The Crested Butte News Serving the Gunnison Valley since 1999
Approaching sketch plan phase next month
[ By Katherine Nettles ]
A plan for creating a large workforce housing development on the Gunnison County-owned Whetstone parcel continues its progression, with a draft sketch plan released last month, a feedback survey on it available through mid-March and a goal to enter sketch plan phase the first week of April. The county is also exploring three main options for water and sewer lines to the project site that would create 180 to 200 units ranging from one bedroom apartments to three-bedroom homes. County staff has identified a preferred option of hooking up to the town of Crested Butte’s utility lines, and Gunnison County commissioners agreed this week to have an engineering firm assess the town’s utility capacity and to pay for the costs of the analysis if the town also approves of the agreement.
Commissioners signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) on Tuesday, March 1 to enter into the assessment, and the town will consider the proposal during its March 7 meeting. If approved by both parties, the county would enter into a contract with the engineering firm for the analysis. The Whetstone project site is located approximately two miles south of the town limits.
Meanwhile, county staff took the opportunity during the county commissioners meeting Tuesday to give an update on the project and expected timeline.
The early stages
Gunnison County assistant county manager for community and economic development Cathie Pagano says the overall conceptual site plan for the Whetstone development stemmed from the community input that began last summer after the county announced its intent to build on the property it had purchased the year prior. That input has included site walks, a community design workshop/charrette last summer and engaging a selection of students from the Crested Butte Community School (second grade) and Gunnison High School (freshmen). The county released its draft sketch plan for the site in January 2022, using the most current iteration in a series of sketches that Pagano said has remained fairly consistent in layout.
“These iterations have tested balance of unit numbers, open space, parking, snow removal and other conditions, and access to the site,” wrote Pagano in an email to the Crested Butte News this week.
The draft sketch plan is available in a video presentation at the county website, and a survey is collecting community feedback for another week or so.
Pagano said that as of February 28, there had been 20 survey responses so far, with a range of feedback. Responses have encouraged the county to make some of the units available for purchase for locally employed professionals “that can’t afford to buy anything in the valley, but want to put down roots here, raise a family, and be homeowners;” to follow energy efficiency and carbon sequestration practices; to include public transit and to find creative and innovative transportation solutions such as car share and e-bike programs.
Following the current survey the county aims to release a formal sketch plan the first week of April. The sketch plan would trigger a planning commission review process and would include a public hearing.
“The sketch plan process will provide a vision for the site and directions on what the site could accommodate, as well as additional opportunities for community feedback. The final details on unit counts, unit types and mix and building configuration will be confirmed after sketch plan, as we bring developers on board and continue with land use approvals,” said Pagano.
The county also plans to initiate the formal land use change permit process for the parcel in the next several weeks. The major impact process would also include public hearings and Pagano said there would be time allowed “for us to react to comment with changes and modifications if necessary.”
North Valley involvement
While the previous attempt to create a large-scale affordable housing development in the Brush Creek area, on a parcel co-owned by the towns of Crested Butte, Mt. Crested Butte, Crested Butte Mountain Resort and Gunnison County, was unsuccessful the county is still inviting input from those other entities for its Whetstone project.
“There has been extensive outreach to North Valley stakeholders,” said Pagano. ”Town of Crested Butte staff participated in the design charrette last summer, and have continued to have conversations with our team. We have conducted outreach to the Crested Butte Fire Protection District, RE1J School District, Vail Resorts and Mt. Crested Butte,” she said, which covers the major employers of the North Valley.
Town of Crested Butte staff has been meeting with the Whetstone team regularly, and Pagano said there have been “many, many meetings about water and sanitation.”
Gunnison County sustainability coordinator John Cattles reviewed the other two options for utilities in the event that the town of Crested Butte is unable or unwilling to run utility systems to the project site. One option is to connect to existing Skyland water and East River sanitary sewer systems. The other option would be to use an existing well for the water system and build a wastewater treatment plant onsite at Whetstone. Both alternatives would entail higher operating costs, but “Every one of these options has nuances that are challenging,” said Cattles.
Pagano noted that Crested Butte has expressed its interest in tackling the affordable housing crisis in partnership with the county where possible in a sign of solidarity.
“We will continue to work with North Valley stakeholders throughout the process. We encourage everyone to look at our website and join our newsletter to share your opinions and stay informed about engagement opportunities.”
Timeline
Pagano reviewed for commissioners that sketch plan phases for major impact projects tend to take between four and nine months on average. If recommended by the planning commission and approved by county commissioners the project would then move to the second, or preliminary plan phase. The third and final phase would be the final plan. The goal is to complete the sketch plan permit process over the upcoming summer and fall if possible, according to Pagano.
“But it may take longer and we will let the process work as it is designed. If and when the sketch plan is approved through the county review process we will solicit proposals from developers and will partner with a developer before beginning the next steps toward formal approval,” she said.
Pagano noted that formal approval would include more public meetings and opportunity for feedback as plans are refined and engineering details are developed.
The draft sketch plan can be viewed at video https://bit.ly/WhetstoneVideo and the survey can be found at https://bit.ly/WhetstoneForm. The project update website is https://whetstonehousing.weebly.com/
