Council to discuss changing trail easements outside town

Alternative single track to Tony’s Trail?

by Mark Reaman

The Crested Butte Town Council will hold a work session on Monday, September 21 to discuss a request by property owners on the east side of town asking that people heading out to Tony’s Trail no longer use the McCormick Ranch Road easement from the existing Elk Avenue connection.

Instead, Ryan and Wynn Martens, owners of the perimeter property adjacent to the east side of town, ask for trail users to be directed to a new trail that would originate near the Recreation Path bridge and end up at the McCormick Ranch Bridge. They also request people not use the boardwalk trail through the center of the property during warm weather.

The Martens sent town a letter with the request stating, “Currently, the Town’s trail easements on our property, the Verzuh Ranch Private Open Space, traverse delicate wetland and wildlife habitat that has tremendous potential to be restored and brought to the highest level of functionality. The volume of use on these public trails has tipped the balance away from the protection of this sensitive landscape. Our proposed trail route modifications could involve two new public trail easements that would reduce these conflicts between human use and protection of habitat and wildlife.”

The Martens are suggesting that recreational trail easements be placed along the perimeter of the dedicated open space instead of through the interior. The proposal would maintain existing regional trail connections and not impact winter Nordic trails. The Martens indicate they do plan to implement seasonal trail closures during nesting season, which are part of the original easements.

Council will not make any decision about the proposal at the Monday work session but is expected to discuss the issue and perhaps consider other alternatives. The work session is slated to start at 6 p.m. and the public is welcome to tune in.