P&z - Regular Meeting

Order. Mhm. Okay. Uh, call order. Um, Town of Assault Planning and Zoning Commission meeting Tuesday, January 6th, 2026. First meeting of the year. A roll call. All right. Uh, Bill Marin. Yo. Kyle Obereter here. Eric Voszic, Rob Levit, Cindy Hersshfield here, Mike Horvath here, Bob Kaplan here, and Ben Firestein here. We have a quorum. Thank you.

All right, let's uh get to [clears throat] first order of business. Approve minutes from November 18th, 2025. Anyone have any changes or additions to make? And if not, have a motion. Make a motion. We have the first. We'll second. We have a second. All in favor? I. Motion passes. Thank you. Okay. Next item. Uh public hearing 72 Sunset Drive PUB amendment. This is a continuation um to January 20th, 2026. We need a vote on that. Yes, please. Okay. We have a motion to continue. Motion to continue.

First. Perfect. And we have a second. Second. We [clears throat] have a second. I don't think we need any further discussion. Uh all in favor. Great. Okay. Work Midland [clears throat] Avenue design guidelines.

What? Bill's mic. Is your mic on? Does it show green light? Yes. I was leaning into it. Start again. Is this Is this [laughter] Is this one a dud? Do you Do we need to change it? No, you're fine. Good. Can't find you. Oh, usually the video the um camera will spin over to the microphone. It's not wave your hands next time when you're talking. Okay, work session. All right. Should I should I lean down? Is this okay? [laughter]

Yeah, maybe we'll we'll introduce you. This is Jessica Hubard from GMA uh architects. They are working on the design guidelines for the Midland Avenue uh area that was hired by the town to produce those guidelines. I'll turn it over to Jessica.

Yes, thank you, James. Uh, so yes, to reiterate, my name is Jessica Huard. I am a registered architect and principal with GMA Architecture and Urban Design. First, I just want to say thank you for having me. Thank you for your time tonight. Uh the goals for me being here tonight are to introduce you to the project and then we would like to have a work session to allow the commission to interact and uh be up close with some of the provisions we have in the guidelines so far. And then hopefully we'll have time at the end last 10 to 15 minutes we can come back together and talk about overall feedback and recommendations that you may have. Next slide, please. So, I just wanted to introduce us uh as a team. We are a small full-ervice architecture firm. Like James said, we were brought on by the town because of our extensive experience working within the National Historic Landmark District of Savannah, Georgia. And if you're not familiar with it, it is one of the most stringent design manuals in the country. Uh we were founded 70 years ago by Bob Gun and Eric Meyerhoff and then my business partner Patrick Sheay joined the team in 1996 and I opened our firm in Denver in 2023. There's nine of us total. There's three of us in Colorado and seven in Savannah. So we're small but mighty. [clears throat] Okay. So what is the project? Why are we here tonight? Uh, so if you're not familiar, again, we were brought on for the Midland Avenue design guidelines project and we are actually proposing to broaden that out to a district. So, we're referring to it as the Midland Avenue District. So, you'll see that on the boards tonight. And then going into what are design

guidelines? If you've never encountered design guidelines, they are a flexible framework. They are a tool, an overlay to the municipal code to protect the special character and quaint nature of places from future development, but also providing framework and uh guard rails for protecting existing buildings. And whether that falls under historic buildings or just non-contributing buildings, we are providing provisions for all existing and future development. Next slide. Thank you. So, like I said, why design guidelines? We are protecting the character of a certain street, pedestrian mall. In this case, we're proposing a district. Um, and then we're also encouraging the preservation of Basalt's unique charm and historic characteristics. This is the proposed district. I also have it on the board over here too, so you can take a look at it when you're up and about later. But we essentially have expanded from just the buildings that are fronting Midland Avenue and encompassing other developments within the C2 business district and uh other areas that are fronting the frying pan river as well. And then this slide, this came from our open house uh back in November. We had someone stand up and say, "Well, what really makes Midland Avenue special?" And so we have started to define in the guidelines and for you tonight, what are the characteristics that make us want to be on Midland Avenue? And the main characteristics that we've come up with are vibrant colors, materiality, uh playful roof lines, buildings that

