the Public Works site is proceeding on schedule. The plans were reviewed by the PEC and DRB on March 24, with both boards giving favorable reviews. Also, no access requirements will be required by the Colorado Department of Transportation, he said. Knudtsen said that once construction costs are determined by the design -build team, he'll provide another update to the Council to review those figures. For more information, contact Knudtsen at 479-2440. --Review of Existing Gross Residential Floor Area (GRFA) Policy and Possible Alternatives The Council heard a presentation from Russell Forrest, senior environmental policy planner, and Tom Braun, the town's consultant, on the GRFA analysis. The Council had directed staff to evaluate the existing GRFA system and determine if it is an appropriate tool for regulating mass and bulk when compared to other alternatives. Yesterday, three alternatives were reviewed for single family, duplex and primary/secondary type structures, only. The first alternative would keep GRFA, but allow for development of interior space in existing homes. The second alternative would keep GRFA, but not count basement space. The third alternative would eliminate GRFA. Forrest presented information on the pros and cons of all three, including the staff's recommendation to eliminate GRFA. (for a packet of the pros and . cons, please call 479-2115). Forrest also described discussions by the Planning and Environmental Commission which ultimately voted 4-3 in favor of the first alternative with several conditions. During discussion, Tom Steinberg urged the Council to require employee housing units as a condition of approval, while Eric Larson wondered why the Council is concerned about the "boxy" designs of single family homes when his building site in Intermountain is surrounded by boxy condominiums. Pat Dauphinais advocated for elimination of GRFA, saying it inhibits good design, while Jim Lamont suggested consideration of rezoning neighborhoods such as West Vail and Intermountain to address the issue. Diana Donovan read a prepared letter advocating enforcement and compliance with the current regulations rather than -throwing out the system all together. Council members appeared to lean more heavily toward option one (with variations) and asked that additional work be done to explore how employee housing opportunities could be factored into the proposed option. Forrest and Braun will return to the Council for an update and possible final decision at the April 15 work session. --Development Review Improvement Process (DRIP) The Council heard a brief overview on "DRIP" by Susan Connelly, director of the Community Development Department. DRIP is an interdepartmental effort to improve • the existing development review process with involvement by the Community Development Department, Public Works Department and Fire Department. Connelly said the first phase of DRIP would be presented at this week's construction season kick-off, which includes creation of a standards handbook and a proposed "trial run" of an improved design review process for single family homes and duplexes. The experiment will run April 14 though June 18, after which staff and customers would evaluate what worked and what needs further refinement. Connelly said the impetus for the DRIP effort was the frustration experienced by some of the town's customers, as (more) TOV Council Highlights/Add 2 reflected in the annual Community Survey. For additional details, contact Connelly at 479-2140. --Council Reports Kevin Foley reported on a recent meeting of the Trails Committee of the Eagle County Recreation Authority. Foley said the group decided to move the ribbon cutting for the Dowd Junction Bike Path to Aug. 23 due to inconveniences caused by construction of roundabouts in West Vail and Avon, and the Highway 6 widening project. Sybill Navas attended a meeting of the Northwest Regional Council of Governments in Walden. She stressed the value of attending such meetings because of the diversity of opinions shared within the Northwest region. --Other Sybill Navas inquired about the status of a day care center requirement for the Vail Commons project. Town Manager Bob McLaurin said a day care provider has been selected for the site by City Market. Additional details are available from Andy Knudtsen in the Community Development Department. On another matter, Navas said she was distressed to hear consideration of the possibility of a parking pay -in -lieu option for Ford Park. The pay -in -lieu concept has been floated as a possibility for the Alpine Garden Foundation which seeks to build an educational center near the soccer field. Navas said she wanted to go on record in opposition to the parking pay-in-iieu option. Evening Session Briefs Council members present: Armour, Foley, Ford, Johnston, Kurz, Navas --Citizen Participation With Councilman Paul Johnston providing an overview of its history and purpose, the annual Vail Youth Award was presented to Alissa Ferri of Vail Mountain School and Chad Sewell'of Battle Mountain High School. Both'are juniors and will be invited to spend the summer in Mt. Buller, Australia, as part of the sister city program sponsored by the Vail Valley Exchange and funded by the Town of Vail. --Ordinance No. 7, Annual Elevator Inspection Fee The Council voted 6-0 on first reading to approve an ordinance amending the Municipal Code to provide for the adoption of an annual elevator inspection fee. The ordinance enables future elevator inspection fee increases to be adopted by resolution. The inspection program is managed by the Northwest Colorado