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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