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VVHA 2006 Annual Report - Executive Summary:
Environmental Protection and Enhancement Issues:
Defending open space and stream tract covenants against encroachments was
one of several Association environmental initiatives. The Association
turned its attention to larger scale civic and infrastructure improvements
to preserve the community’s natural environment, resort identity and
livability as it grows. Short and long-range proposals were advocated to
deal with noise pollution from Interstate 70 including the installation of
“quiet pavement,” noise berms and the possible removal of the freeway. The
Association furthered its long-term initiative for comprehensive streetscape
improvements and the building of enclosed trucking terminals, which will
reduce nuisance noise and enhance the appearance of Vail Village. The
expanded use of the Real Estate Transfer Tax Fund was favored by the
Association to support environmental protection and clean up of Gore Creek,
forestlands and similar projects. Forest restoration efforts by the
Association were directed at changes to management systems to hasten
reforestation through replanting sustainable tree species subsequent to the
removal and use of dead trees as fuel for clean energy and other forest
products. The Association pressed for the highest priority to be given to
the preparation of a detailed emergency evacuation procedures and
communications systems to guide the community swiftly to safety in case of
catastrophic wild fire.
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Tract
E/Covenant protected open space defended by neighbors in Colorado Court of
Appeals.
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TOV to cause
Gore Creek Stream Tract encroachments to be removed supported by
Association.
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Seibert
Circle Fountain funded through efforts of Association President and
businessman Ron Riley.
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Association assisted in Thirteenth
Filing Neighborhood Association I70 noise berm negotiation.
Transportation and Related Infrastructure Issues:
The Association is concerned that the current
state of planning for the expansion of I70 from Denver to Vail and beyond,
will not be adequate to provide for dependability of access and
environmental compatibility. Long-range planning for transportation systems
to and around Vail is essential to the continued success of the community’s
economy and the quality of life of residential property owners. The
Association advocates:
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A comprehensive transportation
system in accord with a “vision” for the community that could free it from
the negative effects of Interstate 70.
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Provide for the expansion of the
community’s internal traffic circulation independent of I70.
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Provide for enhanced regional ground
and air mass transit.
Efforts by
the Association to implement the vision is resulting in the development of a
plan for a central four lane landscape boulevard from Ford Park to the West
Vail commercial center including a new I70 (Simba Run) underpass west of
Lionshead, served by additional parking structures, mass transit and
trucking terminals. With encouragement from the Association, the Town of
Vail is funding the frontage road project through impact fees and property
tax revenues from development projects. The Association is also encouraging
officials to improve the Eagle County Airport and other forms of bus and
rail mass transit. Accessibility by all forms of transportation, with an
increasing emphasis on the region west of Vail, is essential to the success
of the community’s economy and livability.
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Public attention brought by the
Association to short and long-term solutions to I70 noise and expansion.
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Association establishes I70 Action
Fund and Advisory Group.
Affordable Housing Issue: The on-going
building boom and the perception of a shift in the balance of political
power in the local electorate is causing elected officials to consider a
far-reaching impact fee upon all new construction. The impact fee is
intended to provide affordable housing for 30% of new jobs in the Vail
community. As proposed, if affordable housing is not built on-site the
pay-in-lieu fee is to be $315.50 per sq. ft. Planners calculate that the
fee would add $473,000 to the building cost of a 5000 sq. ft. home and
$24,000 for a 250 sq. ft. addition to a condominium. As currently proposed,
the fee would place a lesser burden upon commercial than on resort
residential development. The imbalance favors commercial hotel, retail and
office development. A regional government study reports spending by
part-time residents constitutes 43% of the local economy, which indicates a
more balanced fee is justified. Commercial incentives will increase demand
for affordable housing, as more jobs will be generated. Land is very
limited on which to build affordable housing thus forcing it to be built
into new development. Many in the Vail development and real estate industry
say that the size and imbalance in the proposed fee could significantly
dampen new resort residential construction, thus drying up impact fee
revenues and jobs. They also are worried about the eventual size and
competitive power of a government controlled affordable housing fund because
it could damage the local development industry by driving up construction
cost. There is no sunset provision to terminate the fee when the affordable
housing quotas and community master plan limits are attained. Many question
the reliability of statistical data used for housing forecasts and the
calculation of employment generated by resort residential development. Once
its effect is fully felt, the impact fee could meet with disapproval. A
significant portion of the local population is employed in the resort
development and real estate industry. The Town’s affordable housing policy
is not balanced, for example; it does not provide for non-employed seniors
who worked in the community, which is an increasing segment of the local
population. The Association favors a constructive affordable housing
policy, however before proceeding with a potentially disruptive impact fee,
concerns need to be fully addressed by the Town Council and widely debated
by the community. Meanwhile, the unintended consequences, including
suspending or frustrating development approvals and waiting for the adoption
of an impact fee, could also potentially prove to be harmful.
Redevelopment Issues: The Association
objects to the continued abuse of Special Development Districts (SDD’s)
whereby the Town’s zoning and master planning are altered in exchange for
increases in zoning density to fund public improvements. SDD’s can be
damaging to the interest of adjacent property owners as larger buildings are
permitted than would otherwise be allowed by standard zoning.
The Association favors the imposition of
reasonable standardized impact fees upon all new development to fund
projects provided for in adopted master plans for civic and infrastructure
improvements. The property rights conferred by zoning should apply equally
to all property owners in the same or similar circumstances. The
Association notes that SDD’s are being used more frequently because some
political interests are able to manipulate the local political system to
their own advantage. On the other hand, other political interests are able
to require higher fees in exchange for greater density than would otherwise
be required by standardized impact fees. Public confidence in the Town of
Vail’s development review process and zoning regulation is being
undermined. In order to restore trust in the integrity of Vail’s planning
and design, the Association advocated and participated in the updating of
neighborhood master plans. The result will be uniform rezoning and
developer improvement agreements, so that all neighborhood property owners
would benefit similarly. Additionally, the Association worked to update
public infrastructure and service master plans. The Association
participated in the review and the negotiations of major redevelopment and
planning projects throughout the community on behalf of its membership.
Membership and Communications: The
Association significantly increased its membership as well as the scope and
frequency of its communication with the membership.
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