are designed to human scale, so keeping the massing at two to three stories when up close to the street, inviting walkable street environments, and then being connected to those historic buildings and nature as well. We have amazing pollinators on Midland Avenue thanks to the streetscape project. And so we have started to build on that and talk about provisions for some of these characteristics that make Midland Avenue so special. And I'd like to throw in that a lot of these characteristics are driven by zoning, but they're really reinforced by design guidelines. Zoning is speaking to use and story, but then design guidelines are layering and building onto that and uh offering recommendations for materiality and uh different design features whether it's site development or architectural detailing. So getting into our specific design guidelines. So, we have broken it down into seven sections. And I'm going to quickly go through the sections, but then we've also highlighted some of the the main areas on these boards. So, you'll have time to comment on those during the work session, but I'm just going to go through each section so you have an understanding of how the guidelines work. So, the very first one, um, the project flow. This is in the introduction section. So we're looking at the guidelines from the perspective of an individual or applicant that has never been to BALT. So they would use the guidelines. They would use the flowchart for identifying the track that their building falls under. So if it's an existing building or new development and then if it's an existing building, is it contributing or non-contributing? We're following the language of the uh National Park Service even though none

of the buildings in the Midland Avenue District are protected or listed on the National Register, which we'll get into that in a little bit. Um, but essentially someone, an individual, an applicant would come to the design guidelines and use section one to determine how to use the rest of the sections moving forward. Next slide, please. So, building on that, we took the liberty of talking about the history of Basalt again just to provide perspective to somebody who's never been here and to build on why Midland Avenue is so special because there is significant history with the railroad community, how the businesses were centered along the main track and it essentially became the main business corridor for the town. And then in this section, we've also identified uh periods of significance with align with history Colorado and uh some of the periods of significance within Colorado. So, uh, just starting to set the stage for whether or not the town wants to move forward one day and register the district as a national historic landmark district, um, or register individual buildings on the, uh, the list of National Historic Places. So, uh, we'll get into that. That's something that we'd like your feedback on tonight. But again, just trying to add another layer of uh protection and respect for all of the significant contributing buildings within the district. And then on the next slide, we've actually identified all of the contributing buildings. These align with the Basalt historic inventory and uh which isn't published anywhere online. And so this would seal the historic inventory into a formal document.

In section three, we start to break down recommendations on how to treat existing buildings, whether they're historic or non-contributing. Uh we talk about historic foundation, window types, roofs, dormers. Um and then we also talk about discouraged treatments of existing buildings. one of the main discouraged uh movement would be to demolish. So we address that and uh also just talk about some of the materiality and ways to treat masonry and things like that. And then section four we start to get into site development. So this is where we build on a lot of the elements that were uh implemented for the Midland streetscape project. And then we also talk about certain recommendations for curb cuts, uh, fences, railings, screening, service areas, things like that. And a lot of that you'll see on the boards tonight. Same with, uh, next slide, please. Section five. This is where we really get into the architecture. So, we start to discuss massing and scaling. We talk about fenistration, transparency, glazing requirements, um building entrances, roof lines, and things like that. And then in section six, so here we're building on what's already in the municipal code and essentially outlining how the architecture and the site development should support these sustainable practices. So we have some diagrams on for example where solar panels should be placed and how awnings and uh canopies should be considered in terms of sustainability and uh site design. So we also recommend various green certifications. Again we're

assuming that someone's using these guidelines they are fresh to development. they don't know anything about basalt and so we are just providing provisions to pursue lead or well or things certifications like that and then finally so section seven this is where we get into the review processes how are we going to use these guidelines how are we going to implement them um right off the bat we're not proposing a design review board we are proposing a more objective process so we started to put together a form that an applicant would use in a site development plan application or a building permit application. And we would like the same process for signage and lighting. And then these would be reviewed at a staff level. And then we also have a provision in section 7 that speaks to appeals and variances. So, if there's a building use or a design that doesn't fit the guard rails of the design guidelines, then that's always an option to the applicant to appeal or apply for a variance depending on what what they need. Um, and so before we break out, um, the goal tonight would also be to get your input on these review processes. Uh if you think that there are elements of the design guidelines that are better suited for the municipal code, we are certainly open to recommending those amendments to the code. Uh would love your feedback on how to review some of these other elements that may seem subjective. Um the goal is to create an objective process just to provide guard rails for future development whether it's new construction or um adhering to an a a historic building. So

that's pretty much the summary of everything. Um any questions before we move on to the next two slides and talk about the work session and how we're going to do this. So these would be the objectives and the guidelines would be on top of the current zoning and other guidelines that are in place. Correct. Another layer just for the info. Correct. They would be an overlay. Okay. And this will live in the town code separate [clears throat] document.