Council of Governments. For more information, contact Dan Stanek in the Community Development Department at 479-2321. --Ordinance No. 8, Proof of Insurance The Council voted 6-0 on first reading to approve an ordinance establishing failure to provide a certificate of insurance as a municipal traffic offense. The ordinance allows violators to be cited in municipal court rather than county court. Municipal Judge Buck Allen and Vail Police Chief Greg Morrison had recommended the action. For more (more) .1 TOV Council Highlights/Add 3 information, contact Town Attorney Tom Moorhead at 479-2107. --Ford Park Management Plan Resolution After ironing out final details during the afternoon work session, the Council voted 6-0 to approve a resolution approving and adopting the 1997 Ford Park Management Plan. The action follows a two-year process involving leaseholders, community members and other users of the park. For more information, contact Todd Oppenheimer, park superintendent, at 479-2161. --Liquor Board Appointment The Council appointed William F. (8111) Bishop to the Local Licensing Authority. The appointment will fill an unexpired term ending January 1998. --Art In Public Places Board Appointment The Council appointed Cathy Zaden and reappointed Jim Cotter to the Art in Public Places Board. Both are three year terms to expire in February 2000. --Seibert Circle Art Piece At the suggestion of Town Manager Bob McLaurin, the Council tabled action on the Seibert Circle art piece to allow time to explore options that would maintain the integrity of the selection process initiated by the Art in Public Places Board (AIPP) and respect the wishes of Vail founder Pete Seibert, for whom the circle is named. During yesterday's meeting, AIPP representatives provided a detailed summary of the selection process, which included creation of goals, specific criteria and a national call to artists for creation of an art piece that would draw upon the area's natural beauty and history, and would serve as a popular gathering place. Following more than 700 inquires, over 80 proposals were submitted from across the country. A selection jury eventually narrowed the field to four semi-finalists. Then, following presentations on March 20, the jury and AIPP Board yesterday presented its recommendation: pursue a design development with Jesus Bautista Moroles and Design Workshop (not the design as specifically presented). Jim Morter, a local architect who served on the jury, said the group's recommendation is to work with the design team in collaboration with the community to produce a strong visual landmark and a meaningful tribute to Peter Seibert. But there's a dilemma, he said, which diminishes the group's enthusiasm: Pete Seibert doesn't agree with the recommendation and his criteria has changed from what the jury had previously understood it to be. In respecting what Pete has meant to Vail, Morter said the jury and AIPP Board would never try to push a design that Pete didn't endorse. On the other hand, Morter said, the selection process should be honored. Otherwise, Vail's credibility will suffer. As a result, Morter said the issue extends beyond the arena of art and into the arena of a policy decision for the Town Council. In addressing the Council, Pete Seibert acknowledged he'd been asked to serve on the selection jury but had declined; his son, Calvin, served at Pete's request. Pete said his interest from the beginning was to remain open to various artist interpretations of what would be a fitting tribute for the circle. He said he hoped something would come of the process; however, the results have been disappointing. He said the art pieces, as proposed, are contemporary and better suited for Lionshead. Warren Miller, Pep! Gramshammer and Joe Staufer urged the Council to support a (more) 4 V, TOV Council Highlights/Add 4 more traditional design that would tell the story of Vail's history. The three also criticized the artists for failing to make contact with Seibert during the design isdevelopment to learn more about him. Jim Slevin expressed respect for honoring Pete Seibert, but said he would hate to see a bronze figure as the solution. Seibert said he wasn't interested in a bronze or a statue. He said the circle should be a warm, friendly, nicely landscaped gathering place that represents the spirit of Vail and the spirit of skiing. Artist Elaine Calzolari, one of the semi-finalists in the competition, expressed disappointment in the latest developments. She said her colleagues spent hundreds of hours preparing for the competition because they thought it was a clear and fair process. Using the Vietnam Memorial as an example (the popularity of the wall vs. a figurative sculpture nearby), she said figurative art doesn't work well as a gathering point or a beacon in a public space. She offered several suggestions. First, leave selection of the Seibert Circle art piece in the hands of the AIPP and look for another site for a more traditional tribute to Pete Seibert, perhaps on top of Vail Mountain. Or, allow a fifth Seibert Circle proposal to be presented to the AIPP Board and jury for similar evaluation, or a possible public vote. And finally, if there's interest in using Lionshead as a possible site for the AIPP selection, she suggested allowing the finalists to reconfigure their works to address specific sites. Jim Lamont of the East Village Homeowners Association said he was very appreciative of the efforts of the AIPP and challenged the community to work together to find a solution to the issues at hand. Bob .McLaurin agreed to help facilitate those