Extensive public comment on Irwin sketch plan concluded

Trail, noise and traffic seem to be at crux of public concern

The second day of public comment over the proposed master plan presented by Scarp Ridge LLC (a.k.a. Irwin and/or Eleven) to expand their resort activities above Lake Irwin ended with the Gunnison County Planning Commission scheduling a work session to discuss the matter in November.

Project manager John Featherman said the company had already made some adjustments to the plan based on concerns expressed by the Colorado Parks and Wildlife agency. A high-elevation alpine hut originally proposed was eliminated and three mining claims owned by Scarp Ridge will be placed in a conservation easement. Featherman said some off-site mitigation is being discussed that might result in another claim being purchased and preserved for wildlife.
“The more concentrated the recreational activities and the smaller the footprint of the operation, the better it is for us,” said J Wenum of Colorado Parks and Wildlife. “When it comes to wildlife concerns, these adjustments lessen the impact. There is a significant amount of big game in the area at higher altitude during the summer. Keeping the bulk of the development and recreational activities at a lower elevation is better.”
Wenum said the big game leaves the area in the winter and while lynx may pass through the area, he doesn’t think they stay there. He also said the proposed relocation of the Scarp Ridge trail is better from an environmental aspect and he supported the idea.
Several people spoke in support of the Scarp Ridge master plan, based on economic benefits. Dozens of comments came from those who work for or have done contract work for Irwin. They spoke of the local jobs provided and the “forward vision” of the company. All commented on the high quality of work demanded by the company and appreciated the hiring of local businesses.
“They have helped some families to be able to stay in the valley,” said Rachael Gardner of Crested Butte Events. “Their low density-high revenue formula is a good one.”
“A lot of local people benefit from working with this company,” said painting and remodeling contractor Larry Smith. “They are environmentally conscious and are selling fun. They get people out here to touch the wilderness and have that experience. People should be able to touch it and that’s what this company does.”
Some opponents of the project said the company has a history of bending the rules and couldn’t be trusted to do what they say they would do.
“They have a long history of not abiding by the regulations,” said Irwin property owner David Gottorff. “These job prospects are short-term and if Eleven was a good neighbor you would see me and others supporting them. We don’t. In the end, under the Eleven plan, fewer people will be able to visit this place.”
“History shows they don’t develop in a responsible way,” said Irwin property owner Corey Bryndal. “We hear the words and the good intentions. We listen to the mouth but we need to watch the hand. Put in steps so that before moving from one thing to the next, they have to do what they say.”
But the County Planning Commission is meant to consider the land use resolution aspects of the proposed master plan, In that respect, specific issues kept popping up.
“There is a huge traffic impact,” said Crested Butte resident Deidre Witherell. “The traffic will impact not only Irwin but Crested Butte. If this gets built, it could bring in hundreds of additional people for a wedding or a conference, for example,” she said. “The infrastructure is not there to handle it. The area is not built for that. It could turn Kebler Pass Road into another Gothic Road, and no one would want that.”
Professional trail builder Justin Varaljay  said the proposed reroute of the Scarp’s Ridge trail would be a good move. “The new trail is designed with a user-specific mindset,” he said. “It is meant for hikers. The extra 300 feet of vertical and additional length will actually in some ways be easier to use than the old trail. I think it will be easier and broaden the user groups who use it.”
Longtime Irwin resident Jack Barker said no one doubted the benefit of the company hiring people or the high-quality work that is the end result. “But they aren’t practicing historical use of the area,” he said. “The owners of the old Irwin Lodge wanted the public. This feels like a private country club. They are using public land to get their clients there and to expand the operation. That changes things. I am glad the upper hut has been withdrawn but the other proposed hut is still an issue. And what will happen to the ruts in the current trail if the trail is rerouted? I’d suggest having a higher trailhead with a simple parking area and easy access.”
Property owner Hal Brill said he understood that the expansion will probably happen but wanted the trail to stay high so that people like his 83-year-old father could continue to take a relatively easy hike to a spectacular place. “He doesn’t have an extra 300 feet of vertical in him,” he said. “Look for a place for the trailhead with a similar elevation.