It'll be a supplement to the town code. So we'll have um sections in the code that refer to this document. Right. kind of similar to how the building code refers to the sustainable building regulations. But from an administrative standpoint, there's the same weight legal weight as the code does or not. Yes, but they're they're guidelines. Do it if you feel like it or do you think you have to do it? That goes into like you kind of mentioned it like not having design review board. So then how do you control the process? Maybe we'll get into that.

Thank you. Maybe we'll get into the design review piece. That seems like the piece that isn't clear. Yeah. Sorry, I don't know what's going on with this desk. Um, tonight is an initial conversation on this because it's a lot to digest and this is going to come back to you again for final final recommendations and taking it forward. So, this is a good place to start and something that we can also build on on our next review. You'll probably want to get a little bit more into the details and the meat of it and then we can come back to the process. Two questions. Did the district get smaller than what was originally proposed in the RFP? Oh, yes. Slightly.

Yes. Yeah. What was the justification for that reduction in the district size or the property boundary that we are defining as this district? So, so going back across the street uh with UT Center, Riverside Plaza was removed from the area that was originally included. Um, it is a PUB over there and basically it's fully built out and so staff and some of the members of the public that showed up at the first uh open house uh thought that it was appropriate to kind of remove that since it's doesn't have uh future development potential anytime.

It doesn't have future development potential. There's one building that is still approved to be built, but it's on the other side of the site, so not really tied to Midland Avenue. Okay. Um, and then on the high side of the hill, the was it the armory not in that? Um, not it was not part of the district. Anything across Homestead? No. No, no. This is really focused on the commercial core. Commercial CP. Yeah. But the original RFP did include the residential hill district. That's what you're thinking. That's where you're thinking of. Sorry. So the residential hill district was part of that original RFP. Yes. And then we scaled it back to just commercial.

Just commercial. Town council requested that we scale it down to just the commercial district. Yeah. Because I I wanted to talk about that because I lived in one of the nicer Victorians that showed up in two of your photos that got torn down after I moved out. And that that really happens a lot. I mean, I I since I've been here, I think there's been at least 10 of them that have gone. So, there are two homes there on Homestead. Is that an accurate representation or it's been pulled away from there?

It is an accurate representation and they are actually not included in the district, but they're on our map um because of the parcel. I think the parcel runs all the way. They do. They run all the way through from Midland to Homestead and and those are two single family houses. Um, town staff has had pre-application conferences on both of those properties over the last couple years um with concepts of changing them to either mixed use or or having a commercial component.

They're non-contributing buildings. Okay. And then this the second question was the list of properties that you provided there that is not formalized but is this document formalizing those properties? We we have a historic inventory that's a local historic inventory. Okay,

let me go to the list of properties here. Um, all of these buildings are on that list of U historic inventory. Um, there there's a broader list than just these buildings. Um, but there's not too many more. Uh, most of the town's historic inventory is uh these commercial buildings. There is maybe one or two residential properties that are historically designated. Uh there's the long house over on Riverside Drive. Uh and then I believe that there's one more in the Hill District that's designated.

What about the Rebecca Lodge that's across the street? Rebecca Lodge is designated. That's included. Yeah. As is SLOs. As is SLOs. Yeah. They're they're both on. The one I was talking about was right next to Sloth. People who own SLOs's tore down because they could. What is it? Is there a difference between the National Historic Landmark designation and a historic building this [clears throat] represents? Yes. Okay. There is

what what is that difference? So the difference is you designate because you designate a national historic landmark district does not mean that every building within the district is listed on the national register. So they're essentially separate processes. You would have to designate the district and then you'd also have to designate each of the individual contributing buildings. But each of those buildings are on a register. None. They're on a local inventory. just a local or just currently listed on the National Register. Okay, that's all right. And so sorry, go ahead. Okay. C can you remind me of the genesis of this project? Thank you.

