The Crested Butte News Serving the Gunnison Valley since 1999
New affordable housing option
Council will hold a work session on June 17 at 5 p.m. to learn about deed restriction purchase programs. George Ruther, housing director for the Town of Vail, and Willa Williford, principal of Williford, LLC, will both present. According to town manager Dara MacDonald, the council will possibly consider implementing a similar program to create deed restrictions on existing housing units—one possible use for the remaining funds from an Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) lawsuit settlement.
Cell tower concerns
Former councilman John Wirsing strongly urged the council to get ahead of the cell tower issue that has been raised over a contract with the Gunnison School District. He encouraged the council to pass an ordinance prohibiting cell towers in town or even within a half mile of the town. He said the new, more powerful towers are major hazards that can cause a lot of damage to nearby residents. Town attorney Barbara Green said federal law prohibits an outright ban of such towers “but the council can look at updating its regulations dealing with such towers.”
Water treatment plant upgrade
Work will begin this summer on an upgrade for the Crested Butte water treatment plant, anticipated to be completed before the end of the year. The town was approved for a $2 million loan from the state and will take possession of the loan in 2020 due to some Colorado TABOR (Taxpayer Bill of Rights) issues. The town will tap its reserves to pay the bills in the meantime and use the low-interest loan to replenish its reserves in 2020. Council entered into contract with Moltz Construction for the construction work. A $405,000 Colorado Department of Local Affairs grant is being used for the work as well.
Stuff:
—Council is looking at several ordinances dealing with streamlining subdivision regulations and deed restrictions on local property.
—Town will be working with the Colorado State Forest Service to address pine beetle and mistletoe issues in trees located in Avalanche Park south of town.
