County forges on with Four Mile Road
Post Independent Staff
The Red Feather Ridge annexation into Glenwood Springs is not a done deal, and Garfield County hasn’t given up on the city including a section of County Road 117, Four Mile Road, as part of the package.
“Before the city proceeds to finalization of the Red Feather Ridge annexation, we believe a discussion between the two elected boards may be beneficial,” said Garfield County Commission Chairman John Martin in a Jan. 23 letter to city officials.
His letter said the county believes the city might still consider annexing the lower stretch of Four Mile Road, from Red Feather Ridge down to the Midland Avenue and Airport Road intersection, if a solution can be found to the drainage problems along the road.
Red Feather Ridge is the 149-unit subdivision proposed southwest of Glenwood Springs.
On Jan. 8, City Council voted 4-3 to annex the property, but the city’s action is not yet final. Community development director Andrew McGregor said the annexation must be approved on second reading at City Council’s Feb. 20 meeting, and the annexation would not become effective until March.
A citizen group that opposes the annexation and related extension of the city’s urban growth boundary has formed to consider putting the issues to a vote. The group meets again at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday at the Colorado Mountain College Blake Avenue center.
The county is seeking resolution to the drainage issue. Overloaded ditches along the road have caused flooding at the intersection of Four Mile Road and Midland, said county attorney Don DeFord.
McGregor said the city didn’t include Four Mile Road in the annexation because of the past flooding, and possible litigation from affected property owners.
“We didn’t want to inherit any new liability,” McGregor said.
A plan outlined in Martin’s letter calls for a joint effort between Garfield County, Glenwood Springs and the developer to address drainage issues.
Guy Harrell, who represents Red Feather Ridge owner MidFirst Bank of Oklahoma, was not available for comment.
Martin said county staffers and the developer will meet this week to discuss Four Mile Road.
Contact Lynn Burton: 945-8515, ext. 534
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