The Crested Butte News Serving the Gunnison Valley since 1999
Riverland and Signal Peak may get new borders and guidelines of
operation
The Gunnison County Planning Commission voted unanimously last month to approve revisions to the regulations governing land use at Riverland and Signal Peak industrial parks.
The purpose of the regulations is to manage and guide development within those areas. Revisions were made to encourage businesses to locate there, to facilitate a process of approval for those prospective businesses and to ensure compliance with the county’s land use regulations.
“Not that it satisfies everyone’s needs,” said Planning Commission chairman Kent Fulton. “It doesn’t. I feel it and I know it. But this is a document we were asked to review and we’ve done our best with it.”
Previous discussion for Riverland centered on the once-approved but never occupied Whetstone Business Park, a 13-acre parcel adjoining Riverland at its north end. “Most people wanted it out,” said Neil Starkebaum, assistant community development director.
At Signal Peak, a gravel operation known as the Bratton Pit was originally identified as part of that special area, but was ultimately removed.
Goals and provisions include evaluation by the Planning Commission of cumulative impacts on land as a part of its regular project review process. They promise to encourage industrial development near existing or compatible uses within the parks, aim to protect and enhance the local economy and promote economic diversity. The regulations also mandate compliance with the county’s Land Use Resolution.
“You asked us to make changes to the map,” said county GIS manager Mike Pelletier. One such change in Gunnison includes removal of what’s known as the BLM Triangle, located at the southeastern tip of the Signal Peak area, adjacent to Highway 50. Another adjusts the border along the southwest curve at Riverland near Crested Butte. “We moved it [inward] to the ridgeline to provide geologic protection of the river,” Pelletier said.
Looking to the not-too-distant future and an anticipated need for additional industrial development, Planning Commissioner Warren Wilcox suggested, “We still need to work on another area that’s less visible. That’s not in these recommendations, but we need to plan for it.”
“There are lots of areas of the county that would lend themselves to light industrial,” added Planning Commissioner Tom Venard.
Wilcox said the county should scope out properties as prospective industrial sites in anticipation of need, both 35-acre parcels and smaller. “We need a general plan,” he said. “We also need to connect with landowners to learn what their plans are.”
“I’ve heard people who say they want to build a wild game processing plant,” said Venard as an example of a needed business in need of proper location. “Those [kinds of] cottage industries can be on a small parcel.” He agreed with Wilcox, suggesting there are many places throughout the county suitable for small, low-impact enterprise.
“The planning process is evolving,” said Planning Commissioner Susan Eskew. “What we’ve done historically is reactionary, not planning.”
There were no additional comments from members of the public at the sparsely attended meeting.
The proposed regulations for Signal Peak and Riverland now move to the Board of County Commissioners for final review and approval.
