Time for a charrette

Dear Editor:Hot topics for this coming mayoral election will be “affordable housing,” the Entrance to Aspen and how high should buildings, density and mass of proposed private developments be allowed, as these issues should be.A majority of voters felt the visitor center and the recycle center were hot topics, but this Thursday and Friday, an even hotter topic will be made public for the first time. Remember the recent approval by Mayor Klanderud and Aspen City Council (except for J.E. DeVilbiss) of the Civic Master Plan? Well, the bulldozers are starting to rev up.This coming Thursday and Friday, in the Pitkin County Library meeting room, the two governments are inviting the public to attend parts of or all of a two-day design “charrette” to “initiate” the planning process to tear down, add unto, remodel and build new joint government offices on the following properties:• Parts of the library park plaza• The former Zupancis property across from St. Mary• The courthouse annex building• The former youth center• The three parking lots by the parking garage and Community Bank• ACRA’s visitor center• The courtyard between the jail and the courthouse• The Pitkin County library• Aspen Art MuseumHopefully, the candidates running for office will attend. The public is invited to express their opinions from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday and from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday.Toni KronbergAspen