HomeMy WebLinkAbout2000-01-04 Town Council Minutes•
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VAIL TOWN COUNCIL - MINUTES
TUESDAY, January 4, 2000
6:00 P.M.
The regular meeting of the Vail Town Council was held in the Town Council Chambers on
Tuesday, January 4, 2000. The meeting was called to order at approximately 6:00 P.M.
COUNCIL MEMBERS PRESENT:
STAFF MEMBERS PRESENT:
Ludwig Kurz, Mayor
Sybill Navas, Mayor Pro -Tern
Rod Slifer
Chuck Ogilby
Kevin Foley
Diana Donovan
Greg Moffet
Bob McLaurin, Town Manager
Tom Moorhead, Town Attorney
Pam Brandmeyer, Assistant Town Manager
The first item on the agenda was Citizen Participation:
Dan Telleen, owner of Karats in the Village, said over the weekend two Town of Vail trucks were
parked in prime parking spaces in the Village Parking structure. He warned Council to get signed
agreements with contractors and developers with regard to parking while doing construction in the
Vail Village.
Kaye Ferry, representing the Vail Village Merchants Association stated that on New Year's Eve
everyone that had to work did not get to go home until after 4:00 A.M. because of inventory. She
suggested that these individuals have their parking tickets voided, along with those who left their
cars because of not driving while intoxicated. She had many complaints there are not enough
booth attendants in the parking structures. She said one time there was nobody taking credit cards
at four in the afternoon. She questioned the location and the type of sign that the Mountain
Adventure Center had put up. She than addressed the employee housing issues stating that every
year it gets worse. In closing, she said the Vail Village Merchant Association is in favor of the Vail
Village Plaza Hotel.
The second item on the agenda was the consent agenda: Item A: Ordinance No. 37, Series of
1999, Second reading of an ordinance amending the official zoning map for the Town of Vail in
accordance with Title 12, Zoning Regulations, Chapter 5, Zoning map; rezoning lot 34, Buffehr
Creek subdivision from primary secondary (PS) district to outdoor recreation district. Kevin Foley
moved to approve item A of the Consent agenda, Ordinance No. 37, Series of 1999, Sybill Navas
seconded the motion. A vote was taken and the motion was passed unanimously, 7-0.
The third item on the agenda was a presentation by the U.S. Forest Service on the proposed
US Forest Service amendments to the White River National Forest Plan. The White River
National Forest Plan (adopted in 1984) guides management activities for forestlands and
resources within the White River Region. The National Forest Management Act requires that
forest plans are updated every 15 years in order to ensure consistency with the results of
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monitoring and evaluation changes in public demand, new direction at the national level, public
comment, and other new information. As required by federal codes, the U.S. Forest Service is
currently in the process of revising the White River National Forest Plan. The U.S. Forest
Service has developed six plan alternatives for the forest based on different themes and
management philosophies. Their preferred plan alternative (Alternative D) "addresses the idea
that a higher priority be given to physical and biological resources than to human uses of the
forest." Representatives from the U.S. Forest Service gave an overview presentation of the
planning process, the different plan alternatives, and potential impacts to the Town of Vail.
Representatives from the Northwest Colorado Council of Governments and Eagle County also
spoke to their concerns with the Town Council. The deadline for public comment on the
proposed plan amendments is May 9, 2000, Gary Severson, Executive Director from NWCOG,
said the mission of Northwest Colorado Council of Governments is to build multi -jurisdictional,
intergovernmental partnerships to address issues affecting the region and to advocate
members' interests and needs with local, state, and federal entities. He then addressed the
following 3 items:
1. Multi -Jurisdictional Collaborative Planning, Implementation, and Monitoring for
Intermixed Lands.
2, The Effects of Urbanization on Multi -Jurisdictional Planning and Management.
3. Community Relationships to Sustain Community Vitality and Healthy Ecosystems.
Caroline Upton, Forest Planner, Glenwood Springs, and Linda Riddle, Holy Cross District Ranger,
representing the Forest Service presented a slide presentation that outlined Exhibit A.
Alex Cuttingham handed out Exhibit C and presented three maps. He then gave a brief overview
of the White River NF Draft Master Plan Eagle County Review.
Jeff Berman, President of Colorado Wild, Boulder, Colorado, cautioned everyone to look at
alternatives and details. The statement that ski areas will not be able to expand under alternative
D is not true. Copper Mountain still has 5 lifts that can be built. Vail still has areas in Category 3
that are not built out. Skier numbers have not grown for the last 2 decades and the ski area has
more than doubled in size.
Sloan Shoemaker, Aspen World Workshop, Basalt, Colorado, said counties with Wilderness
designated areas are growing in population 2 to 3 times the rate of other counties.
Paul Rondeau said no one could say go with one alternatvie verses another alternative without
looking over the material that was handed out.
