The Crested Butte News Serving the Gunnison Valley since 1999
Old Thorton cabin to become Nordic hut
Step by step, the Gunnison Valley Housing Foundation is laying the groundwork to exchange a 960-acre inholding in the Fossil Ridge Recreation Area with the Forest Service.
Butch and Judy Clark, original owners of the inholding, initiated the land exchange about two and a half years ago in order to secure land or funds for affordable housing. In the latest development, the foundation asked the county for its blessing to pursue a subdivision exemption that would split off a 15-acre parcel from the inholding.
“The Forest Service preferred not to have the old historic Thorton cabin. It’s an historic cabin, not so-designated although we’re working toward that… the Forest Service preferred to have it moved off the site or taken down,” said Jim Starr, former commissioner and board chair of the foundation.
Gunnison Nordic, however, did see a use for the cabin as an overnight facility for Nordic skiers. They offered to manage reservations and maintenance of the cabin if it were made available for that purpose. Under the proposed agreement, the Trust for Public Land, which is holding the entire 960-acre inholding until the exchange is complete, would retain the 15-acre parcel. Gunnison Nordic would manage the land, and the cabin would also be made available to Western State College for use during its summer courses.
According to Starr, no further subdivisions would be allowed within the 15-acre parcel. He said, “In meeting with the county attorney… we all came away with the idea that instead of going through the expense and time it would take for a conservation easement, it may make as much sense to put covenants on the deed that would in essence restrict its ability to subdivide in the future… but wouldn’t have the expense of going through creating a conservation easement and identifying a group to hold and enforce it.”
Commissioner Hap Channell was away on family business, but commissioners Phil Chamberland and Paula Swenson spoke in favor of the subdivision exemption.
“From my perspective, to get the exemption I don’t think you’d need to have a conservation easement or deed restriction or anything of that nature, so you might consider whether you’re tying your hands in terms of future capabilities,” said Chamberland.
“I’ve given a lot of thought to that, and the intent is to tie it,” said Butch Clark.
“I always thought this was a great project and it certainly lands under what we use the subdivision exemption for,” said Swenson. “We’re talking about public lands. The only neighbor is the Forest Service and everyone is in favor, so I would say go forth.”
The foundation will work with the county attorney to develop a formal resolution. In the meantime, Starr said, the full land exchange will take some time to complete. The foundation expects it will be moved forward in two possible ways: with funds from the federal Land and Water Conservation Fund, which could be available in 2013; and piece by piece as various local land parcels become available to facilitate the exchange.