Um so th this project's really born out of um the Midlandscape project being completed and development pressures moving into Basalt. Um, we are all aware that there are certain properties that are ripe for redevelopment and that we want redevelopment to happen, but as part of the Midland Streetscape project, the goal of that project was to highlight and emphasize the historic qualities in this area. And so to maintain because these are not on a national register, we don't have teeth right now to say that you can't demo some of the buildings that really contribute to what makes Midland special. So this is an effort to create some design guidelines so that when redevelopment comes because it is coming and it's here, we have tools to maintain what aspects of the design and the character we all want to keep.

Um and so the goal is not to um it it's to guide redevelopment because we can't um deny it and so that we're proactive about it coming in. Um and that that's really the genesis for it. So it was sta staff generated as opposed to coming from council or well what's really interesting is that the um requests for the design guidelines actually came from the citizens up on the hill district um for the residential area um and then that kind of grew down onto um the Midland streetscape as well. Also the last master plan anticipated that we would do this.

Yes. It didn't say specifically to to do it, but it it was trying to dovetail with this type of thing. It's true. In the master plan, there is a statement requesting pursuit of a historic district designation. And it seems a little backwards that the streetscape was redesigned before this. Well, the streetscape since it doesn't adjust buildings, it just adjusts the street. Um that's different. Okay. Just curious. Sure. So some of these [cough and clears throat] historic contributing buildings are not in the district. How does that work?

These all are the ones on Homestead. Um most of them on Homestead are not except for Tyranny Merkantile. Yeah, I think Terry Marinaw is the only one. But this parcel though runs correct from Midland up to Homestead. That's why it's got not all of them. Now, I didn't think so.

So, so just to be really clear, being a contributing building doesn't mean that there's there's it it means that we're trying to take pieces of the design of that contributing building and roll it into the rest of the design guidelines. Say that one more time. Sorry.

Yeah. Yeah. Understood. Um so the contributing we're trying to take the elements of the contributing buildings, whether it's the size of the windows, the p the um roof articulation, the materials. We're trying to take those qualities and roll them into design guidelines that would be applied or help guide redevelopment of other properties. And so while that that list is not it's not you're maybe this is the point it's not exhaustive um but it is what we're drawing from to create the guidelines. Understood.

And you'll see that in our diagrams too once you look at the boards. Most of our diagrams are using contributing buildings to represent the rule that we're trying to create, right? like the storefront design or the the window proportion because Tierney Merkantile is a perfect example. I mean, it wasn't always a residence, right? It was a storefront. So, and so could someone knock down the historic buildings on Homestead? Do we have anything to prevent that from happening?

Not the ones. Yes, we have some language and requirements in the local historic designation code requirements that sets up a process. If somebody wanted to request to demo a portion of one of those buildings, it would have to be evaluated through a P&Z council process. Um, or if they want to do an addition to to one of those buildings. The the tricky part is that we have a lot of single family houses in the Hill District on Homestead and Soprus that were were built uh 180s to early 1900s that that aren't uh designated as historic u buildings in the local inventory. Um because the history has been that the town has uh basically made the um historic designation voluntary uh for residential properties um and and for commercial properties. the town originally designated most of the buildings on Midland Avenue that had the historic character and and so those are are protected from from demo through that local historic uh designation ordinance.

So as part of this the demolition portions of the code get rewritten or is that just stays as is? It'll probably be adjusted through our larger code amendments that that we're doing. Um the the kind of full code rewrite that we're doing. What was the criteria for the contributing buildings versus the adjacent structures that are not contributing for the historic inventory or for us? for the historic inventory.

The the historic inventory, the local historic inventory doesn't break it out into contributing non-contributing buildings. Um that's kind of more for the design guideline establishment. Um, basically in the local historic inventory, if you're designated, you're just designated historic and um, you have the same requirements regardless of whether your your building's kind of unchanged over time. It's not a date of establishment or building prior to X date or not not in the local inventory.

