Pitkin County is asking for over 21,000 square feet of new development along with renovation of the Courthouse Plaza building.
Because it’s a government building, state law mandates an approval or denial of the development plans within 60 days. Aspen Senior Planner Justin Barker said the city’s feedback isn’t necessarily binding.
“If that decision happens to be a denial the county will still have an opportunity to overrule that decision if that’s what they desire,” he said.
The proposed building is meant to consolidate county offices and staff into a single facility and is three stories high. Maximum height allowed for a three story building is 36 feet but the proposal asks for as much as 55 feet.
City staff recommends approval of the building, but with conditions such as reducing the height and minimizing elements that don’t fit in with the original structure like the south-facing glass “curtain” wall.
Council will also be calling up a remodel of the Boogie’s building. The Historic Preservation Commission has approved the plans in a 4 to 2 vote on April 13.
While the footprint would be expanded and the setback of the building moved closer to the street, a free-market residential component that has previously been part of the plans has been removed.
