Related Colorado appeals Snowmass Village decision
The Aspen Times
Related Colorado is appealing a decision by the Snowmass Village community development director that classifies a current application as “major” at today’s Town Council meeting.
The application would extend Related Colorado’s rights to develop Base Village, which are set to expire in November. It also includes requests that were added later, such as a consent to sell Lot 2 to Aspen Skiing Co., which currently is undergoing review for a proposed hotel there.
Given the addition of those requests and the lack of a sketch plan for the overall Base Village project, acting Community Development Director Mark Kittle classified the application as major, according to a memo from Senior Planner Jim Wahlstrom. The “major” classification adds a step in the approval process.
During the Dec. 18 Planning Commission meeting, Related Colorado introduced changes to the phasing of the project that were not included in the written application, the memo says. The board asked it to amend the application to include those requests.
When the application was resubmitted on Jan. 6, it also included additional amendments, which Related Colorado said in its appeal “were necessitated by the original Application.” The Planning Commission decided at its Jan. 15 meeting to let Kittle determine whether the application still should be considered minor.
Related said during the review process for the second phase of the Viceroy in August that it would submit a major application for the entire project by the end of the year. The town still expected that application when Related Colorado submitted the current application, which was why Kittle classified it as minor at that time, the memo says.
Related is asserting that a sketch plan would be unnecessary because the application is not proposing changes to the approved development. A sketch plan submitted now would only include the already-approved elements, the appeal states.
The council will vote to affirm, modify or reverse Kittle’s decision. The meeting starts at 4 p.m. today in Town Hall council chambers.
Skico application
The council also is scheduled to review an application from Aspen Skiing Co. to build a hotel similar to the Limelight in Aspen in place of an approved condo building on Lot 2. However, Senior Planner Jim Wahlstrom will request to continue the item, as the Planning Commission is still working through its review. The commission has been meeting weekly since Jan. 15 to expedite the process for the Skico application.
