{"id":2459055,"date":"2020-05-31T23:05:00","date_gmt":"2020-06-01T05:05:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.aspentimes.com\/?p=326929"},"modified":"2020-05-31T23:05:00","modified_gmt":"2020-06-01T05:05:00","slug":"aspen-skiing-co-to-ask-state-board-for-variance-for-new-lift-one-gondola-chairlift","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kspn\/local-news\/aspen-skiing-co-to-ask-state-board-for-variance-for-new-lift-one-gondola-chairlift\/","title":{"rendered":"Aspen Skiing Co. to ask state board for variance for new Lift One gondola, chairlift"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"swift-gallery p402_hide\" readability=\"6.7482710926694\">\n<ul id=\"imageGallery-326929-751\" class=\"gallery list-unstyled gallery-container\">\n<li data-thumb=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2020\/05\/Liftone-atd-060120-1-150x150.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2020\/05\/Liftone-atd-060120-1-1024x682.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"Kelsey Brunner\/The Aspen Times | Construction equipment is parked near the base of the 1A lift on Friday, May 29, 2020. (Kelsey Brunner\/The Aspen Times)\" class=\"swift-gallery-slide h-100\" readability=\"-0.5\">\n<div class=\"caption\" readability=\"10\">\n<p><strong>Construction equipment is parked near the base of the 1A lift on Friday, May 29, 2020. (Kelsey Brunner\/The Aspen Times)<\/strong><br \/>Kelsey Brunner\/The Aspen Times<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"col my-auto\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2020\/05\/Liftone-atd-060120-1-1024x682.jpg\" data-no-lazy=\"1\" alt=\"Construction equipment is parked near the base of the 1A lift on Friday, May 29, 2020. (Kelsey Brunner\/The Aspen Times)\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li data-thumb=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2020\/05\/Liftone-atd-060120-1-1-150x150.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2020\/05\/Liftone-atd-060120-1-1-1024x682.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"Courtesy image | One of the renderings of the Gorsuch Haus at the base of the western side of Aspen Mountain as part of the Lift One development.\" class=\"swift-gallery-slide h-100\" readability=\"-1.5\">\n<div class=\"caption\" readability=\"8\">\n<p><strong>One of the renderings of the Gorsuch Haus at the base of the western side of Aspen Mountain as part of the Lift One development.<\/strong><br \/>Courtesy image<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"col my-auto\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2020\/05\/Liftone-atd-060120-1-1-1024x682.jpg\" data-no-lazy=\"1\" alt=\"One of the renderings of the Gorsuch Haus at the base of the western side of Aspen Mountain as part of the Lift One development.\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li data-thumb=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2020\/05\/Liftone-atd-060120-1-2-150x150.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2020\/05\/Liftone-atd-060120-1-2-1024x682.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"Kelsey Brunner\/The Aspen Times | The 1A lift sits immobile on Aspen Mountain on Friday, May 29, 2020. (Kelsey Brunner\/The Aspen Times)\" class=\"swift-gallery-slide h-100\" readability=\"-0.5\">\n<div class=\"caption\" readability=\"10\">\n<p><strong>The 1A lift sits immobile on Aspen Mountain on Friday, May 29, 2020. (Kelsey Brunner\/The Aspen Times)<\/strong><br \/>Kelsey Brunner\/The Aspen Times<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"col my-auto\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2020\/05\/Liftone-atd-060120-1-2-1024x682.jpg\" data-no-lazy=\"1\" alt=\"The 1A lift sits immobile on Aspen Mountain on Friday, May 29, 2020. (Kelsey Brunner\/The Aspen Times)\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li data-thumb=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2020\/05\/Liftone-atd-060120-1-3-150x150.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2020\/05\/Liftone-atd-060120-1-3-1024x505.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"Courtesy image | One of the renderings of the base of the western side of Aspen Mountain as part of the Lift One development.\" class=\"swift-gallery-slide h-100\" readability=\"-1.5\">\n<div class=\"caption\" readability=\"8\">\n<p><strong>One of the renderings of the base of the western side of Aspen Mountain as part of the Lift One development.<\/strong><br \/>Courtesy image<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"col my-auto\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2020\/05\/Liftone-atd-060120-1-3-1024x505.jpg\" data-no-lazy=\"1\" alt=\"One of the renderings of the base of the western side of Aspen Mountain as part of the Lift One development.\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li data-thumb=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2020\/05\/Liftone-atd-060120-1-4-150x150.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2020\/05\/Liftone-atd-060120-1-4-1024x711.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"Courtesy image | One of the renderings of the Lift One Park at the base of the western side of Aspen Mountain as part of the Lift One development.