HomeMy WebLinkAboutTB Study Session 2013-10-15
Town of Estes Park, Larimer County, Colorado October 15, 2013
Minutes of a Study Session meeting of the TOWN BOARD of the Town of
Estes Park, Larimer County, Colorado. Meeting held at Town Hall in the
Board Room in said Town of Estes Park on the 15th day of October, 2013.
Board: Mayor Pinkham, Mayor Pro Tem Blackhurst, Trustees Elrod,
Ericson, Koenig, Norris and Phipps
Attending: All
Also Attending: Town Administrator Lancaster, Town Attorney White and
Town Clerk Williamson
Absent: None
Mayor Pinkham called the meeting to order at 4:00 p.m.
STANLEY WELLNESS CENTER PRESENTATION
John Cullen/Stanley Hotel owner presented the Town Board with a proposal to develop
a wellness center on Lot 4, Stanley Historic District, currently owned by the Town of
Estes Park. The center would be a fitness and dietary learning center with long term
stay facilities for its guests. The Stanley Hotel has partnered with the Anschutz Medical
Center to create a collaborative relationship with the Estes Park Medical Center to
provide medical support to the center. The center would be the first of 6 wellness
centers across Colorado in an effort to begin marketing Colorado for medical tourism,
an effort backed by Governor Hickenlooper. The first center was to be in Telluride
because a building already exists; however, the focus turned to Estes Park as it is
easier to get to. The center would bring new clientele to Estes Park and provide a year
around revenue source. The Stanley Hotel lost funding from Morgan Stanley for the
project after the flood due to access issues; however, new private funding has been
secured with the backing of credit enhancement grants good through December 31,
2013. Mr. Cullen commented he is prepared to spend the necessary time and money
needed to have the project proceed through an expedited development process, and
requested the sale of Lot 4 be presented to the voters during a special election before
the end of the year. The cost of consultants to review the development plan for the
Town and to hold an election would be funded by the Stanley Hotel.
The Anschutz Wellness Center would not compete with the proposed Community
Wellness Center being considered by the Estes Valley Recreation and Park District.
The Wellness Center would be for patrons only and would not have many of the
facilities being proposed by the Community Center such as a large competition pool,
indoor walking track, meeting rooms, etc.
Trustee Phipps stated concern the Stanley Wellness Center and the Community Center
may conflict with each other. He sees the wellness center as an extension of the
Stanley Hotel campus, and would not service the community.
Attorney White commented the development plan agreement for Lot 4 expired in 2009
as well as the requirements of the Stanley Master Plan for the property. The Estes
Valley Planning Commission would review the development plan, not a Technical
Review Committee. Lucia Liley/Stanley Hotel Land Use Attorney stated the Stanley
would propose a development agreement for the property in order to protect it and the
use of the Stanley Master Plan guidelines.
Trustee Norris commented the Town has an obligation to the citizens to determine the
highest use for the property before any sale to a private land owner. He commented the
Town Board Study Session – October 15, 2013 – Page 2
project could be beneficial to the community and could fit with the new branding strategy
of family health. He questioned who the facility would attract, how the programming
would be different than the Community Center, the timeline of the expedited process,
and if other locations have been considered. The project has merit and he questioned if
the Stanley could get an extension on the funds.
Mr. Cullins stated the Wellness Center would attract families with disposable income
that do not come to Estes Park currently. The Wellness Center would be a high-end
medically oriented facility with new talent brought in to present rotating series of lectures
and research. Ms. Liley stated the Stanley would need to complete the planning
process by the end of December in conjunction with a special election in December for
the sale of the property. Mr. Cullins stated he has pledged the Stanley Hotel as
collateral, and therefore, it is necessary that the new facility be near the Stanley Hotel.
Trustee Ericson stated there could be alternative uses for the property or other
development proposals that may be presented, if it was known the Town was selling the
property. He raised the fact that the Stanley Hotel was involved with the Issue
Committee Friends of Stanley Lot 4 and provided financing for the group which brought
forward the current ordinance requiring a vote prior to the sale of Lot 4.
Mayor Pro Tem Blackhurst recommended a contract be developed for the Board to
review, which would require the completion of an appraisal. He commented on the
need to further discuss the sale of Lot 4 and the uses of the property.
Town Administrator Lancaster stated staff’s first priority to the community would be
rebuilding the community; therefore, the development review would be conducted by a
consultant at the expense of the applicant. The Town would bring in the necessary
resources to complete the review.
The Board discussed the next steps and whether or not to move forward with
determining if the project review and election could be conducted before the end of the
year. Comments have been summarized: would support bringing the project forward
for the citizens to vote on the sale; the Board needs to hear from the groups and
individuals that would be impacted or have expressed concerns such as the Senior
Center, Museum and the EVRPD; need to see a development plan; the Board needs to
have a discussion on what the Town would like to do with the property; would only be
comfortable moving forward with obtaining an appraisal and review a sales contract; the
expedited timeline appears to be extremely aggressive; and the Town has an obligation
to take a detailed package forward for the voters in order for them to make a reasonable
decision.
Attorney White stated staff would meet with the Stanley Hotel representatives to
develop milestones; however, the development and the election would have to move
down parallel paths in order to complete the development review by the end of the year.
After further discussion, it was the general consensus of the Board to bring the item
forward to the November 12, 2013 meeting to review and determine if a timeline can be
established to complete the development review and hold an election in December, with
the understanding that an outside consultant would be hired for the development
review. It was further agreed that staff and the Stanley Hotel representatives would
begin the appraisal process and the development of a sales contract with contingencies,
such as the property would be limited to the use as a Wellness Center, must meet all
code requirements, etc.
There being no further business, Mayor Pinkham adjourned the meeting at 5:35 p.m.
Jackie Williamson, Town Clerk