Planner requests more time and help to review Sunlight development plan

By John Gardner
Post Independent Staff
Glenwood Springs, CO Colorado
April 10, 2008

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SUNLIGHT MOUNTAIN RESORT, Colorado — Developers for Sunlight Mountain Resort could be waiting until May 3, before Garfield County Planning and Zoning makes a decision on the status of the submitted application for the planned unit development (PUD) for the resort.

At Monday’s county commissioners meeting, Garfield County Building and Planning director Fred Jarman requested the 30-day extension and additional help reviewing the Sunlight PUD, due to the complexity of the application.

“There is a lot to review,” Jarman said. “I’m looking for an outside consultant to help with the review process because the Four Mile basin is a complicated area to deal with when it comes to water rights. We want the flexibility to hire an expert to look at those specifics.”

Developers submitted the new PUD on March 4, with some revisions to the original PUD submitted in September of 2007 after county staff sent a letter outlining 21 points of clarification rendering the submission “technically incomplete” in October.

The new PUD incorporated two developments into one and added a 30-acre parcel to the project, which wasn’t included in the original plan. The acquisition of the new property also added about 30 units to the development, bringing the total to 830.

Jarman said the review process presents several challenges including road capacity of the Four Mile Road leading to the resort, water issues, and some development issues he referred to as “internal circulation” issues regarding a cul-de-sac with only one exit point that could pose a fire hazard to residents.

“Density is as density does,” Jarman said. “But the impacts that come from the density is the real issue. We just have to take our time and do a good review of the application.”

So far Jarman is still trying to find a local consultant to aid in the review that doesn’t have a conflict of interest with the development.

“I wanted the ability to provide the board with the expertise that we may not have in house,” Jarman said.

Jarman has until May 3 to provide a letter to the developers saying the application is “technically complete” or “technically incomplete.” The first would require developers to submit further clarification to the plan and the latter would allow P&Z to set a date for approval hearings.

Contact John Gardner: 384-9114
jgardner@postindependent.com