How should West Vail’s commercial core be redeveloped?

The town of Vail is taking its first step toward reimagining the West Vail commercial core as a new hub for the community.

“Reimagining” the West Vail commercial area is the second phase of the West Vail Master Plan, which was adopted in 2021. Last year, the Town Council tackled the plan’s first phase, which included creating a new zone district to address nonconformities and encourage redevelopment with employee housing.

At its Tuesday, Feb. 20 meeting, the Town Council will begin discussions about just what this could look like.

The West Vail Master plan identifies that the commercial area “meets the everyday shopping needs” of the town and neighborhood, but presents numerous opportunities for redevelopment.

At the Town Council’s preliminary strategic planning session in December, Council member Barry Davis referred to the West Vail mall as a “blight at this point.”

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In looking ahead at the council’s priorities in the coming years, Davis added that they need to be “as aggressive as we can for the next two years in West Vail,” because there’s an opportunity to address many of the town’s top challenges from housing to transit.

The “reimagined ‘West Vail Center'” in the plan includes new and upgraded buildings, much-needed resident housing and a development that is “oriented to pedestrians, accommodating to bicyclists and accessible by both car and transit.”

With these goals at the forefront, the master plan identifies three models for redevelopment and enhancing the commercial area as the “West Vail Center.”

At Tuesday’s meeting, the Town Council will be asked to provide feedback on these three scenarios to help identify the town’s next steps. While each scenario offers a different approach and timeline, the plan identifies that any implementation will require changes to zoning regulations and town code.

Scenario one is identified in the plan as a “quick wins” strategy, with most improvements coming in five years.

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“Scenario 1 improves the existing site layout and efficiency of West Vail Center through substantial improvements to its circulation, access management and aesthetic qualities,” according to the plan, adding that this scenario could also be a “prelude” to the other two scenarios.

“This scenario does not fully achieve the vision, but does represent a step in the right direction,” the plan reads.

At a very high level, this scenario would include new housing units, new gathering spaces and outdoor dining opportunities, the creation of new business opportunities, flexible open space for events, the creation of a mobility hub and other transportation improvements. Additionally, Safeway and City Market would remain, as well as the hardware store, daycare and McDonald’s.

On the other hand, scenario two is a “phased approach,” where the property owners would drive redevelopment at different points in time.

“In Scenario 2, the Town takes a more active role in redeveloping West Vail Center, initiating the first phase by redeveloping the Town-owned Vail Commons/City Market property. This serves as a catalyst for the redevelopment of other parcels that are privately owned,” according to the plan.

“The catalyst project includes a large, shared parking structure, a new and enhanced grocery store anchor, and a variety of new housing options,” it adds, noting that in a future phase, a central plaza could be created.

This scenario also includes several transportation and circulation improvements, but commercial improvements would come parcel-by-parcel.

The third and final scenario combines the two with a “master-planned option,” where the redevelopment is planned together but built over time.

“Scenario 3 assumes a collaborative process between the Town, property owners, and developer(s),” reads the plan.

“The scenario includes a new, two-story grocery anchor that would be located closer to I-70. A housing development is included on the current town-owned City Market property that may be 100% deed-restricted, given the town’s ownership. The current Safeway and Vail das Schone properties become the ‘central core,’ anchored by a pedestrian-friendly ‘Main Street’ and a series of small plazas,” it adds.

This option also contemplates the greatest number of new housing units — 429, compared to 21 in scenario one and 350 in scenario two — in addition to similar opportunities for retail and transit.

The scenarios differ in time frame, complexity and details, but all seek to revitalize the commercial core of West Vail and uphold the master plan’s goals.

The discussion will take place at the Vail Town Council’s afternoon meeting on Tuesday, Feb. 20. This meeting is scheduled to begin at 2:35 p.m. The meeting takes place in person at the Town Council Chambers (75 South Frontage Road) and is streamed live via Zoom, Facebook and on High Five Media. For more information on the meeting and how to provide public comment, visit Vail.Gov/Town-Council.