SAN MIGUEL COUNTY – After reaching a dead end in its attempt to annex a 540-acre parcel of land near Alta Lakes into the Town of Mountain Village, Silver Mountain Industries has taken the preliminary steps to approve development on the land through San Miguel County. The proposed cluster development plan would establish 28 residential lots.

Patrick Bienvenue, president of SMI, has requested that the San Miguel County Commissioners authorize an application for the cluster development/rural land use process on the property. The process will be considered by the commissioners at their June 4 meeting. If the process is approved, it will allow SMI to submit an application for subsequent review by the commissioners.

“What is important to clarify is that when we meet on June 4, we will be applying for a process,” said Mark Oligschlaeger, vice president of SMI. “The plan we are proposing attempts to preserve open space and cluster those 28 developments right below Boomerang Road and outside the high country zoning.”

SMI-owned land spans across Turkey Creek Mesa as well as the Gold King Mining claims and includes the Alta town site. In its application for clustered development, SMI is asking that the residences be clustered only on Turkey Creek Mesa, leaving the Gold King Mining claims as open space. The development plan proposes the creation of up to five employee caretaker cottages at the Alta town site that may be constructed and operated by SMI with renovation/preservation of select historic structures in the area.

The placement of building envelopes on each of the clustered lots keeps development away from wetland and riparian areas to maintain wildlife corridors.

“We think it is good plan for everyone,” Oligschlaeger said. “It preserves open space and preserves the high country area. We think it is a very reasonable and fair proposal. It accomplishes the county’s goals.”

According to the proposal, the cluster development plan contemplates on-site utilities such as a central community water system and/or a series of cluster wells – all of which will be installed by SMI. Sewage will be handled by individual septic systems installed on each lot and would be managed by the homeowners association.

The lots will be served by private roads and utilities using existing logging roads and cuts. Close to 24.50 acres of the parcel will be devoted to internal subdivision roads and will be owned and maintained by the HOA.

One major hurdle SMI will have to clear will be accessing the parcel on the Alta Lakes Road. The developer has already been advised by the Colorado Department of Transportation that it has determined that the intersection of Alta Lakes Road and Highway 145 is unsafe and inadequate for existing and future development.

To ensure that prospective homeowners in the Alta development have year-round, safe access, SMI plans to relocate Alta Lakes Road 50 feet to the north near the intersection, while improving the intersection as well.

A private clubhouse facility for the use of owners is also proposed in the development plan.

“The county certainly doesn’t want to see development in the Gold King Basin and we a simply trying to create a process where we can bring the development down below the high country area,” Oligschlaeger said.

The county commissioners’ meeting on June 4 will begin at 9:30 a.m. at the Miramonte Building in Telluride.