Town reaches landmark agreement with CDOT By Lynn Burton Sopris Sun Staff Writer Culminating a process that started at least 12 years ago, the Carbondale Board of Trustees on Tuesday night unanimously approved an Access Control Plan agreement with the Colorado Department of Transportation that will guide the state agency as it upgrades Highway 133 in years to come; the plan will also guide the town in land use decisions along the highway corridor. The Access Control Plan (ACP) looks at 93 points of access on the two mile-stretch of Highway 133 from Highway 82 to the River Valley Ranch area, and describes the conditions under which CDOT will alter highway access for the next 20-30 years and beyond. For example, the ultimate configuration for access point 4 (at Cowan Drive) is a roundabout rather than a traffic signal, although neither is proposed at this time. Most of the access changes on Highway 133 will not occur unless conditions in specific areas change due to development or redevelopment. “If nothing changes (in land use) then nothing changes (with the highway),” CDOT Region 3 Access Manager Dan Roussin told the trustees on Tuesday night. Town Manager Jay Herrington later told the trustees the state highway access code is “arbitrary” at best, “so this (ACP) will get us beyond that.” Only one member of the public, Frank Taverna, attended the meeting. Taverna is
co-owner of Red Rock Plaza on the west when highway traffic is heavy. The ACP ulside of Highway 133 and told the trustees timate configuration calls for a “right-in” that shoppers will go where access is most (from Highway 133), “right-out” (onto convenient. “We’re going to lose some of Highway 133). A traffic signal can be inthat,” he said. “It’s going to be real impor- stalled if three neighboring access points are tant” to keep small businesses in mind. restricted. Full movement (left and right In an e-mail to The Sopris Sun, public turns onto Highway 133) at the Dolores works director Larry Way access point can Ballenger said the continue “until safety or town and CDOT operational issues deformed a 10-member velop” the ACP says, or project team last Janalternative access beuary comprised of: comes available just to Roland Wagner the south. (CDOT resident engiRoussin told the neer), Bart Necessary trustees the project team (CDOT engineer), Frank Taverna looked at allowing a Dan Roussin (CDOT roundabout on Dolores Red Rock Plaza Co-owner access manager), AnWay in the future, but drew Knapp (CDOT), that access to Highway Anna Smith (consultant), Andrew Knapp 133 to the south (connecting with Dolores (consultant), John Hoffmann (town Way) is a better option. Roussin also said trustees), Charlie Kees (town planning and that if a roundabout is built at Dolores Way, zoning commissioner), Janet Buck (town the potential exists for backupson Highway planner) and Ballenger himself. 133 due to traffic signals. At Tuesday night’s meeting, Hoffmann Roussin stressed that the ACP can be listed six ACP access (conditions for change) amended if conditions warrant. points that he’d like for the trustees to conBottom line with the ACP, according to sider. He led off by suggesting the town the resolution approved by the trustees: leave open the possibility of a roundabout “The goal of the plan is to provide apat Dolores Way, which leads to Carbondale propriate access to the highway while Community School and Satank before maintaining the safety and efficiency of deadending at the Roaring Fork River the facility.” pedestrian bridge. Currently, motorists can Since last January, team project members turn left or right onto Highway 133 from met with most or all of the property owners Dolores, but traffic sometimes backups along Highway 133 to explain the ACP’s
“It’s going to be real important” to keep small businesses in mind.
goals and the process. In June, approximately 50 members of the public attended an open house that explained the draft ACP. In other action from Tuesday night’s meeting: • The trustees unanimously approved a $5.3 million general fund budget for 2013. A budget memo from town manager Jay Harrington says “The local Carbondale economy continues to experience a slow recovery to the effects of the national downturn of late 2008 and into 2010.” Harrington said general fund revenue is projected to be down 4 percent compared to 2012, but the 2013 budget anticipates mineral leasing and mineral severance tax funds of $280,000 (down from $456,000 in 2012). He said the 2013 budget plans for $1.5 million in reserve spending for various capital and fleet improvements. “The General fund has ample reserves that will total approximately $4.1 M (million) for year-end 2013. The Town has targeted a portion of this $4.1 (sic) for future land acquisitions and possible capital construction projects,” Harrington’s budget memo continues. • The trustees approved a 1,500 square non-commercial green house for the 82acre parcel overlooking River Valley Ranch. A memo from town staff said the parcel is not within the town limits but the trustees have the authority to approve or deny the use per River Valley Ranch covenants. One single-family dwelling currently sits on the property.
GarCo commissioners OK solid waste application By Lynn Burton Sopris Sun Staff Writer The main solid waste transfer opponents were unavailable for comment on Wednesday but the day before, Garfield County Commissioner Mike Samson asked for “faith” that the county would enforce conditions placed on the facility on Tuesday. He also urged the public to complain to the county if problems arise at the facility. Samson’s comments came after an eight-hour public hearing on whether to approve a land-use change permit to allow IRMW II LLC and Mountain Rolloffs Inc. (MRI) to operate a solid waste transfer station and recycling station in an industrial zone-district at the former Mid-Continent load out facility about two miles east of Carbondale on County Road 100. All three Garfield County Commissioners – John Martin, Tom Jankovsky and Samson – voted for the application. Opponents and a handful of supporters once again packed the Garfield County commissioner meeting room. Before the vote, commissioner Jankovsky said “I got back to the zoning for this site, which is industrial. … I see this as an industrial use.” Jankovsky said the site is shown on the county’s comprehensive plan as an industrial area and an area for rural employment. “I truly believe if these guys do as they say they will do, we’re not going to see a big change,” he said. