The Crested Butte News Serving the Gunnison Valley since 1999
Traffic, views, trails all make the list
By Aimee Eaton
As a partner in the ownership of the parcel at Brush Creek, the town of Mt. Crested Butte has a stake, and a say, in its future development. Today, that development is taking the shape of a possible 240-unit housing project located on 14 acres at the corner of Brush Creek Road and Highway 135.
The project has sparked a range of responses and emotions throughout the community. Comments made by referral agencies such as the towns, the transportation and housing authorities and Crested Butte Mountain Resort have been incorporated into the public record and will be reviewed by the county Planning Commission as it moves through its consideration of the overall project.
In early October, after an extended executive session, the Mt. Crested Butte Town Council asked staff to draft and send a letter with its comments on the project to the county.
After drafting the letter, Mt. Crested Butte town manager Joe Fitzpatrick said first and foremost the council wanted both the Planning Commission and the community to know that it supports pursuing projects that address the “dire need for workforce housing as outlined in the needs assessment report from 2016.”
“The Town Council feels that increasing the availability of community integrated rental workforce housing is critical to maintaining the character and economic vitality of this amazing area that we all home,” began the letter, which was signed by Mt. Crested Butte community development director Carlos Velado.
The council’s letter to the county then identified nine items it hoped the planning commissioners would consider and examine as they worked through the LUR process.
They were: consider that a density less than 240 units may be more appropriate for the site; examine traffic impacts at the intersection of Brush Creek Road and Highway 135; examine traffic impacts on Brush Creek Road and at the entrance to the proposed project; consider holding some public hearings that are part of the LUR process at the upper end of the valley; evaluate the impact on the Crested Butte Community School; consider the comments and concerns of neighboring property owners and members of the public; consider the impact on the natural topography of the area; recognize how the project will connect with public trails and public transportation; and consider maintaining the views from the public rights of way and those of adjacent properties.
Beyond the listed items, Fitzpatrick said the council was supportive of selling the land to the developers behind the Brush Creek project prior to the proposal being reviewed by the county, and was encouraged by the process moving forward.
