Snowmass Council Advances Five-Story Workforce Housing Project

Aspen —Can a five-story building really fit into Snowmass?

That’s the question the Town Council wrestled with Monday night. In a 3-2 vote, they moved the Draw Site workforce housing project closer to final land use review. It’s a critical step, but the split vote tells you this isn’t settled.

Let’s look at the numbers. The town estimates roughly 275 Snowmass employees are currently on the housing waiting list. That’s a massive backlog. Council Member Tom Fridstein argued that solving this requires scale.

“We have to build hundreds of units of housing, and we’re not going to be able to do that with three stories,” Fridstein said.

He’s right about the math. If you stick to low-rise construction, you need acres of land. Snowmass doesn’t have acres; it has tight lots. To house 275 people, plus future demand, you need vertical density. But density brings friction.

Two council members, Britta Gustafson and Cecily DeAngelo, voted no. Their objection isn’t about the need for housing; it’s about the design. They argue the current proposal has lost its character.

DeAngelo specifically flagged the parking garage. She pointed out the irony of spending millions to reduce car traffic, then adding a multi-level garage that encourages driving.

“It doesn’t make sense to me,” she said.

Gustafson went further, questioning the livability of a five-story structure. She described the scale as antithetical to the community’s spirit.

“I struggle so much with the livability of a five story building,” she said. “It’s so out of character for who we are as a community.”

On the other side, proponents lean heavily on public sentiment. Mayor Alyssa Shenk noted the process has become muddled, but the goal remains improving the project. Council Member Susan Marolt cited recent surveys showing 85% support in May 2025, up from 60% in 2024.

Jim Kehoe of Keo Studio Works, who conducted the peer review, backed the council’s decision. He stated the process established a clear path forward with significant improvements.

The motion passed with conditions. Staff must re-study the parking levels and the entryway. Final review is expected in early 2027. At that stage, the council will need a supermajority — four votes in favor — to make the project official.

For now, the Draw Site project moves forward. But with two council members still opposed over design and scale, the fight is far from over. Locals should watch the re-study of parking and entryways. Those details will determine if this project actually fits the town it claims to serve.