San Miguel County Briefs

TELLURIDE – After Wednesday’s unanimous approval of a Cluster Development Plan review process by the San Miguel County Commissioners, Silver Mountain Industries has another option for how to develop 847 acres of land on Turkey Creek Mesa and in Gold King Basin near the Alta townsite.

To be clear, the commissioners did not approve any development plan for the high country area, but rather a process. SMI’s plan using that process proposes 28 residential lots ranging in size from six to 15 acres, with several larger lots, each of which contains a building envelope limiting the developable area. These lots are proposed as “cluster” lots less than 35 acres in size.

SMI’s 307 acres in Gold King Basin lie in the county’s High Country Area Master Plan, whose purpose is to protect and preserve the alpine, sub-alpine and scenic hillsides in the county’s high country areas. Instead of building by-right in a 1:35 development, SMI proposes to cluster the 28 residential lots solely on the 540 acres of its Turkey Creek Mesa parcel with none of the development resting within the High Country Master Plan area.

County Planning Director Mike Rozycki told the commissioners on Wednesday that this type of development matches some of the county’s goals in high country development.

“I have reviewed the application and the concept meets the statutory provisions for subdivision exemption and, in general, the concept is consistent with a number of goals in the High Country Master Plan with not developing in the Gold King Basin,” Rozycki said. “Based on those findings, I recommend approval to this process with the clear understanding that we are not granting any additional development rights, nor are we endorsing any plan.

“I think it is appropriate to consider this plan as an alternative to a 1:35 plan,” he added.

Commissioner Joan May agreed, saying, “I am in favor of a more clustered development and keeping the high country zone free of development.”

The decision to allow SMI to go forward in the Cluster Development Process was the first substantial progress made toward developing the area. SMI’s request for annexation of the parcel into the Town of Mountain Village came to a dead end last year.

“We weren’t exactly sure how to proceed,” SMI President Patrick Bienvenue said. “We have been at this a long time and we believe in good planning. We don’t like the default solution, which is a typical 35-acre ranchette solution.”

If SMI decides to develop the Alta area with a Cluster Development Plan, it must still earn approval from the county in a two-step process, starting with the planning department and ending with commissioners.

Most Homeowners Want to Allow Dogs in Aldasoro Ranch

Of 166 surveys sent to homeowners in April by the Aldasoro Ranch Board of Directors, 134 responded – overwhelmingly in support of allowing dogs. A total of 109 owners were in favor of the board pursuing changing the current policy that prohibits dogs. Only 25 owners supported leaving the policy as is.

“It is important for everyone to understand that this vote does not itself mean that lot owners, guests or anyone else may now have dogs in the Aldasoro Ranch,” stated a letter issued to owners from the board on May 28. “It signaled the interest of a large majority of lot owners to have the Association pursue obtaining the necessary approvals that could ultimately lead to the ability for dogs to be present in Aldasoro Ranch.”

The dog policy will be changed “with the completion” of steps, according to the letter, the first of which is for Aldasoro Ranch staff to develop a draft policy after consulting with wildlife biologists. Once the draft is created it will be placed on the association’s website for owner review and comment.

The next step will be to present the draft policy to the Colorado Division of Wildlife, which “will be involved in the decision as to whether or not dogs will be allowed,” read the letter.

Next, the commissioners would have to approve amendments to the Aldasoro Ranch Planned Unit Development and to the Land Use Code, which currently restrict the ability to have dogs in the area.

Finally, if all the above steps are completed, the Aldasoro Board of Directors will prepare and circulate an amendment to residents declaring the authorization of dogs, which will require a two-thirds affirmative vote.