Affordable housing developers are appealing the denial of their proposal for the five-unit housing complex at 1020 E. Cooper Ave. in Aspen. (Kelsey Brunner/The Aspen Times)
Finding that the Historic Preservation Commission abused its discretion in denying an affordable-housing proposal in an Aspen east end neighborhood, Aspen City Council on Monday voted to remand the project back to the citizen volunteer board to conduct a fair and legal review of the land-use application.
After reviewing the record of the HPC’s Feb. 17 meeting, council members in a special meeting Monday were unanimous that commissioners abused their discretion by using subjective and prejudicial factors outside of their purview, and therefore reversed the commission’s decision.
Affordable housing developers are appealing the denial of their proposal for the five-unit housing complex at 1020 E Cooper Ave. in Aspen. (Kelsey Brunner/The Aspen Times)
The developers of a proposed affordable housing project are appealing last month’s denial of their proposal by the city of Aspen’s Historic Preservation Commission.
The appeal filed by Jim DeFrancia and Jean Coulter to the city means that the HPC’s Feb. 17 meeting will be reviewed by City Council, which could overturn the 3-1 vote to reject the proposal.
After listening to hours of public comment mostly from neighbors who oppose the project at two public hearings in January and February, HPC members denied the five-unit housing complex located at 1020 E. Cooper Ave. citing that it was too dense.