Richard Compton, Aspen World Workshop, Aspen Resident, presented a map of all the roads and
green areas that are more than 1 mile from the road. He showed that very little land is removed
from human influence and impacts from off road vehicles. To keep it the way it is now, he
recommended not changing a thing.
No action was taken as this presentation was for information purposes only.
The fourth item on the agenda was the first reading of Ordinance No. 1, Series of 2000, an
Ordinance amending Ordinance No. 2, Series of 1992, to provide for an amendment to the
approved development plan for Special Development District No. 6, Vail Village Inn, Phase IV,
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to allow for the construction of the Vail Plaza Hotel; and setting forth details in regard thereto.
On November 23, 1999, the Town of Vail Planning & Environmental Commission held a public
hearing for the final review and recommendation of a major SDD amendment and conditional
use permit request to allow for the redevelopment of Phase IV, Vail Village Inn, Special
Development District No. 6. Upon review and consideration of the request, the Planning &
Environmental Commission unanimously recommended approval of the redevelopment
proposal to the Vail Town Council, with conditions. On December 7, 14, & 21, 1999, the Vail
Town Council held worksessions to discuss the numerous aspects of the redevelopment
proposal. Following discussions, which provided input to the applicant, the Vail Town Council
directed staff to draft an ordinance for review and consideration on January 4, 2000. George
Ruther outlined the staff report and the history of this project. He drew the Council's attention
to the letters received by concerned citizens. He then circulated photos of views from the
Gateway building.
Chuck Lipcon, owner of a unit at the Vail Gateway, said the Gateway was required to cut out a
portion of the building so that certain views would be protected. The Gateways view of the
mountain would be impacted with the construction of the Vail Village Plaza Hotel. This project
prevents pedestrian access to and from the Village. He said the project is illegal, unethical, and
unneighborly. He said homeowners were not aware of the meetings concerning this project.
George Ruther advised him that all meetings (about 30 in total) were posted on the web. Also
Public Notices were sent to all property owners.
Jim Johnson, owner of a unit in the Gateway Plaza, said he never received a Public Notice
regarding this project.
Estaquio Cortina said he is for the project.
Raymond Correria, who is a resident in East Vail, said this is a matter of principle. If Council
allows this project, the Council will have allowed a precedent. He did not want to see another
Beaver Creek established here and wanted this project denied.
Hermann Staufer stated the need exists now for new hotel rooms.
Paul Johnston, Christiania Lodge, said this may be the last chance to get a conference facility
of this scale in our lifetime.
Steve Rosenthal, Colorado Footwear, said we need to realize we have competition 10 miles
away.
Jim Lamont, East Village Home Owners Association, suggested switching portions of the
building around.
Michaela Cacioppo said a convention center is needed in the Village and Lionshead.
Greg Moffett said he was concerned about keeping the employee housing in town.
• Sybill Navas said it was great that we would be getting employee housing in town. The
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• conference facilities are needed along with first class accommodations, with the added bonus of
replacing an eyesore of a parking lot. She stated that she was concerned about the traffic this
project will generate but supports this project on the whole.
Rod Slifer feels there is a need for a third lane on Vail Road. Employee housing should be
accommodated on site, and he supported the project.
Diana Donovan said the project should not be allowed to stage on public lands. Employees
need to park along the north wall and at the far end of the parking structure. The developers
should fix pavers, and the hotels should be responsible for the required landscaping and
everything else that is on Town Property. The Set back on Vail Road has to be honored. The
parking and loading dock should be open to other businesses and should be affordable. Trees
need to be left in place on Meadow Drive. She further supported keeping employee housing in
Vail.
Chuck Ogilby said it was important to get his previous comments included in the revised
ordinance and he would like to see employee housing kept on site. Other than these
comments, he said he would support it.
Ludwig Kurz said it was important to have convention facilities. The view corridor has been
pretty well obliterated at this time. He said he would like to see employee housing units on site
but was not willing to go with the extra height to accommodate them. He said if the employee
housing had to be built off -site, but in town, he would require higher densities.
Ah Greg Moffet moved to approve on first reading Ordinance No. 1, Series of 2000, an ordinance -
amending Ordinance No. 2, Series of 1992. Sybill Navas seconded the motion. A vote was
taken and the motion passed 5-2, with Kevin Foley and Diana Donovan opposing.
Town Manager's Report.
Bob stated if there were any issues regarding the survey, Council should see Suzanne or himself.
Kevin Foley moved to adjourn at 10:20 P.M. Greg Moffett seconded the motion. A vote was taken
and the motion passed unanimously, 7-0.
Respectfully submitted,
Ludwig Kurz, M4 r Z
ATTMf: L relei Donaldson, Town Clerk
Minutes taken by Beth Salter
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