Not local. So you've got a property like the Snell building CC's right which has been remodeled and you know is newer looking that's in the historic inventory but y um why am I blanking on the pie shop restaurant Heather Heathers thank you Heathers is not [laughter] to build on that our guidelines did I I think and James correct me if I'm wrong but I think all of the the buildings in the historic inventory would fall under contributing for our definition because our definition was was the building built during a period of significance.

And just [clears throat] as an example, we really like the Three Bears building, but that building was built in 1993. And so it doesn't fall under our definition of a contributing building. So for us building on the historic inventory, we're essentially saying all of these buildings are contributing because they were built during a period of significance. Okay. And designating um or the national historic landmark district designation, I mean that ultimately comes from applying for it, right? And then correct whoever it's the National Park Service that correct. So they would and shipo

what happens like they they review the application do they send someone here to look at it or do they just look at the application and um yeah it's it's an extensive process um it's a little different than the national register but yes it's it's an application it's it's through the um shipo which is history Colorado and uh they work in tandem with national park service. Okay, thanks.

Do we is there any national data of what happens to the values of buildings that get placed historic because now it becomes more expensive to redo these buildings and anyone who has to do it then has to obviously rent for more and you just kind of start maybe having the opposite effect you thought you were going to have. Is there or any way we could look into that? I

I don't know off the top of my head, but yeah. So again, I guess uh we can definitely see if there's something to that. I overall the um input is that it makes it more valuable because you're maintaining what already made the area interesting and unique. Um, that being said, to be really clear with everybody, what's notably different for Midland and Basalt is that unlike maybe our neighbor Aspen or some other areas that have a lot of untouched historic buildings that are designated, most of these buildings have been remodeled at some level. So, the integrity of the historic aspect is really at face value for many of these. Um and that's why this these are design guidelines. So this you know while it's very interesting and I I'm welcome all the questions. This is not about designating properties as historic. It's to say hey you know what please don't come in and put in a glass building.

That's that's the intention here. Um if that's where everybody wants to go. So the intention is to say kind of the three bears building is actually an excellent example because town basically maybe from one perspective got very lucky that that developer decided to build the building that matched the rest of Midland. Whether that's going to happen going forward when redevelopment comes it it may not unless we have some guidelines to help guide it that direction. So that that's really the the conversation that we're at here. And you know um for that reason is why we don't have um a requirement to designate buildings um historic and all we can do is kind of encourage and make incentives that people will do that. So

understood. But if it's if it's designated as the district, does that change anything or no in terms of requiring people to I think an element to be to be considered a district is to have design guidelines so that you're maintaining this otherwise what is the difference right? Yeah. But it's not a but it's but it's still a guideline not a requirement. True. Okay. Should we break to look at the boards? We should. Do you want to talk about your last two slides?

Yes. Yes. So, uh, we want to hear from you. Uh, just want to touch on some considerations as you're looking at the boards. Um, like I've said, the guidelines are for the Midland Avenue district. So, just keep that in mind that we're not talking about residential hill district. uh and feel free to reference the base map on one of the boards. Um the guidelines are for new development only. We completely understand that a lot of the existing buildings would not actually meet the provisions of the guidelines today. So those buildings would essentially be grandfathered in.

And then like I talked about previously, if there are any buildings or uses that don't adhere that would not adhere to the guidelines, an appeal or a variance is always an option. So keep that in mind too. Um and then final slide. So options for feedback tonight. Um I have green and red stickers. So green is I like it. Red is I don't like it. If you have more comments, feel free to add sticky notes to the boards or around the boards. Uh really do whatever you you want uh to provide feedback. And then um I also do have a few areas for feedback that align with the blue text box. So if you want to respond to that, you can use the feedback form that I gave all of you or you can write anything on here too. Uh it's really open. We just welcome all of your feedback. I did put on here feedback on designating the Midland Avenue District as a National Historic Landmark District. Um would love I think we've talked a lot about it, but would love your feedback. Please [clears throat] feel free to write it down. So, uh, yeah, please explore.