\" class=\"swift-gallery-slide h-100\" readability=\"-1.5\">\n<div class=\"caption\" readability=\"8\">\n<p><strong>One of the renderings of the Lift One Park at the base of the western side of Aspen Mountain as part of the Lift One development.<\/strong><br \/>Courtesy image<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"col my-auto\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2020\/05\/Liftone-atd-060120-1-4-1024x711.jpg\" data-no-lazy=\"1\" alt=\"One of the renderings of the Lift One Park at the base of the western side of Aspen Mountain as part of the Lift One development.\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p class=\"caption-toggle\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.aspentimes.com\/news\/local\/aspen-skiing-co-to-ask-state-board-for-variance-for-new-lift-one-gondola-chairlift\/#\" class=\"show-captions\">Show Captions<\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.aspentimes.com\/news\/local\/aspen-skiing-co-to-ask-state-board-for-variance-for-new-lift-one-gondola-chairlift\/#\" class=\"hide-captions\">Hide Captions<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText DropCap\">Aspen Skiing Co. this week will submit a variance request to the Colorado Tramway Board for the new Lift One chairlift and gondola, according to company officials.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">The request is to get a variance from the state\u2019s requirement to have a 35-foot clear airspace around the lift.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">The new telemix lift is part of the Lift One development project that voters approved in March 2019 and includes <a id=\"N0x1676ea0N0x15cc720:N0x1676ea0N0x179fca8\" href=\"https:\/\/www.aspentimes.com\/news\/lift-1a-side-of-aspen-same-as-it-ever-was\/\">320,000 square feet of lodge and commercial space<\/a> at the western base of Aspen Mountain.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">Portions of the Lift One Lodge, a 107,000-square-foot timeshare project, and the Gorsuch Haus, a 64,000-square-foot luxury hotel, will be located within 15 or 20 feet of the new lift so a variance from the tramway board is necessary.<\/p>\n<div class=\"row\">\n<div class=\"col\" readability=\"6\">\n<div class=\"row at-donation at-donation-mobile p-0\" readability=\"7\">\n<div class=\"col-xl-4 p-2\">\n<div data-bg=\"url(https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2020\/03\/AT-logo-white.png)\" class=\"p-0 mt-2 mb-2 h-75 text-center rocket-lazyload\">\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2020\/03\/AT-logo-white.png\" class=\"logo m-0 p-0 invisible\"><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><h3 class=\"d-inline mr-3\">Support Local Journalism<\/h3>\n<p><button class=\"btn d-inline\" type=\"button\" onclick=\"handleDonationButtonClickMidArticle()\">Donate<\/button><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">Victor Gerdin, planner for Skico, said it\u2019s routine for ski areas to receive variances, noting that they have been granted for lifts at Snowmass, Aspen Highlands and Aspen Mountain.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">\u201cIt\u2019s an ordinary process to go through,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">The tramway board wants to see details of the developments and understand where certain elements of the buildings are located, with fire protection and suppression in mind.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">\u201cThey want to be able to manage what\u2019s in that airspace,\u201d Gerdin said. \u201cThey will weigh all those mitigation criteria.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">The tramway board\u2019s technical committee will review the request at its June 18 meeting and then forward a recommendation to the state board for consideration at its July 8 meeting.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">The variance is necessary as developers move to final design and review of their land-use applications by the city\u2019s Planning and Zoning and Historic Preservation commissions.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">\u201cAs we eventually go to (planning and zoning), which we hope is this winter, that is one of the things you want in hand,\u201d said Jim DeFrancia, principal of Lowe Enterprises and a partner with the Gorsuch team.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">All of the development partners, which include the city of Aspen, Skico, Lift One developers Michael and Aaron Brown and Gorsuch Haus developers Bryan Peterson and Jeff Gorsuch, have understood since the plan was selected that the ski lift would need a variance.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">And with some guidance from engineers and Rich Burkley, Skico\u2019s vice president of operations, who is a former tramway board member, developers are comfortable they will be given approval.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">\u201cWe approach it with a high level of confidence,\u201d DeFrancia said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">David Corbin, Skico\u2019s senior vice president of planning and development, said it\u2019s one element of many in the overall plan, which is being worked on regularly with the development team.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">\u201cThere\u2019s been a lot of work going on,\u201d he said. \u201cAt a technical level it\u2019s going pretty well.