The Snowmass Village Town Council voted 4-1 to reduce the employee housing mitigation fee for the Willows condo complex by 40%, lowering it from approximately $430,000 to $258,000.

The fee was triggered by the addition of four free-market units beyond the replacement of Building D's original seven units, which were damaged beyond repair by a 2024 fire.

Council member Cecily DeAngelo voted against, advocating for waiving the fee entirely.

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Photo: The site of Willows Building D in Snowmass Village, as seen here on May 24. The building was destroyed in a 2024 fire.

Jason Charme/Aspen Daily News

The patented technology will help reduce water and energy demand at the beginning of the winter season

Aspen Snowmass has become the first location in Colorado to utilize Snow Secure insulation mats as part of a pilot program aiming to cover snow from the past winter in order to use it to bolster early season snowpack for the upcoming winter.

The patented technology has been applied to terrain parks on both Buttermilk and Snowmass Mountain, effectively covering 3.5 million gallons of primarily man-made snow water equivalent and keeping it insulated throughout the summer to prevent it from melting. As of Tuesday morning, Senior Vice President of Sustainability at Aspen One Chris Miller told The Aspen Times that the temperature under the blanket at Buttermilk was 32.6 degrees Fahrenheit.

"This very much is a sustainability story," Miller said. "It's enough snow to hopefully give us a good early season start. In order for us to continue to ensure the world-class experience we offer locals and guests, it will require a host of tools in this climate resilient toolbox."

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Photo: The Snow Secure pilot program on Buttermilk.
Aspen Snowmass/Courtesy photo

Eager to begin the rebuild of Building D of the Willows condo complex - damaged beyond repair in a March 2024 fire - the Snowmass Town Council last week unanimously approved final design plans for the new structure.

Up for debate at the May 18 meeting was a proposed $435,000 housing mitigation fee attached to the four new free-market units added to the Building D design, which includes two studio units at the basement level and two larger units on the third floor.

The original two-story building had seven units, but designs call for a new three-story building with 11 units. The four new free-market units are estimated to bring in an estimated $7.3 million to the Willows HOA, architect Dana Ellis said at last week's meeting.

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Photo:

The site of Building D of the Willows condominium complex in Snowmass Village is shown. Approvals are underway to rebuild it following its destruction in a March 2024 fire. The Snowmass Town Council approved final designs last week.

Jason Charme/Aspen Daily News

Elevated Snowmass, led by Hotelier Stephane De Baets, gave an initial presentation to the Snowmass Village Town Council and Planning Commission during a joint work session Monday on the potential redevelopment of the Viewline, Snowmass Conference Center and Wildwood Lodge into the Ritz Carlton.

De Baets, owner of the St. Regis in Aspen and Redstone Castle, acquired the Snowmass property last year.

"My love story with the valley started about 16 years ago, when my company acquired the St. Regis in Aspen," De Baets said at the session. "Last year, we had this wonderful opportunity to acquire what I believe is one of the best pieces of real estate in North America, which is the Viewline, Conference Center and the Wildwood."

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Photo: Viewline Resort Snowmass.
Courtesy photo

Aspen City Council voted to move the Aspen Meadows affordable housing project forward Monday after hearing an updated proposal and reopening the public comment.

The Aspen Institute, Aspen Music Festival and School and Aspen Center for Physics are currently proposing a development of housing units spread out over the Aspen Meadows subdivision, with highest priority of employee housing given to full-time year-round staff. New trail connections, right-of-way improvements, reconfiguration of parking lots and landscaping improvements are also included in the proposal.

Updates to the proposal recommended at the council's March 24 meeting were presented Monday, namely the removal of the three units from North Street and the potential safety measures for the entrance to the property off 4th Street that prioritize pedestrians, bicycles, and public transit.

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Photo: The Aspen Meadows affordable housing project, proposed on the same campus that hosts Aspen Ideas Festival among other events, was approved Monday.
Ideas Festival Aspen/Aspen Institute