GLENWOOD SPRINGS, Colorado — Garfield County commissioners on Monday approved changes that would streamline county regulations for temporary housing at area well pads.

The rules the commissioners approved would allow energy companies to establish state-inspected small temporary housing facilities for up to eight workers at area well pads without needing to obtain special use permits. The county calls that process “use-by-right.”

Companies putting up those small housing facilities would not have to receive a building permit from the county, either. However, companies would have to notify the sheriff’s office and area fire protection districts of occupancy of the small temporary housing units, and comply with about 20 performance standards mandated by the county. Those have to be signed off on by a licensed engineer.

The housing units would also have to have state-certified stickers saying they meet specific state standards, like electrical, plumbing and fire suppression codes. The small housing facilities would have to be put on a state-certified well pad, said Commissioner John Martin. An energy company establishing a small housing facility would also have to have a surface-use agreement with the landowner.

Commissioners Larry McCown and Martin voted in favor of the changes, while Commissioner Trési Houpt voted against it. They reached their decision after a long, sometimes heated debate.

“We need to get it done,” Martin said as commissioners debated the changes. “If it doesn’t work, we will have to revisit it.”

Houpt said she was opposed to many of the zoning changes for the small facilities.

“I really think we are taking this a few steps too far,” Houpt said. “I think the majority of the commission did not take into account the concerns of the landowners. Every other housing structure in this county is regulated through our building and planning department. These small temporary housing facilities will not be.”

However, Commissioner Larry McCown said there has been so much misrepresentation over the temporary housing issue, like the “accusation that this would be affordable housing.”

“It is about the critical people that need to be there,” McCown said. “They don’t go home.”

Camps housing nine to 24 workers would require authorization by the county planning department. Any larger housing would still require a hearing before the county commissioners, as the county has been requiring of camps of all sizes under its current rules.

Donna Gray, a spokeswoman for Williams Production RMT, said the company was relieved with the commissioners’ move on Monday.

“We are happy a decision was made,” said Gray, adding that the company and the industry support performance standards for the housing facilities.

But Liz Chandler, president of the Grand Valley Citizens Alliance, said she agreed with Houpt’s analysis of the vote on the small temporary housing facilities.

“I agree with [Houpt] that the county abdicated its responsibility to its citizens,” Chandler said.

Contact Phillip Yates: 384-9117
pyates@postindependent.com



Post Independent, Glenwood Springs, Colorado CO