Glenwood Springs city council approves a four-unit complex despite residents’ protests

By Pete Fowler
Post Independent Staff
Glenwood Springs, CO Colorado
February 22, 2008

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GLENWOOD SPRINGS Colorado— After about eight neighboring property owners slammed the proposal, the City Council approved a permit for a four-unit residential development at 702 23rd Street.

Most councilors were unimpressed with the proposal but said they said their hands
were tied by the zoning and municipal codes, and they feared potentially expensive
legal challenges if they denied the proposal.

Neighbors said the planned development is ugly and doesn’t fit in with the
surrounding neighborhood. They raised concerns about its size, safety issues, snow
removal and fire access, and asked the City Council to deny it.

The four multi-family units, varying in size from 2,144 square feet to 2,790 square
feet, would go on a 13,000-square-foot lot.

Looking at a drawing of the units projected on a screen at City Hall, Lisa Wilson, a
property owner near the project, said, “You tell me that that doesn’t look like a La
Quinta Inn. It looks exactly like a La Quinta Inn. In fact, that guy’s checking in right
there. It’s awful.”

Brad Jordan, with Jordan Architecture, said the plans were reduced from six to four
units. The number of bedrooms, overall square footage and height were also
reduced from original designs, he said.

“We’ve also incorporated some different architecture, clipped some roofs, taken out
some gables,” he said. “It’s quite a bit different from a sixplex to duplex buildings.”

Asked about what the units will sell for, he said, “I’m not in the real estate business,
so I can’t really gauge that.”

Kris Chadwick cast the only vote against approving the major development permit
and condominiumization. Mayor Bruce Christensen, who lives in the neighborhood,
abstained from voting.

“I respect the owner and the architect,” said Councilor Kris Chadwick. “I cannot
support this project. It’s a real commentary on our society when we pass this kind of
project and it kills the heart and soul of our community.”

Christensen’s abstension apparently followed issues raised about his wife
commenting at Planning and Zoning Commission meetings.

Christensen said, “When I ran for public office, I did not know that it means our
spouses would be denied the freedoms of speech and assembly.”

Rusty Ford, another property owner, said, “This is too large for the building lot. It’s not
compatible with the rest of the neighborhood. … It sounds like a man camp to me, not
a condominium.”

“It’s too big. It’s ridiculous,” said Scott Keigan, a property owner who said he’d move
away from the project if he can afford to.

“The code does state that it shouldn’t have an influence on our neighborhood,” said
Larry Billinger, an employee for the city’s streets department and nearby property
owner. “And this one does.”

Ken Wilson said, “We just want it to be reasonable. We want it to look good.”

Most councilors sympathized with the property owners but said they felt they had to
approve the development.

Contact Pete Fowler: 384-9121pfowler@postindependent.com