Too much, too hurried, not needed

Editor,

It appears from comments made at the inconclusive Joint Public Hearing on the Lower Verzuh subdivision last week that the sketch plan is poised to be approved by the county commissioners next week. This is very unfortunate for several reasons.

The Land Use Resolution (LUR) clearly requires that the Planning Commission (PC) must make one of three recommendations to the county commissioners about proceeding with a sketch plan and then forward the approved recommendation within 20 days. This did not happen. The four Planning Commission members who were present (two others recused themselves and another did not attend) failed to adopt any recommendation. The matter should be reconsidered at a public hearing by the PC when there are five voting members present.

This 433-unit subdivision located about 3 miles from Crested Butte with parking for only 40 vehicles near a bus stop which the RTA is unwilling to use could create the need to add one or two more lanes of traffic on Highway 135. Is this what our residents, second homeowners and visitors want?

Almost 700 county residents have signed a Petition strongly urging the PC and county commissioners (BOCC) to deny the sketch plan for violating various requirements of the LUR. Further, the county and towns in the North Valley have started the North Valley Corridor Plan to determine what level and where development should occur along Highway 135. This huge subdivision should be denied, and certainly not fast tracked as is currently happening, until our communities have made those determinations.

Please attend the BOCC meeting on this issue at the courthouse next Tuesday, July 28, at 9 a.m. If allowed to speak, ask them to deny the application.

Jim Starr