discussions. Bob Armour and Kevin Foley also complimented the selection jury and AIPP for following through with the project in a professional and thorough manner. For more information, contact Nancy Sweeney, AIPP coordinator, at 479-2344. --Appeal of a Planning and Environmental Commission Front Setback Variance at 1034 Homestake Circle The Council voted 5-0-1 (Ford recused himself) to overturn a front setback variance approved by the Planning and Environmental Commission in February. The PEC had granted the variance to allow an additional one -car garage to be constructed at 10324 Homestake Circle, the home of Art and Elaine Kelton. Diana Donovan, a neighbor; had appealed the decision, noting the variance had not meet the criteria and findings of the town's code and constituted a grant of special privilege. Town staff also had recommended overturning the PEC decision. For more information, contact Dirk Mason in the Community Development Department at 479-2150. --Town Council Call -Up of a Planning and Environmental Commission Approval of a Major Exterior Alteration at the Creekside Building, 229 Gore Creek Drive The Council voted 5-1 (Ford against) to uphold PEC approval of a major exterior alteration at the Creekside Building. The alteration will allow for 1,050 sq. ft. of an existing deck area to be enclosed for year-round use. The alteration application was filed by Michael Ditch, who will operate a restaurant at the site. The PEC had added three conditions to its approval; the application now goes to the Design Review Board for additional action. For more information, contact Lauren Waterton in the Community Development Department at 479-2454. (more) IV TOV Council Highlights/Add 5 --Town Manager's Report In addition to his written report, Bob McLaurin distributed a final draft of the 1997 Community Survey and asked for Council comments. McLaurin also presented the Council with a proposed budget for the West Vail roundabout and asked Council to authorize him to enter into a contract with the low bidder, Duckles Construction of Steamboat Springs for the $5.37 million project. The Council approved by a vote of 6-0. UPCOMING DISCUSSION TOPICS April 8 Work Session DRB Review USFS Burn Update Information Update Council Reports Site Visit and Discussion of Swiss Chalet Parking April 15 Work Session PEC Review 97 Housing Work Plan Review of Proposed Rules of Procedure Austria Haus Special District April 15 Evening Meeting Second Reading, Ordinance No. 4, Austria Haus Second Reading, Ordinance No. 7, Elevator Inspection Fees Second Reading, Ordinance No. 8, Proof of Insurance GRFA Decision April 22 Work Session DRB Review Lionshead Stage 2 Report on Vail Tomorrow Conference Year-end Financial Report Eagle County Housing Policies Review Sound Ordinance European Slide Show/Loading & Delivery # # # 0 ov IOS 16 jhr1 LL -1��-/j7. - i i f i v� 1l •` N - --- f I o%ins V<7-e • - ( , r Awl �5 d yV �� l 4 04,Tyx".,Y* i3 T.-,� A01- S7Y Re _. _.. - � tlit�-ri� �tc.r�� ��oveX awe -opt t�,1. !-�of�r�x Gc��. j�..6i✓�t1tt- r ' Ala.— 7f � 7 TOWN OF VAIL allouth Frontage Road at Colorado 81657 970-479-2100 FAX 970-479-2157 MEDIA ADVISORY April 9, 1997 Contact: Suzanne Silverthorn, 479-2115 Community Information Office VAIL TOWN COUNCIL HIGHLIGHTS FOR APRIL 8 Work Session Briefs Council members present: Armour, Foley, Ford, Jewett, Johnston, Kurz, Navas --Discussion of U.S. Forest Service Control Burn The Council heard from Bill Wood, district ranger for the White River National Forest, who stated the agency's intent to initiate a prescribed burn north of Bald Mountain Road above Vail this spring will be postponed a year --possibly longer --until the prescribed conditions are met. The decision was based on research conducted by a Forest Service hydrologist who determined the current snowpack melt and temperature conditions are similar to 1984, which triggered debris flow problems. In his report, Wood said the Forest Service isn't walking away from the project. He said he's asked ,his team to continue with the analysis, environmental assessment and documentation in preparation for a prescribed burn in the future. He said the public would continue to be involved in the decision -making process and that funding for the burn would be retained through the Foundation for North American Wild Sheep, among other sources. Wood said the hydrologist has indicated the conditions will be suitable for the burn 6 out of every 10 years, which means the burn might not happen next year, either. In response to a question from Michael Jewett, Wood said there are no plans for short- term mitigation such as cutting the trees or brush by hand to improve the bighorn sheep habitat and revegetate the aspen trees. Mayor Bob Armour said he respected and admired the professional judgement delivered by Wood. He also thanked the Forest Service for spending time in the community. Eve Nott, a resident in attendance at the meeting, also congratulated Wood on the Forest Service's position. For more information, contact Wood at 827-5715. --Council Reports Paul Johnston, who represents the Town Council on the Eagle County Recreational Authority (which oversees the Berry Creek Fifth property in Edwards) presented an update on the Authority's activities. First, Johnston said, an access spur will be much less costly than originally anticipated due to its relocation to coincide with an access point established for the North Star Lumber facility. Johnston suggested spending the (more) '0) RECYCLEDPAPER TM TOV Council Highlights/Add 1 $165,000 now to create access to the acreage. Second, Johnston said the