Briefs Crested Butte

Big house being planned north of town
Town Planner John Hess told the council that a house of nearly 4,000-square-feet is being proposed for a piece of land just north of the town limits. The structure would be located kitty-corner from the Gas Café and would include an additional 1,000-square-foot accessory dwelling. Hess said the owner hopes to start construction this June on the 29-foot-high house. “He didn’t have to come and show us the plans,” Hess said. “It was a courtesy.”

Foothills starts payment plan
The council agreed to pursue a 24-month repayment schedule with the former proponents of the Foothills of Crested Butte annexation. The developers sent the first payment of $4,100 to the town May 5. The developers owe the town about $99,000 in a reimbursement agreement signed as part of annexation negotiations with Fairways GH Paradise LLC. The town also holds a lien on the property.

Arts Festival gets go-ahead
The council approved a special events permit and special events liquor license for the Crested Butte Arts Festival. The event will be held July 31 and August 1 this year. “I think the culinary arts demonstration tasting sounds great,” commented Councilperson Phoebe Wilson. “It’s a great addition.”

Judge Eden review coming up
The council extended the term of Municipal Judge Ben Eden another 45 days from May 5 in order to meet with the judge and discuss his performance. He is currently ending a two-year term but some councilpersons wanted to have a discussion with the magistrate.

Kochevar details still being ironed out…
The council is continuing discussions over details of the upcoming Kochevar open space purchase. The town and the representatives of the Crested Butte Land Trust have hammered out a proposed Conservation Easement that will now be sent to partners in the deal, the Trust for Public Lands and the Great Outdoors Colorado (GOCO) fund.
A final appraisal on the property is supposed to be finished by May 15. The town is working on a management plan including livestock grazing, preservation of open space, views, public access and wildlife habitat. The council is leaving open the future possibility of hunting on the land but is leaning away from allowing camping on the property.
They still need to discuss whether or not to allow the Nordic Center to charge for cross-country skiing out there if the Nordic Center sets a groomed track. Former mayor Alan Bernholtz recommended that since public funds were used to purchase the property and public funds subsidize the Nordic Center, the skiing should be free. Nordic Center executive director Keith Bauer disagreed with that sentiment; it will be discussed by the council at a future meeting. Bauer also asked if some trees might be allowed to be cut, if necessary, to provide for connecting trails on the land.
The land is scheduled to be closed on June 30.

Town to use Academy site for summer parking
The council will lease the site of the old Crested Butte Academy for parking and snow storage.

Town supporting ORE
The council agreed to write a letter in support of the Office for Resource Efficiency’s Main Street Efficiency Initiative Program. ORE is attempting to go after grant funding for the project, which is geared to providing small businesses with the support needed to achieve greater levels of energy efficiency.

Council approves various ordinances
The council also approved an ordinance requiring contractors who are demolishing structures in town to submit a plan on how they plan to recycle material from the demolition. The goal is to have 50 percent of the structure recycled.
The council also agreed to make some conditional uses in the Commercial Zone permanent, a nod to the changing character of the C-Zone to a more retail and personal service atmosphere. They agreed to tighten up the ordinance regulating the Real Estate Transfer Tax. New forms will be required as part of the RETT. “With this new form, the RETT will be difficult to get around,” said Town Attorney John Belkin. “This probably should have been done a while ago.”
The council also approved negotiated changes with the Crested Butte Land Trust to the conservation easement on the Niccoli open space property located near Crested Butte South.