Aspen City Council is attempting to shut down further development in the downtown and commercial cores.
In a surprise move, elected officials last night initially approved an emergency ordinance that would place moratorium on new commercial development that asks for an increase in size. The moratorium will not affect anything currently under review with city staff and does not apply to interior remodels, residential or lodging zones.
The ordinance comes one week after long range planner Jessica Garrow was named as the new community development director. Garrow said at the time her first priority is to examine the Aspen Area Community Plan.
Mayor Steve Skadron said the “emergency” nature of the new law is to prevent a rush of land use applications while the city works to update its master development plan.
“Basically we are examining our land use code because concerns have arisen — so we had to take action in order to satisfy this council goal.”
This is the first time since 2012 that a major policy change on development in the downtown Aspen core has occurred. That year, council declined to pass an emergency ordinance introduced by then-councilman Torre — limiting buildings in downtown Aspen to 28 feet, from the allowable 42.But a month later, council lowered building heights anyway.
A second and what could be a final reading of the ordinance will begin at 5PM tonight. Public comment is allowed.