Authority, representing 7 governmental agencies (Vail holds the controlling interest), has discussed the possibility of "musical parcels" to include a series of land trades between the Authority, Eagle County School District and the Arrowhead Metro District. Also, Johnston said the Authority has been approached by the Beaver Creek Resort Company to help pay for lighting and seating upgrades for the equestrian center which is located on the property. The equestrian center produces weekly rodeos which have been very popular during the summer season, Johnston said. However, the Beaver Creek Resort Company is interested in extending the equestrian center's contract from an annual agreement to a five-year contract to justify its contribution. The last component of Johnston's report included a video tape showing development of a multi- purpose fair grounds building in Oklahoma. Johnston said the Authority has expressed interest in exploring the possibility of a multi -purpose facility that would tie -into the equestrian center on the Berry Creek property. Uses could include dog shows, car shows, antique shows, wedding receptions, meetings, conferences, etc., he said. Authority members have been asked to poll their constituencies about the concept and will meet again on May 1 for additional discussion, Johnston said he was encouraged by the authority's enthusiasm, since the group has had difficulty agreeing on much of anything since it was formed in 1991. The multi -purpose facility concept will be discussed in more detail by the Vail Town Council at its April 22 work session. , --Other Kevin Foley expressed concerns about the poor surface condition of 1-70 and asked that better signage be erected to warn motorists of the dangers. Foley also inquired about the status of the Booth Falls rock slide victims who had contacted him about problems they were having in returning to their condominium unit. The problems have since been resolved and all units are now occupied except for unit 14, which received extensive damage. Bob Armour reported on his attendance at a send-qff for outgoing PEC and DRB members; the construction kick-off meeting and the West Vail roundabouts kick-off meeting. Paul Johnston suggested better assistance, communications and coordination by Warner Development in handling closings for the Vail Commons units. Johnston said his experience in helping one of the new buyers during the closing was stressful and disappointing for the homeowner. --Vail Commons Lottery After hearing an update on the third reserve lottery for remaining units at Vail Commons, the Council agreed to allow the town to serve as a conduit for the sale of a 3-bedroom unit to Mountain Valley Development Corporation of Glenwood Springs, (more) TOV Council Highlights/Add2 whose name was drawn first out of 8 applicants. The three -party closing concept had been requested by the developer, Bobby Warner. During discussion, Town Attorney Tom Moorhead said the Mountain Valley Development Corporation, which helps facilitate housing and employment for the disabled, qualifies by state and federal law as an owner -occupant. The Vail Commons units meet all provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act. (ADA) and the Federal Fair Housing Act. Council members said they looked forward to the transaction. For more information, contact Andy Knudtsen, senior housing policy planner, at 479-2440. --Red Sandstone Locals Housing Also yesterday, Andy Knudtsen, senior housing policy planner, provided a brief update on the 17-unit Red Sandstone locals housing development initiated by the Eagle River Water and Sanitation District. Knudtsen said the development, which will include five units to be sold to Town of Vail employees, is over -budget and will be scaled back. The adjustments will delay construction to 1998. In the meantime, he said, water district officials are taking a tour of the Vail Commons development to gain ideas on how to make adjustments to the Red Sandstone design. For more information, contact Andy Knudsten in the Community Development Department at 479-2440. --Off-Site Parking at Swiss Chalet The Council voted 7-0 to approve a request to allow two new parking spaces for the Swiss Chalet to be partially located on the adjoining Bavaria Haus property, owned by Sonnenalp Properties. The action follows approval by the Planning and Environmental Commission to approve, with six conditions, a request for three variances to allow for an addition to the entry of the Swiss Chalet at 62 East Meadow Drive. During Council discussion, Councilmembers Sybill Navas and Bob Armour expressed concern about the parking pay -in -lieu policy and suggested discussing the policy and its objectives in more depth at a future meeting. For more information, contact Lauren Waterton in the Community Development Department at 479-2454. UPCOMING DISCUSSION TOPICS April 15 Work Session PEC Review 97 Housing Work Plan Public Works Seasonal Housing Budget Review of Proposed Rules of Procedure Austria Haus, Ordinance #4 April 15 Evening Meeting Second Reading, ordinance No. 4, Austria Haus Second Reading, Ordinance No. 7, Elevator Inspection Fees Second Reading, Ordinance No. 8, Proof of Insurance GRFA Decision Ordinance (more) TOV Council Highlights/Add3 April 22 Work Session DRB Review Lionshead Master Planning Update Report on Vail Tomorrow Conference Year-end Financial Report European Tour/Slide Show on Loading & Delivery Review Sound Ordinance Berry Creek Fifth Multi -Purpose Building May 6 Work Session Eagle County Housing Policies May 6 Evening Meeting First Reading, Sound Ordinance 0 �1 u