CB South passes plan for commercial area

“Building form can last 100 years”

By Katherine Nettles

The CB South Property Owners Association (POA) board of directors adopted a Commercial Area Master Plan (CAMP) as an amendment to its special area regulations last week during its regular meeting on November 13. It met with a few concerns from local residents, but ultimately the board felt that peoples’ issues were addressed.

The plan includes changes to the residential versus commercial uses required in the village center where Elcho Avenue, Gillaspey Avenue and Haverly Street connect, and the plan proposes a ‘main street’ easement there. This proposal includes a vision for pocket parks and plazas, an updated and simplified LUR review and approval process, updated standards for all developments to promote a compact mixed-use development pattern, public right of way easements and a parking, snow storage and snow removal plan.

According to POA director Dom Eymere, about 15 residents attended the meeting to comment on the plan. Their concerns  included the potential for increased traffic, how on-street parking would work and that commercial zoning can now become residential, albeit maintaining the potential for future redevelopment.

“We needed a baseline to start,” said Eymere of hearing people’s comments. “People have this conception that we’re taking away commercial opportunities. It’s been more strategic and scalable than that, so we can focus commercial in some specific areas. We are focusing on building form over building use, where building uses can change again and again…but building form can last 100 years.”

Eymere said being less prescriptive now means welcoming the current residential interests and hopefully inviting more offices and small craft businesses as well that can serve the off-highway area “with services for our community.” If quality development is to occur, he said, “we want to encourage good businesses that people want here.” 

The plan now moves to the county commissioners for final approval. The final draft can be found at https://crestedbuttesouth.net/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/CAMP-Final-Draft-102019.pdf