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Base 2 may still be on November ballot

A scrapped downtown development may be back on the table. Mark Hunt told city council Monday night that, if approved, he would go forward with building the Base 2 Lodge in downtown Aspen.

Late last week Hunt wrote a letter last withdrawing his proposal citing community opposition to the project.

“If it went to an election I would build it if approved, and obviously move on if it didn’t win,” said Hunt.

Hunt’s change of heart meant an unprecedented conundrum for the council, many of whom voiced support for Base 2’s goal of providing moderately priced lodging in Aspen. In rescinding his proposal, questions arose regarding the next steps available to the council, including repealing the ordinance that approved his development proposal, continuing with a public vote anyway, or, as city attorney Jim True said, “do nothing.”

The council would have needed four votes to rescind the ordinance but the majority of the council was in favor of a public vote. Councilman Bert Myrin was the only one to express his disfavor with allowing the vote to go ahead. He argued with Mayor Steve Skadron about complicating the process by allowing Hunt to withdraw his withdrawal.

“I think you are making us Steve, all look like fools as leaders of the community,” said Myrin. “You can’t trust a developer in this town, especially Mark Hunt.”

After a long discussion Council decided to allow Hunt until 4pm Tuesday to submit an official reinstatement request for Base 2. If he does that, then Council will have to make the final call during their continued meeting Tuesday night on whether to send the project to Aspen voters in the fall.

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