“As for the ‘cabins’ that are pretty big for cabins, they shouldn’t be spread out. Robinson Basin is a special place and spreading the cabins out will impact wildlife migration,” Brill said. “New structures should be clustered as close to the lodge as possible.
“The proposed zip lines are not compatible with the spirit of the area,” Brill continued. “They are a thrill seeking, amusement park-type of activity as opposed to a quieter recreational use. And there is a fire danger up there. There is one way in and out, and putting a bunch of people up there at once could be a safety concern.”
Teddy Evans said he was glad the upper alpine hut was removed from the plan. “Now, how about the other hut?” he asked. “Maybe they could use a temporary winter yurt instead.”
Property owner Gary Achenbach said he lives as close as anyone to the area of discussion. “I’m all for appropriate development,” he said. “And I want to speak for the literally thousands of people who aren’t here but use the Irwin campground. My interest aligns with theirs. The proposal calls for weddings and music and conferences up there. I have two big concerns. The first is safety, as people come out of there through the campground area. The second is the noise. Sound carries pretty far up there. My suggestion is to allow them to follow the rules of the campground. Respect your neighbor and be quiet from 10 p.m. until 6 a.m.”
“Given some of the past activities up there, these guys are doing it right,” said Ashton Wyckoff. “The plan is low density, especially given the amount of wilderness in the county. In the past there has been no shortage of debauchery and insanity.”
Speaking of which: ”I’ve lived up there 35 years and that may have made me insane but I want to echo the concerns of safety through the campground,” said longtime Irwin resident John Biro. “My concern extends to the construction traffic going through the campground area. Maybe speed bumps are needed as part of the project during the building phase. The campground is a village unto itself. I like what they’ve done so far up there but I think they should stop there. The snowcat operation is good. I don’t personally want to live in Disneyland.”
Featherman responded to some of the concerns raised by the public. He said the old lodge-style operation didn’t work from a business perspective and that was a big reason to build smaller cabins to house guests. “Using the lodge as an events center is a more sustainable business plan,” he said. “This is a much smaller operation than there has been in the past up there. The price point has changed, but the public is still welcome. The public can buy a seat on the snowcat just like they could 20 years ago. It’s always been an expensive recreational activity.
“The new trail is meant to invite the public up to the Scarp Ridge trail,” Featherman continued. “We aren’t denying access. They can hike through private property to the Forest Service access. And we aren’t denying access in the winter. As for the noise level, we are within the LUR regulations of 65 decibels. We will have to control the noise.”
Featherman said the property by the Irwin Lodge has been trespassed on for years by the public. There will be a gate at the road to prohibit vehicles.
Featherman admitted there were perhaps some shortcuts taken in the early days of the development. “We have seen some things done and have been fined early in the process,” he said. “Mistakes were made. But that was before my time. I was hired so mistakes would not be made.”
Scarp Ridge attorney David Leinsdorf agreed. “I can tell you, there were clearly mistakes made early on but John Featherman is a stickler for details.”
Leinsdorf said there were myriad requirements that major proposals have to get through. “There are a lot of goals that have to be reconciled,” he noted of the LUR process. “This sketch plan phase is the conceptual part. We will have to satisfy more issues at the preliminary plan phase. If we can’t satisfy the concerns, it will get axed. We’re trying to implement a well-thought-out plan that is a much lower density than we are allowed as a matter of right under the LUR.”
The county commissioners were in attendance and said the plan needed some work when it came to things like noise, traffic and trails.
“I appreciate the willingness for new considerations by the proponent,” said Commissioner Jonathan Houck. “I think we want to get to a ‘yes’ situation. That takes a good back-and-forth and I appreciate this process. There have been a lot of good points. We do have rules and regulations that the proponents have to work with to the benefit of the applicant and the community.”
Kent Fulton, the Planning Commission chairman, emphasized that the board decision-making is based upon the LUR. He wants some input from the town of Crested Butte and the Forest Service on specific matters but made it clear the public hearing process is over for this phase. A work session between the commission and the applicant will be held November 1.