The Crested Butte News Serving the Gunnison Valley since 1999
Some homeowners oppose decision
by Olivia Lueckemeyer
A recent amendment to the Glacier Lily Estate’s Declaration of Protective Covenants will restrict the operation of commercial and business enterprises, including short-term vacation rentals, effective January 2018. The Glacier Lily subdivision is located near the turnoff for Washington Gulch Road.
At a Gunnison Board of County Commissioners meeting on January 19, commissioners moved to approve a resolution, signed by 15 of the 21 Glacier Lily lot owners, which would prevent homeowners from renting their residences for a period of less than 30 days or to a party exceeding six people. This would effectively end the operation of short-term rentals through popular sites such as VRBO.com or AirBnB.com.
Owner of 20 Glacier Lily Way Marc Solari was particularly vocal about his disapproval of the homeowners association (HOA) proposed amendment. Solari, who rents out his property as a short-term vacation rental through VRBO.com, said the decision was made without his knowledge or approval.
“This is going to put me out of business. People who voted for this amendment only live here two to three weeks out of the year and don’t depend on the local economy to survive,” Solari noted to the board at the January 19 meeting. “They are making decisions for someone who has lived in Crested Butte for 23 years. I feel I am being railroaded without any opportunity to speak with my HOA.”
Solari requested that the resolution be sent back to the HOA for further discussion; however, county commissioner board chair Paula Swenson opposed this, saying the lot owners had met the 67 percent of approval necessary to request a covenant change.
“For us to send it back to them, I don’t personally see how we have any recourse to do that,” Swenson said.
Swenson was quick to remind Solari that, since the amendment would not go into effect until January 2018, he still had two years to try to rectify the situation with his HOA.
“You have the opportunity to go back to the members of your HOA and ask them to grandfather you in and make another amendment to this,” Swenson explained. “You have plenty of time to do that.”
The resolution, which commissioner Phil Chamberland described as “cut and dry,” was approved unanimously by the board.
