Aspen restaurant Boat Tow granted approval for airlock

Aspen City Council last week narrowly approved a resolution allowing Boat Tow, a restaurant across the street from the Wheeler Opera House, to install a temporary winter airlock at its north entrance. 

The 3-1 vote came despite the project conflicting with Aspen’s guidelines for temporary enclosures, which prohibits such temporary structures. 

The airlock, a 76.8-square-foot structure designed to enhance customer comfort during winter, will be installed under an existing trellis on the restaurant’s patio within two to three weeks. Planned for seasonal use from December to March, the airlock had previously been recommended for denial by city staff due to concerns over aesthetics, material integrity, and impacts on public rights of way. 

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Similar structures have been explicitly prohibited in recent years to maintain Aspen’s architectural and urban planning standards.

Mayor Torre recused himself from the discussion and vote due to the proximity of his private residence to the Gravity Haus building, which houses the restaurant. 

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Council member Ward Hauenstein cast the sole dissenting vote, expressing support for the concept of airlocks but opposing the resolution under the current code. 

“I am really cautious about approving something that is prohibited,” Hauenstein said. “I would prefer to, by resolution, change the commercial design guideline and give temporary use for this.”

Council member and Mayor Pro Tem John Doyle expressed mixed feelings, supporting the energy conservation benefits of airlocks but acknowledging the conflict with town guidelines. 

“This is really troubling to me that this is against our town guidelines, but at the same time, things change, and maybe it’s time we revisit this airlock issue,” Doyle said. “I think this is a really simple request, but it does trouble me because it’s against our town guidelines.”

Council member Sam Rose emphasized the importance of nuance in policymaking. 

“We (city council) are four human beings who can sympathize, rationalize, and hopefully make the right decision,” Rose said. “Because of that, I will be supporting this resolution because it is not a hindrance or causing a problem that this policy was designed to prevent. It’s really just doing the right thing, in my opinion. It’s hurting no one; it’s helping you guys (Gravity Haus and Boat Tow) and every patron who goes in there.” 

Rose and others noted that the airlock would conserve energy and lower heating costs, aligning with environmental and operational goals.

Council member Bill Guth raised concerns about the airlock’s materials and overall appearance. Ben Anderson, Aspen’s director of community development, assured Guth that staff saw no issues with the design or materials.

Staff highlighted that a prior tenant at the same location had used a similar airlock, but its approval expired with the tenant’s departure. Despite these precedents, officials pointed out the longstanding commercial design guidelines prohibiting temporary airlocks. The rules aim to preserve the town’s architectural consistency and minimize impacts on public spaces.

Ultimately, the majority of council members were persuaded by the applicant’s arguments that the airlock would improve customer experience during winter, help conserve energy, and meet the restaurant’s operational needs. 

To address broader concerns, the council directed staff to schedule a future work session to explore potential amendments to the city code regarding temporary structures, signaling a willingness to reevaluate restrictions that many businesses may find challenging during Aspen’s busy winter season.

The airlock’s approval includes several conditions, such as annual inspections, adherence to safety requirements, and payment of affordable housing mitigation fees. The fees, calculated based on the structure’s size and duration of use, are intended to offset the airlock’s community impact.