Briefs Crested Butte

Commenting on county’s new rules
The Crested Butte Town Council is sending a few comments and questions to the Gunnison County planning offices regarding the Special Project Development Resolution (SPDR). The SPDR is a set of regulations intended to govern very large-scale projects such as a mine or ski area expansion. A fourth draft of the SPDR is currently going through a final review period before the county commissioners consider it for approval.

The town’s comments include adding language from an Army Corps of Engineers guidebook to the definition of “wetlands,” and debating the difference between “CO2 equivalents” and being “carbon neutral.” In some sections, the SPDR refers judgment to “county approved” three mile plans for each municipality—the town’s letter asks when the county might “approve” the town’s Three Mile Plan, which has been around for 16 years. After a bit of discussion about the SPDR and the county’s regulatory ability during a regular meeting on April 20, the council unanimously decided to send the comments drafted by town planner John Hess. Councilman Billy Rankin said the comments thoroughly covered the county’s planning document. “I looked at it and thought the comments were good. It seemed like you really got in there and considered the details,” he told Hess.

New building inspector
The town has hired John Fitzgerald to be the new building inspector. Fitzgerald will replace Scott LeFevre, who recently resigned. Fitzgerald will start work on May 18. “He’s actually Telluride’s ex-building inspector, so he pretty much knows the ropes already,” said building and zoning director Bob Gillie.
 
IGA on May 4 Agenda
Town manager Susan Parker said the town and the school district had pretty much reached the final version of the Inter Governmental Agreement (IGA) regarding a land transfer for the school expansion. Parker said the council would be asked to sign the IGA during their May 4 meeting. The earliest the school district board could consider the IGA is May 11, unless a special meeting is held. Mayor Alan Bernholtz said he hoped the council would be able to sign the document at its next meeting. “It looks like the IGA is moving at breakneck speed,” he quipped.

Transit letter
Both town councils (Crested Butte and Mt. Crested Butte) sent letters of support to reauthorize the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, and Efficient Transportation Act (SAFETA), a bill that governs federal spending for ground transportation projects like trains and buses. The bill was first passed in 2005 and expires on September 30, 2009. Congress is working on reauthorizing the bill for a 2011-2016 fiscal year cycle. Part of the funding for the new Mountain Express bus maintenance facility comes from SAFETA, and according to the towns’ letters, Mountain Express will be requesting an additional $1.96 million over the next six years to buy new buses and upgrade older vehicles.
Both towns sent letters to Senator Mark Udall, Senator Michael Bennet and Representative John Salazar.

Managing travel
Town planner John Hess told the council he was working on a set of comments and questions for the Forest Services’ Gunnison Travel Management Plan currently being reviewed. The plan will guide travel management decisions and determine which trails and roads will remain open for the next few decades. A public comment period for the Travel Management Plan ends on June 4. Hess said he would send out a letter with comments and questions via e-mail for the council to consider before its next meeting.