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">The city has granted the Browns an extension until Sept. 5 to submit their <a id=\"N0x1676ea0N0x15cc840:N0x1676ea0N0x17a0518\" href=\"https:\/\/www.aspentimes.com\/news\/aspen-mountains-base-development-plan-blows-up\/\">final review plans for approval<\/a> on the details of the project.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">The Gorsuch Haus land-use application was submitted in March and has been deemed complete, according to city long-range planner Ben Anderson.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">\u201cAs a general principle, I am impressed with the degree of collaboration that is happening between the stakeholders,\u201d he wrote in an email, adding that frequent coordination meetings started back up this past winter, and have been robust this spring, in spite of the challenges presented by COVID-19. \u201cWe expect that board reviews for both projects will begin mid-late fall.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">Jen Phelan, the city\u2019s development manager, is acting as the project manager and owner\u2019s representative for the municipal government\u2019s piece in the development.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">She is the agent keeping the projects moving forward and together.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">\u201cMy first job is to make sure everyone is communicating,\u201d Phelan said. \u201cThere\u2019s a lot of moving parts. \u2026 It\u2019s pretty amazing the number of meetings and details.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">The plan got fleshed out by the Planning and Zoning and Historic Preservation commissions already on a conceptual level, and then Aspen City Council referred it to city voters.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">The <a id=\"N0x1676ea0N0x15cc8a0:N0x1676ea0N0x17a0998\" href=\"https:\/\/www.aspentimes.com\/news\/it-will-take-at-least-two-years-before-construction-aspens-lift-one-plan-begins\/\">ballot measure passed<\/a> by just 26 votes.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">The final approval step is going back again in front of the Planning and Zoning and Historic Preservation commissions for detailed review, which focuses on minor issues like finishes and materials on buildings, landscaping and grading of the site.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">The developers have five years of vesting rights from their approval to begin the project.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">\u201cIt\u2019s getting real,\u201d Phelan said, adding that if final approval happens in winter 2021 and permits are issued after all plats and easements and other details are worked out, construction could start \u201cI think the earliest is spring of 2022.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText Tagline\"><a href=\"mailto:csackariason@aspentimes.com\">csackariason@aspentimes.com<\/a><\/p>\n<p> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.aspentimes.com\/news\/local\/aspen-skiing-co-to-ask-state-board-for-variance-for-new-lift-one-gondola-chairlift\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">via:: The Aspen Times<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Construction equipment is parked near the base of the 1A lift on Friday, May 29, 2020. (Kelsey Brunner\/The Aspen Times)Kelsey Brunner\/The Aspen Times One of the renderings of the Gorsuch Haus at the base of the western side of Aspen Mountain as part of the Lift One development.Courtesy image The 1A lift sits immobile on [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[49],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2459055","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","category-local-news"],"acf":[],"publishpress_future_action":{"enabled":false,"date":"2026-08-17 04:33:08","action":"change-status","newStatus":"draft","terms":[],"taxonomy":"category","extraData":[]},"publishpress_future_workflow_manual_trigger":{"enabledWorkflows":[]},"distributor_meta":false,"distributor_terms":false,"distributor_media":false,"distributor_original_site_name":"KSPN The Valley&#039;s Quality Rock","distributor_original_site_url":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kspn","push-errors":false,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kspn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2459055","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kspn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kspn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kspn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kspn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2459055"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kspn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2459055\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kspn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2459055"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kspn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2459055"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kspn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2459055"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}