I I have one little comment. When you do these things, I imagine you would have heard this before. Make the the colors of the dots something that colorblind people can see. Oh, okay. I can't see them. Oh, okay. Uh, sure. [laughter] Thank you for your feedback. We'll give you a green set and I'll ask right hand. Yeah, I know. Um I I would before you break out and look at them u there was one item that uh Jessica briefly talked about which is the u having a kind of variance process.

Yeah. what we heard from several of the um architects that came to kind of the the group openhouse previously kind of encourage there to be a process that that you could be exempted from certain elements if you came up with a better idea as an architect or designer um than than what the guidelines um provide. And you know I think that's an important element but the improver approver of that variance is staff on an administrative level on that form that you provided an example picture of correct [clears throat] that's the intent of the procedural side of this

it's a detail that we would need to work out whether I mean I guess it would just you know it it would depend on what the request was if it was to allow ask for a window that is 2 in taller or if it's to ask for something different. There' just be kind of a magnitude there.

And we didn't put this I didn't put this on the boards because it's such a small section in the guidelines, but we did speak to monumental buildings. Those are typically civic in nature. So like the the public library, it's not in within the district, but it's a great example of a monumental building that wouldn't necessarily fall within the guidelines, but that use isn't permitted within the C2 business district anyway. So, uh, the guidelines really should align with the uses that are already in the municipal zoning code, but we want to give any applicant an opportunity to appeal in case there is a unique design. But it would also apply to the town as far as a new town hall would be concerned.

Yeah, Lions Park is included in there. So if the town were to look to redevelop a new town hall, that would be part of the consideration. Which is interesting because this was the town dump during historic times. Clearly, [laughter] tell us how you really feel, Michelle. Yeah, I would classify a town hall as a monumental city. That's what I mean. Yeah. Yeah. So, I I think uses like that would require, I don't know, a special review or it was just my lame attempt at humor. Yeah, you made me laugh, so it worked.

But that procedural side is still being worked out. Yeah, I think that's I as far as the procedure, I think we're trying to um get a temperature for how much enthusiasm there is. Do you really want it to stay do you want this to be um a more strict approach where things are really we're really dialing it in and keeping it as much as it as it is today um as possible? or are we looking for having this have some direction for new development that comes in that says, "Hey, we don't want to make it so expensive that people won't come in and that we have dilapidated buildings or whatever the case is." Um, but we do want to see some innovative design come in, but that also matches your goal. So, we're trying to get that temperature um because as we as noted, these buildings don't have a ton. We're we're not Aspen that's had a 50-year historic preservation program.

But you also realize that developers will say that anyway. Absolutely. Let them try and make that effort or not.

Absolutely. So, that's where we need the community's input to tell us, hey, this is really important and valuable to us. put as many teeth in it as you can or build flexibility into it or this is really interesting to us. We would be okay with five stories as long as it was painted in a Victorian manner, whatever it is. Um, that's what we're trying to get kind of the the understanding and the temperature and acceptance for. So, so that's what you'll see when you look at the boards. And again, this is a first pass because there there is a lot to consider here. So, um, know that I know you're not going to get all of your questions and you're going to have more thoughts after we're done with this and we'll we'll be back. So,

and I also put an outline of what we have so far and I attached my business card to it as well. So, feel free to follow up with any questions or reach out to Michelle, James, or Carlton. Also, once we get a working draft of this, could you send it around with plenty of time for us to digest it? That would be great. All right. Well, enjoy your your your voting with your dots. So, we're putting all our stuff right on those. Yeah. Without blocking. Yeah. I There are also sheets that you can write on, too. Yeah. Or sticky notes, too.

So staff and Jessica appreciate you working through uh reading and reviewing some of the guidelines and providing feedback. We we wanted to give you an opportunity to get back together and see if you wanted to talk about any of the elements kind of as a group uh or if you would just like us to take this feedback and kind of uh mole adjustments uh before bringing them back to you.

