Over the weekend, another Aspen resident joined former Mayor Mick Ireland in announcing his candidacy for Aspen City Council. Bert Myrin said Sunday he's entering the race. Myrin is one of the key organizers, with Ireland, of a ballot measure about development. It would amend Aspen’s city charter, requiring a public vote if a developer wants exceptions to the land use code-- for things like building height, and more. Right now City Council has a lot of flexibility for allowing exceptions.
Council has said amending the Charter to restrict development is a bad idea, preferring instead to propose a land use ordinance to do that. It would limit exceptions for building height and floor area. Anything taller, or bigger, by a certain amount, would go before voters. Affordable housing variances could also be restricted, but parking guidelines would remain the same. There’s a public hearing tonight at City Council chambers on the proposed ordinance.
