HomeMy WebLinkAbout2010-01-19 Town Council MinutesVail Town Council Meeting Minutes
Tuesday, January 19, 2009-a C,' oto
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
Kevin Foley
Margaret Rogers
Andy Daly
Kim Newbury
Kerry Donovan
Susie Tjoseem
Staff Members: Stan Zemler, Town Manager
Matt Mire, Town Attorney
Pam Brandmeyer, Assistant Town Manager
The first item on the agenda was Citizen Participation.
There was none.
The second item on the agenda was the Town Manager's Report.
a. Timber Ridge Update
Zemler reported the contemplated redevelopment continued to move forward and
financing for the project remained viable. "U.S. Bank is being highly cooperative."
Newbury said the Vail Economic Advisory Committee unanimously supported the
project.
The third item on the agenda was the Eagle County Regional Airport (EGE)
Update.
Air Planner Inc. representative Kent Myers provided an overview of operations
and planning at the EGE:
• Growth and history of EGE
• Supporters of "guaranteed" air service
EGE Airport Economic Impact
The EGE Airport's relative size and traffic levels to other regional airports in
the US
• Future air service opportunities
Meyers reported 500,000 skier days to "Vail proper" are generated on an annual
basis by the Eagle County Airport. "By 2004 EGE had become the third busiest
air hub in the state... Currently EGE is served by four major airlines... We have all
of the legacy carriers in place ... There are many communities of 500,000 people
who do now have the service available to EGE during the winter." During a
pause for public comments, Michael Cacioppo asked Myers who he worked for.
Myers said he worked for the Eagle Air Alliance (a group of local government and
business supporting air service guarantees.)
The fourth item on the agenda was a Joint meeting of the Town of Vail Planning
& Environmental Commission and the Town Council to hear a presentation from
the Ever Vail team.
The presentation included Rob Katz, Vail Resorts CEO, who spoke to the reason
and need for a fifth portal to Vail Mountain. The redevelopment team will then do
an overview of the proposed project with a focus on the proposed provision of
parking and plan for allocation of that parking. The presentation concluded with
a discussion to identify topics to be considered for future hearings. The Council
was not asked to make any formal action. Applicant representatives Dominic
Mauriello, Tom Miller and Tom Allender explained the Ever Vail project is
comprised of multiple applications to establish the entitlements for the
redevelopment of the approximate 12.2 acre site. Katz explained, "The
redevelopment of the area known as Ever Vail is an intricate project with many
applications and steps within the development review process." Katz said the
primary intent of his presentation was to focus on guest service. "The new
mountain portal will reduce crowding on mountain, add parking, and create iconic
development with high environmental standards... Vail Resorts only wants to
participate in real estate deals that enhance the on -mountain experience... In this
market we would not launch this project... Timing is everything...I can't stress
enough that a project like this needs to get going as soon as the market
recovers... Why process the Ever Vail application now? ... Because our company
wants to be ready to go when the market rebounds to ensure success... We
really are looking for community and Council input on this project...I think the
community and the Council want this project to be financially successful."
Rogers asked if Vail Resorts was able to provide construction completion
guarantees. Katz responded he would be willing to provide guarantees on an
incremental phases which would be synched with the phased construction of the
project. "Our company has never walked away from a project we have started."
Responding to a question from Daly in regard to guest experience and parking,
Katz commented, "Frontage Road parking is a huge detriment to the guest
experience." Foley asked why Vail Resorts would not want to improve the
Cascade Portal as opposed to building a new one. Katz stated the current
allowable parking on the parcel was inadequate. During a pause for public
comment, Paul Rondeau asked if Ever Vail would only add to guest confusion in
regard to way finding. Michael Cacioppo asked how many employee housing
units would be included in the project and for a proposed construction timeline.
Katz confirmed the start date depended on the market. Cacioppo then spoke in
support of the project as it would create jobs. Allender provided the audience
with a discussion on estimated skier distribution and parking analysis. "We
predict 908 skiers per day will be added due to the development... This is a pretty
good number to use ... The "manage to" number is predominantly determined by
Town of Vail limitations... The mountain is not the limiting factor." Allender
explained that Vail Resorts is conducting a study and analysis of all on -mountain
facilities in order to prioritize capital improvements. The group later clarified the
proposed Ever Vail parking structure, with 1,551 spaces, would be the largest
parking garage in Vail. Allender noted, "The parking at Ever Vail is going to
become the favorite parking for some distribution of Vail skiers." Mauriello
commented, "Ever Vail will be an extension of the Lions Head Village core ... The
project is hugely pedestrian oriented." Daly expressed concern that parking
requirements do not take into consideration newly added parking opportunities
created by the town (diminishing the actual need for parking stalls). Zemler
asked Council to identify issues they would like to discuss at future meetings.
Rogers and Foley confirmed that as the project developed employee housing
would be built as required and incrementally. PEC member Michaels Kurz said
he would like to see conceptual renderings with views from the north and south
of the waste water treatment plant on the south side of the proposed project.