I I have a a slight request when we have our next packet with this stuff in it. Could we get small samples of other people's guidelines to just to compare see what how other people write theirs? Or at least could you have them down here for us to come and look at? I think that would be really helpful to see what other people do. At least ones that that you as professionals see as successful. Does Telleluride have one? We must. Tell you right's a nightmare because they have strict guidelines or they have a design review board. They have the heart. It's they kind of it's

Yeah, I think what will be challenging we can absolutely do that. I think what will be challenging is just the this is not historic preservation. They're design guidelines. And so I think you know being able to probably read for instance from tellide historic preservation guidelines are going to be very specific and and much much more code oriented than design guidelines. Yeah. Because I I want an example of what we're what we are trying to do. If we're only trying to have design guidelines, then why is there even the need to consider National Historic Landmark District? [snorts]

Again, that's kind of back to the flavor of taking the temperature of how much do we want this to feel like it has preservation to it versus how much is it continuing a feel and a and an aesthetic. If you label something historic locally, do you have any access to grants because it's a local designation? You still do

you? it it so currently today for example if we were to apply for an economic development grant this this was available during COVID um because it was COVID related not historic preservation related there were grants for businesses to get funds to do maintenance on their street fronts on their storefronts while the pandemic was happening of course the pan luckily today the pandemic is gone so other grant that grant grant originated from historic preservation grants. So to your point, that was a long way of getting to. Yes. If we're in a district, we have more access to grants

as part of area three, the buffer zone.

Can you kind of define? So that's if you're not going to build to the lot line, is that required to be landscaping or The intent of the buffer zone is actually just for occupied spaces. So, uh, a good example would be like a rooftop bar, and the buffer zone would have it's an area for planting or seating, um, just so that pedestrians, occupants aren't at the edge, not visible from the street, uh, because there may be developments that come in and want to have a rooftop bar on level three or level four, and we're just trying to maintain that that human scale. So the buffer zone is more just to keep Yeah. patrons away from the edge along Midland if it's at level three.

Thank you. Are we done with this work session? Yeah, if you are done with questions for now and then we'll we'll be back. So when you'll have a chance to look at the document and bring more specific questions, noodle on it, bring some more ideas. We'll have a part two. What's the timeline on that, do you think? Um, quickly in the next meeting or two. All right. Thanks. We're going to get you while it's fresh. All right. Um, commissioner comments and staff updates. Let's do first.

Um, taking a total twist here. um BPAC, our public arts commission, the annual grant cycle is open. So, anybody that is interested in um pursuing a grant for performing or visual arts, you can find it on our website, basalt.net. Um those are due in March, I believe, with an award in April. Um, holiday tree recycling is available in Arbony Park until February 1st, so you can clean out your house if you need to with your tree. No commercial contractors. Um, if you use the Basalt Connect app, that app has been updated to the Roaring Ride Roaring Fork app, um, which works in all of the communities up and down the valley. So

just like riding raft, you can get off and dial up your service whether you're in Carbonddale, Basalt, Glennwood or Aspen or even Snow Mass. So Basalt connect doesn't work anymore. It still works, but it's sun setting this spring. Okay.

And when you when you log into Basalt Connect, it it prompts you to download the other app. So um hopefully everyone's that's working out well. Um, applications for sponsoring or being a nonprofit to benefit from the 2026 summer concert series are also open and you can find those applications on the website. And that's all Oh. Um, call for council member nominations um is available and open. You can pick your packet up from the town clerk um any day. There are three of three seats open and um the election this year is on April 7th.

You have any planning things?

Uh yeah, the the next meeting will be January 20th. Um and we have an introduction uh meeting to the um 555 Basalt Avenue, which is the Myer Steel property application. uh just an introduction meeting and and then you'll have uh continued public hearing after that. Um and you know potentially we'll have other other applications on that um evening as well. Um, and staying in the nonprofit uh application realm, um, the uh, Roaring Fork Charity Classic uh, applications for nonprofits uh, to put on that golf tournament are um, also being accepted until um, January 16th. if anybody has a Mid Valley nonprofit that you want to encourage to to apply. All

righty. Um [snorts] any commissioner comments? Anyone like to ventilate an idea? No. Then do we have a motion to adjurnn? Motion. We have first second. First and second. All in favor? I I Great. Thanks. Who wants these feedback forms? Give them to Jessica. Mike, you're saying that in order