CB council to consider letter over proposed Slate River development

Three Mile Plan wouldn’t address the issue

[ By Mark Reaman ]

The Crested Butte town council will consider writing a letter of opposition to a proposed house being built in the county up the Slate River drainage. The house would be located a mile from the Gothic Road turnoff and be 10,000 square feet in size. A 2,500 accessory building is also part of the proposal. It would be surrounded by wetlands and sits on an 80-acre parcel where a home is already located. That 80 acres is expected to be subdivided into two 40-acre parcels. A formal application has not yet been received by the county.

Council heard two comments opposing the construction at the May 3 meeting and they asked the council to support a request for the Gunnison County Commissioners to impose a building moratorium in the area.

Wildbird subdivision resident Tim Szurgot has been a vocal opponent of the proposal and he said there are many concerns with the idea. “Given the special nature of the drainage I would request the county commissioners impose a building moratorium out there and up the entire drainage,” he told the council. “There are five or six other parcels available to build on in that area. We are looking for a letter of support from the town for a moratorium.”

Former councilmember Jim Starr seconded that opinion. “This is a unique and special area for the Town of Crested Butte and Gunnison County,” he said. “The town has spent millions of taxpayer dollars in conjunction with the Land Trust to keep the area as pristine as possible. I urge the council to urge the county commissioners to impose a building moratorium. Please put this on a future agenda.”

Council discussed the idea about five hours later and seemed to support the idea. Mayor Jim Schmidt and councilwoman Mallika Magner both asked if council would support a letter being written on the topic. When town manager Dara MacDonald asked what they wanted to say in the letter, neither could definitively answer.

MacDonald also advised the council to consider how to broach the subject given a sometimes strained relationship between the county and town. “Maybe reach out and talk to the commissioners before sending a letter of opposition,” she suggested.

Community development director Troy Russ informed the council that under the town’s Three Mile Plan, there is no basis for opposing the proposal since structures are permitted to be built up to 10,000 square feet in the county without public input. “We can look at the big picture idea and objections as part of the Community Compass,” he said. The Community Compass is a thorough community planning process that will be undertaken later this year.

Council will further discuss the topic at the May 17 meeting.