The Crested Butte News Serving the Gunnison Valley since 1999
Three-lot single-family planned unit development
By Kendra Walker
The Mt. Crested Butte Town Council approved a Planned Unit Development (PUD) Final Plan for the Hillside Parcel located at 40 Hunter Hill Road after holding a public hearing on August 4 and receiving a recommendation for approval from the Planning Commission.
The subdivision project began with an annexation in 2014 and has been working through the application process since 2016. The property is currently zoned as single-family residential, with four lots in the subdivision and one home completed. The application subdivides the three remaining lots and rezones to PUD for single-family uses.
Mt. Crested Butte resident Patricia Mullin, whose property is located directly below the parcel, called in to the public hearing. “I’m primarily concerned about the water runoff and the stability of this lot that’s directly above mine,” she said. She explained that the PUD would change the composition of the housing in the area, could significantly reduce her view shed and cause significant noise, danger and wear on the road during construction.
She requested that a topographical survey and a slope stability analysis be required, not just recommended, and that the owners be required to sign off that they have received copies of the site-specific geology and soil reports prior to title passing.
Mullin also requested that the town seek better estimates for land restoration, as she believes the estimated $10,000 (to restore landscape in the event of a failed project) is too low based on her personal experience in landscaping and weed mitigation on her property.
“One of the things that came out of the Planning Commission meeting and a change that was made was that we require a soils report for every new build,” said community development director Carlos Velado to the Town Council later in the meeting. “Given that slope there and comments from the public, we have now required a slope stability analysis to be included with that.”
Velado also explained that the water runoff from the property was inspected. “We did look at it but collectively did not see a surface drainage issue from the hillside onto Ms. Mullin’s lot.”
As for the $10,000 estimate in land restoration, “The $10,000 that’s required in the PUD guide is a requirement in the Prospect HOA,” Velado explained. “That does not include the cleanup and design review deposit… that is typically 2 percent of the building evaluation.”
Velado said the town is collecting on average $35,000 per home in design review compliance.
The council unanimously voted to move the PUD forward.
