This week: Crystal Palace, Castle Creek Bridge, Lumberyard, Voter Turnout

What's happening...

(ACC - Aspen City Council, BOCC - Pitkin Board of County Commissioners)

🧐 West Wall of Crystal Palace

The COA will consider calling up HPC's decision on the Crystal Palace approval that includes what to do with the non historic, but highly sentimental, owl mural on the west wall.

❓ Castle Creek Bridge Options

The COA is being presented with 3 options for next steps on the Castle Creek Bridge:

1) Pursue a new Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) in order to rebuild the bridge in its current location.

2) Move forward with the Preferred Alternative across Marolt open space.

3) "Do nothing".

🛠️ Lumberyard Begins

Abatement and demo at the Lumberyard site are part of Phase 0.1 and council will be asked to approve a $3M contract . Council may opt to fold the Phase 0 scope into the RFP for the overall development pushing the work off until a developer is chosen.

When construction begins in earnest, it will set off both short and long term traffic impacts, with construction of a new signalized intersection on Hwy 82 for the project.

Phase 0 was initially budgeted as $14,250,000 and has increased to $45,000,000. There is no set budget for the full project. Currently, there are only placeholders in out years for the city to contribute roughly $210M to the overall budget.

🗳️ Voters Showed Up!

For the November 5th election, Pitkin County voter turnout was the highest in recent history. Snowmass Village arguably benefited by having its mayor and council election at the same time as the Presidential Election.

📝 More notes from city & county agendas: