Castle Creek Bridge, Airport, Demo Allotments

What's happening...

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

🌉 Castle Creek Bridge Headed to a Vote?

Council plans back-to-back work sessions on Aug 5th and Aug 12th, to review options for rebuilding Castle Creek Bridge, and potentially consider other options for the Entrance to Aspen.

Jacobs Engineering, outside consultants hired by COA, will present a supplemental report addressing questions from the April 15th work session.  A citizen-led education campaign has focussed public attention on the deteriorating condition of Castle Creek Bridge documented in Jacobs April report, and advocating that it be rebuilt where it is.

Jacobs has presented 3 options for replacing the bridge and CDOT—responding to questions from the Aspen Daily News—has conceded that the old bridge may be rebuilt independent of a decision about building the Preferred Alternative, also known as the Straight Shot, across Marolt Open Space.  One of Jacob’s options for rebuilding the bridge where it is— known as “Three Lane Shifted”—would allow two lanes of traffic to remain open during construction with “minimal traffic impact.”

In its July 31 report, Jacobs reopens the Preferred Alternative debate with three options for the Entrance to Aspen:  the Straight Shot (4 lanes across Marolt), the Split Shot (two lanes across Marolt with continued use of the existing Highway 82 alighment) and rebuilding Castle Creek Bridge in place.

If council does not vote to proceed with one of these plans, it may put the entrance to Aspen question on the ballot for a public vote in March 2025, delaying progress on rebuilding the old bridge by up to a year.  This would be the 27th public vote on the Entrance to Aspen.  City Attorney Jim True publicly issued his legal opinion concluding that a new public vote would be required to realign Highway 82 across Marolt Open Space, citing both Aspen’s City Charter and easement law.  No vote is required to rebuild the bridge in its current location as it does not involve taking open space.

✈️ Airport Baggage

A new group called the Community Coalition for a 21st Century Airport with the support of all four Pitkin County Commissioners and Councilman Ward Hauenstein was announced this week to advocate for Aspen airport improvements. Aspen Fly Right is the community group opposed to the airport expansion.

At Tuesday's BOCC meeting the airport ballot measure procedure is on the agenda as a closed to the public executive session item and then as a 30 min public presentation item by Jon Bennett and George Newman.

🏠 Midland Avenue Multi-Family Development

Tuesday Planning & Zoning will host the 2nd hearing for the 331-338 Midland Avenue project that proposes replacing an 8-unit condo building with a 22-unit project made up of 11 free-market units and 11 deed-restricted units.

✅ Aspen Community Voice Surveys

Please participate in the Parks Strategic Plan Survey and the Aspen's Safety Action Plan for pedestrians, cyclists, transit users and motorists.

🛠️ Demo Allotment Updates

Council approved a policy resolution on July 23, 2024, directing staff to reevaluate the demo allotment system. While concrete proposals may not emerge before winter, they are expected before January 1, when the 2025 lottery opens (despite there currently being zero allotments available for 2025). Long-time local Mike Maple continues to voice opposition to the demo permit program, sharing his input and concerns. Council supports staff in discussions regarding potential program changes for example higher waste diversion in place of the current program.

👀 Looking Ahead

Monday, August 12

• COA Work Session: Castle Creek Bridge Feasibility Follow Up (Part 2)

Tuesday August 13:

• COA Regular Meeting: Ballot Question Language Ordinances (Motor vehicle use tax, Extensions for the sunset dates on Affordable Housing RETT and Affordable Housing and Childcare sales tax, Renewal of Holy Cross franchise agreement)
• BOCC Work Session: Annual Airport Advisory Board Update - Rich Englehart (1 hour), Hold - Airport ballot discussion - Jon Peacock (1 hour)

Sunday, August 18 - Community Picnic - Wagner Park 1-3pm