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Council OKs two‑year rooftop tent permit for Molly Hotel, urges permanent design solution
Summary
After debate over visual impacts and permanence, Aspen city council approved Resolution 92 to allow a rooftop tent at the Molly Hotel for 39 days in 2027 and 39 days in 2028 (expires end of 2028), with conditions and a request that the hotel pursue a more permanent, architecturally compatible structure.
The Aspen City Council on July 14 approved Resolution 92 to permit a temporary 598‑square‑foot tent on the third‑story rooftop deck of the Molly Hotel (111 South Garmisch Street) for 39 days in each of calendar years 2027 and 2028; the permit will expire at the end of 2028.
Austin Lockett, general manager for Molly Aspen, said the hotel had previously received approvals and used the rooftop tent 10 times in 2025 as part of limited, permitted events. "The tent goes up for each event and then it comes down within 24 hours," Lockett said, describing the tent as temporary, event‑only and not a permanent structure.
Staff (Planner Brianna Doblin) recommended denial based on design and visual‑massing concerns in the Main Street Historic District and potential impacts on nearby residential properties. Doblin noted the proposed tent increased in area from earlier approvals and that the materials and location did not fully meet commercial design and historic‑district criteria.
Council members debated a shorter trial period versus a multi‑year approval and urged the applicant to develop a longer‑term, architecturally compatible solution such as a trellis or more permanent structure that better integrates with the Main Street streetscape. Mayor Richards and several council members said they want a permanent fix and recommended the hotel pursue a related ground‑level trellis proposal as part of that solution.
Councilor Sam moved to approve Resolution 92 with an amendment limiting new days for 2026 (none added) and allowing 39 days in each of 2027 and 2028; that motion passed on a roll call vote. The resolution passed with conditions consistent with past approvals; the council asked staff and applicant to return with a more permanent design option.
Outcome: Resolution 92 approved (limited through end of 2028). Staff recommended denial but council balanced business certainty and neighborhood concerns by approving a time‑limited extension with conditions.
