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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2008-01-22 Town Council MinutesVail Town Council Meeting Minutes Tuesday, January 22, 2008 6:00 P.M. Vail Town Council Chambers The regular meeting of the Vail Town Council was called to order at approximately 6:00 P.M. by Mayor Dick Cleveland. Members present: Dick Cleveland, Mayor Mark Gordon Farrow Hitt Kevin Foley Kim Newbury Margaret Rogers Not present: Andy Daly Staff Members: Stan Zemler, Town Manager Pam Brandmeyer, Assistant Town Manager Matt Mire, Town Attorney The first item on the agenda was Citizen Input. Packy Walker, general manager of the Lifthouse, expressed concerns about the adequacy of skier drop-off locations in LionsHead. Geoff Wright, general manager of Destination Resorts, also expressed concerns about skier drop-off as well as loading and delivery problems in LionsHead. Representing Montauk in LionsHead, Dimitri Souuorin also expressed concerns about the lack of skier drop-off locations, which has caused unauthorized use of private property as an alternative. Warren says the circumstance has led to heated exchanges between property owners and skiers as property owners were attempting to police their property. The second item on the agenda was the Town Manager's Report. Colorado Chapter of the American Public Works Association (APWA) Award Winners Assistant Town Manager Pam Brandmeyer reported the Town of Vail has been recognized for its award winning construction management programs by the Colorado Chapter of the American Public Works Association. The town was recognized in two categories: 1) Engineering/Construction Management for the Vail Construction Inspection Team; and 2) Building Code Administration. 0 Non -Golf Course Facilities Lease. Brandmeyer announced that in the near future staff would be bringing forward the first of two Vail Recreation District (VRD) leases, the Non -Golf Course Facilities lease, at the Feb. 5 meeting for Council review. The previous Council approved a draft Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) and draft Non -Golf Course Facilities lease on Nov. 6, 2007. Terms of that MOU were: reference to five year budget joint funding obligations (appropriated annually); 2007 funding commitments totaling $160,500; and that both parties agreed "to use their best efforts over no longer than the next three months to resolve the backlog of maintenance issues related to the Golf Course." • Ever Vail Update Community Development Director George Ruther reported the $1 billion Ever Vail project will transform the 11-acre site, currently known as West LionsHead, into a "green" multi -use resort village. The project will encompass approximately one million square feet and include between 600,000 and 700,000 saleable square feet of residential and commercial space. The site is currently occupied by Vail Mountain's vehicle maintenance shop yard and warehouse, a retail and office complex and a former gas station site. The new resort village plans call for 150-250 whole ownership condominium units, 75-125 fractional ownership condominium units, a 100,000-square- foot hotel, 100,000-150,000 square feet of commercial retail, office, and restaurant space and a 100,000-square-foot mountain operations facility. The project will also include a gondola to serve as the fifth base portal to Vail Mountain, a public park and a new public parking structure and approximately 50,000 square feet of employee housing. Ruther then explained the Simba Run underpass project would be considered along with the Ever Vail project. • LionsHead Parking Structure Redevelopment Update. Ruther explained redevelopment of the parking structure continued in accordance to a timeline developed in the fall of 2007. Vail Resorts still holds a deed restriction on the property which ensures the property will always hold a parking component. • North Day Lot Update. Ruther clarified the LionsHead Redevelopment Master Plan required the site to have a transportation component. "At this time there is no reason the applicant won't be able to respond favorably to the Master Plan requirements." 1-70 Berm/Chain-Down Station Update. Public Works Director Greg Hall described the Colorado Department of Transportation's (CDOT) most recent plans for a chain -down area on 1-70 in the vicinity of Bald Mountain Road. Neighborhood representative Rob Ford requested Council become more involved in influencing where the proposed chain -down area would be located. Ford also indicated the neighborhood's support for continuing the berm project. The third item on the agenda was the Planning and Environmental Commission (PEC) /Design Review Board (DRB) Update. During a review of the most recent meetings of the PEC and DRB, Chief of Planning Warren Campbell answered questions regarding the latest proposals to go before the two boards. No specific items of interest were discussed. The fourth item on the agenda was the Information Update. There was none. The fifth item on the agenda was Matters from Mayor & Council. Foley announced the Eagle County Regional Transportation Authority (ECO) intended to begin discussions regarding traffic flow on the upper deck of the Vail Village Parking structure. He then recommended installing heat tape on the west side of the Vail Town Hall roof to address ice buildup. Foley also questioned if CenturyTel was providing adequate Wi-Fi service in the LionsHead area. He finished his comments by thanking staff for installing a coat rack in the Council Chambers and also praised the town's parking attendants and snowplow drivers for their diligent efforts during the recent storms. Hitt questioned the town's ability to improve skier drop-off availability in LionsHead. "We don't have any temporary relief for this winter?... It should truly be unacceptable... We should not be content with the way things are right now... we need to consider in more detail the ramifications that result from postponing developers mitigating agreements such as the skier drop off that was to be in place prior to granting Temporary Certificates of Occupancy (TCO's) for approved projects. This could have helped to alleviate the traffic cluster Vail is experiencing at Concert Hall Plaza where skier drop off has been combined with ECO buses, in -town buses as well as delivery trucks... We have too much going on in such a little space." Newbury commented, "It seems like there are too many uses in a small area over there." Cleveland said it may be time to have Vail Resorts