Zemler stated that in the future the town would need to focus on operational
concepts. Daly asked, "How much retail can the town support?" Michael
Cacioppo said parking on the Frontage Roads served as a positive as opposed
to a negative. "Parking on the Frontage Roads tells people Vail is the place to
be." Cleveland said he was looking forward to expanding the LionsHead parking
structure right now.
--LionsHead Transit Center Recommendation.
Town Engineer Tom Kassmel explained The Town of Vail and the Vail
Reinvestment Authority (VRA) were in the process of studying the feasibility of
constructing a LionsHead Transit Center in response to past planning efforts
including the LionsHead Master Plan (1998), A Report on the Recommendation
of a Preferred Site for the Town of Vail Transit Center (2005), Vail 20/20 (2007),
the LionsHead Transit Center White Paper (2008), and the Vail Transportation
Master Plan (2009). The VRA has contracted with the 4240 Architecture Team to
complete the design study. The purpose of the evening session was to present
the recommended revised components of the 1 B/2B Modified scenario based on
previous input and discussions; further investigation of skier drop-off; scaling
down and refining the impacts of the Frontage Rd. bus area; and softening the
entrance to LionsHead Mall. Staff requested Council provide staff and the design
team with direction to bring the recommended components through the Design
Development (DD) and entitlement process. Kassmel noted that progress of the
project since the project kick-off in May has been tracked on the Town of Vail
website at http://www.vailgov.com/subpage.asp?page_id=916. All formal
documentation, memos and presentations are available for review. He then
asked Council to provide staff and the design team with direction to bring the
recommended components forward through design development and the town's
entitlement process with a maximum total project budget of $15 million; authorize
staff to enter into contract negotiations with the design team for the completion of
Phase III -Design Development and Entitlements; and direct staff to update the
LionsHead Master Plan to reflect the recommended components and ultimate
long term solution. During a pause for public comment, local hotelier Bob Lazier
spoke in support of the project and recommended a second floor entrance on the
West in West Out to leave the option open for a east side exit. Steve Vrostic said
the private sector could help redevelop the auxiliary building. One of Concert
Hall plaza owners, Kim Hughes spoke in support of redeveloping Concert Hall
Plaza. Council agreed to continue onto the design/development. Council did not
support proceeding with the east mall plaza or Concert Hall Plaza improvements.
--Ordinance No. 2, Series of 2010, an emergency ordinance imposing a
temporary moratorium of one hundred eighty (180) days in duration on the
processing and approval of any application for a permit or license related to the
operation of a business that sells medical marijuana pursuant to the authority
granted by article XVII, § 14 of the Colorado Constitution; directing the prompt
investigation of the Town's regulatory authority over such businesses.
In the November 2000 general election, the voters of the State of Colorado
adopted Amendment 20 to the Colorado Constitution (Article XVIII, § 14), which
authorizes and limits the sale of medical marijuana for use in the treatment of
certain debilitating medical conditions. The town has received inquiries from
persons who are interested in opening and operating businesses and
cooperatives that would offer medical marijuana for sale or distribution, including
the cultivation of marijuana. The town's current regulations prohibit the operation
of Medical Marijuana Dispensaries in the town. The imposition of a moratorium
on the processing and approval of applications for town permits and licenses
relating to the operation of Medical Marijuana Dispensaries will allow town staff,
the Town Attorney and the Council to investigate the town's regulatory authority
over Medical Marijuana Dispensaries. Rogers moved to approve the emergency
ordinance based on the memorandum from Town Attorney Matt Mire, with Daly
seconding. The motion passed unanimously, 7-0.
--Information Update
Assistant Town Manager Pam Brandmeyer told Council they were invited to
outgoing Northwest Colorado Council of Government's Executive Director Gary
Severson's retirement luncheon.
--Matters from Mayor & Council.
Newbury announced closing contracts had been signed for two families to move
into the town built Arosa Drive duplex intended to serve as workforce housing.
Tjossem thanked long time local Mery Lapin for his continued efforts (30 years)
with Vail Junior Hockey. Council then agreed to publically acknowledge Lapin for
his volunteer work that had impacted generations of youth in the Vail Valley.
Foley said a recently added waste receptacle on the 1-70 pedestrian bridge was
appreciated and being used. He then said the Vail Recreation District (VRD)
would like to have joint meeting prior to the upcoming May election. Foley
concluded his comments by mentioning the recent Fire Department swearing in
was a great event.
a. Parking Task Force Appointment
Council agreed to invite potential Task Force applicants to attend the next
Parking Task Force Meeting and ask them what their thoughts are.
--Adjournment.
Foley moves to adjourn at 11:02 with Daly seconding
unanimously, 7-0.
ATTEST:
Lorelei Donaldson,
Town Clerk
The motion passed
Dick Cleveland, Mayor