The Crested Butte News Serving the Gunnison Valley since 1999
Commissioners advocate for future incorporation
by Olivia Lueckemeyer
In an effort to move forward with development of the commercial area of Crested Butte South, representatives from the subdivision’s property owners association (POA) appeared at a Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) meeting on April 26 to request assistance with firming up ambiguous development regulations and pursuing a planning grant from the state Department of Local Affairs.
Dom Eymere, manager of the Crested Butte South POA, and POA board member Mark Trautman explained to the commissioners that a recent strategic planning process resulted in the understanding that, in order to attract good development and business, a reworking of outdated “special area” regulations was necessary.
“Guidelines for specific uses of this area are kind of grey right now,” Trautman explained. “There are a couple of prohibited uses, and a couple of permitted uses, but there is a wide gap between the two. We are looking for help to specifically identify what types of businesses and mixed-use properties can go in there because there is a lot of interest in developing the area.”
Trautman explained that the POA is looking for support from the county in several areas where its interests overlap, such as creating cell service, expanding RTA transportation, forming a commercial area master plan and perhaps even decreasing the speed limit at the intersection of the Crested Butte South entrance and Highway 135.
Commissioner Paula Swenson said that while she is not against helping, she wondered if the association has any intention of incorporating with the county as a municipality in the future.
“I’m not against providing assistance, but the commissioners basically have a policy of discouraging business development outside of the municipalities because we don’t want to see sprawl business going on,” Swenson explained.
Trautman said that while there have been discussions about incorporation, the general consensus from the community is that its members are against the idea.
“Part of the challenge as a board is that we have this special area district, which is basically a commercial area, and we are tasked with managing that because it is part of Crested Butte South,” Trautman explained. “We aren’t trying to become a town, but we have this area under our purview that we have to address. So I guess my question is, what is the suggestion on how to manage this, because I think the county would want to be directly involved in what goes on in that space.”
County manager Matthew Birnie clarified that the board’s intention in approving the special geographic area was to acknowledge Crested Butte South’s unique situation and to allow the POA self-determination over what happens there. However, the county does not wish to manage any “municipal-like” developments.
“I think this is something that is reasonable for us to assist with, to help you realize your vision and update that special geographic area, but we aren’t going to manage your development on a granular level,” Birnie explained.
Still, Swenson maintained that the BOCC does not typically assist subdivisions with such matters. She suggested that, as the POA pursues commercial development, it work with the metropolitan district, the area’s governing body, in identifying a pathway to eventually become a municipality.
“I completely agree that this is something we can help with,” Swenson explained. “But when I see you have a town center planning, you are moving toward a municipality… I would like to see, with nearly a million square feet of commercial development happening in Crested Butte South, you guys really start working with the metro district to become what you probably need to become, which is some sort of municipality in the future.”
Commissioner Jonathan Houck acknowledged the board’s role in helping the POA clarify land use regulations in order for it to move forward with commercial development, which he described as “pivotal” for the future of Crested Butte South.
“I see commercial development as the base layer of becoming self-sufficient,” Houck said. “We can help you clarify those uses to make development more understandable and how to move that forward, because ultimately you need that sales tax revenue base.”
Since formal decisions could not be made during a work session, Swenson recommended that the county planning staff and Eymere pull together information on scope of work and project duration for the commissioners to consider at an upcoming meeting. Trautman acknowledged the board’s concerns, stating, “My only objective was to show you where our priorities are and ask that you don’t forget us.”