utilize their guest services staff to help facilitate skier drop-off. Gordon complimented the Art in Public Places (AIPP) board as their recent public art events (illuminated ice sculptures and Heavy Metal Weekend) had been very successful. The sixth item on the agenda was an Update on the progress made on the Chamonix Site Master Plan project. Planner Scot Hunn reported that on Jan. 8, staff conducted a "kick-off' meeting with the Council to: 1) Introduce the Consultant Team to the Council and to present a brief overview of relevant, regional work by the Team (power point presentation); 2) Discuss previous master plan efforts and current opportunities for the Chamonix Site; 3) Discuss and clarify goals, objectives and "parameters" for the project; 4) Establish expectations for the project and roles of Council, Staff and Advisory Committee; and, 5) Appoint representatives to the Advisory Committee. On Jan.16, staff held a "kick-off' meeting with the Chamonix Site Master Plan Advisory Committee to review the existing, adopted master plan for the site and to discuss new opportunities apparent on the site. Also at this meeting, the committee formulated recommendations for the parameters to be used in the planning and design process. Gordon thanked Hunn for the update. Gordon commented, "This is going to be a great location for family housing." During a pause for public comment, advisory committee member Bob Armour said, "We really had a good meeting ... All of the oars were pulling in the same direction." He then encouraged Council to better utilize the Vail Local Housing Authority (VLHA). Hunn said the master planning process should take four to six months. Council then agreed with the provided list of ten goals and design parameters outlined in the memo provided in the Council packet. The seventh item on the agenda was a Timber Ridge Pro Forma Review. Saying the need for additional employee housing in Vail is now reaching crisis proportions, the Vail Town Council agreed to pursue a redevelopment agreement to build additional employee housing on the town -owned Timber Ridge property. After reviewing the proposal submitted by Open Hospital ity/H illwood Capital Partners, the Council voted 5-1, Rogers opposed, to direct town staff to spend the next 45 days negotiating a development agreement with the company that would include an equity partnership by the town. Gordon moved to proceed with Newbury seconding. The deadline for submittal of the agreement for Council review and final approval is March 18. Open/Hillwood has offered to purchase two-thirds of the site, or 6.2 acres, for $13.2 million. The proposal includes the construction of 316 employee housing units that would accommodate 1,264 beds. Monthly rental rates are projected at $2,280 for a four - bedroom unit. Representing Open/Hillwood, Mark Masinter summarized a letter of intent for the proposed terms and conditions for the acquisition, development and operation for the proposed employee housing. Applicant representative Jeff Cortwright commented, "What this (pro -forma) is supposed to show is with the lower cost of construction (wood framing) you are getting the most efficiency... You get the maximum number of units for the lowest cost." Masinter continued, "From our prospective, it gives you a lot of optionality... and it enables Vail Resorts to have some housing in place during the first phase of construction ... This is not going to be a dorm ... It's going to be a project the town can be very proud of ... We think there will be enough market demand that we will not require reservation fees... If someone wants a reservation fee to lock in a long term rental that's what we are going to do." During a pause for public comment, Vail Local Housing Authority (VLHA) member Steve Lindstrom asked if Council had explored any land -lease models. Gordon emphasized, "I want to see this property deed restricted for the perpetuity of the use (work force housing)... Even if we sell the property we want to make sure the use never changes." Kaye Ferry stated, "We want to make sure we don't leave anything on the table with this deal... affordable housing needs increase every time we have a new project come up in this town ... That site has to be maximized." Rogers remarked, "We have just one opportunity to get this thing done right...I think it is irresponsible to proceed with this project before knowing what our needs are... We don't even know what the property is worth... No one in this room would sell a piece of property without knowing what it is worth...We may very well have to subsidize it to get what we need...I won't support this motion until we take a step back." In regard to workforce housing, Hitt lamented, "Our other partner in town has not produced one pillow of employee housing and have had three years to do so. We have a company who is ready willing and able to start on Timber Ridge and begin construction in the near future. We have businesses throughout town including our town government, hotels; lodges and restaurants as well as other mom and pop businesses that cannot get enough employees to operate ... The time to do something is now, not three years down the road... Timber Ridge will be just one of many projects aimed at addressing our lack of employee housing available in our town. We cannot afford to wait any longer." Zemler confirmed an appraisal process for the property was underway. The motion passed, 5-1, with Rogers opposed. The eighth item on the agenda was a reading of Emergency Ordinance No. 2, Series 2008, An Emergency Ordinance Approving the Sale of Property owned by Town of Vail 4 Described as Unit #201-A, Alltair Vail Inn, Also Known as 4192 Spruce Way #201-A, Vail, Colorado 81637. Town Attorney Matt Mire announced that on Dec. 18, 2007 the Council released two deed restricted employee housing units at the Bell Tower. On Jan. 3, 2008 the town purchased Condominium Unit 201-A, Altair Vail Inn for a purchase price of $178,650.00 to be sold to a person currently listed on the town's master resale lottery list. The town was under contract to sell the property on Jan. 24, 2008 to the designated purchaser. This emergency ordinance was crafted to ensure the town met that closing date. Newbury moved to approve the motion with Rogers seconding. The ninth item on the agenda was Adjournment. Newbury moved to adjourn with Foley seconding at approximately 7:30 p.m. The motion passed unanimously, 6-0. OW N Dick Cleveland, Mayor ATTEST: Lorelei Donaldson, Town Clerk Minutes provided by Corey Swisher.