In the early 2000s, phase one of the Pioneer Mesa Subdivision in Rifle was approved and the land, a flat mesa with nice views of the mountains, was set aside for home-building use. 

Only recently, in May of 2021, phase two of the subdivision applied for. It was always supposed to be residential, says Patrick Waller, planning director and interim city manager of Rifle. 

“The second part is putting in streets, water and sewer so people can pull building permits when it’s ready,” he said. 

There are seventeen lots, he said, mostly larger lots, but they vary in size. 

“They go from three-fourths of an acre to 1.3 acres, which is pretty large for city lots. Some are closer to 3,000 square feet or 7,500 square feet,” Waller said. 

The people who applied for the development are the Pioneer Mesa Development Company from Eagle, according to Waller. They’re represented by Patrick Scanlan, the director of development at Fortius Capital. 

“No houses have been built yet. The second phase allows us to create legal descriptions which can be written into a deed, so then someone can purchase the property,” Waller said. 

Some of the lots are ready for sale, Waller said, but can’t sell until the final plat piece is done.

“They asked for an extension of a year,” he said, of when Scanlan presented to Rifle City Council last meeting. “But they’re only anticipating a few more weeks of getting everything finished. 

Scanlan gave some more details on the subdivision.

“It was a broken subdivision resulting from the great recession and it’s one of the last vestiges of it in Rifle,” he said. “It’s a collaboration between Rifle and Fortius Capital.”

Scanlan said they bought the land in 2014, but the original plan for the subdivision didn’t work.

“It was originally for 47 units, but Rifle said that was too dense, so we worked with Rifle and Patrick Waller and he found the number of 17 lots to be better,” he added. 

One of the central tenets of Fortius Capital is to match the need of the community with what they’re planning, Scanlan said.

“Rifle is a community of change and transition and these estate lots appeal to a wider population base,” Scanlan said. 
To see the lots, go to the website pioneermesaestates.com and take a look at the opportunities to be built.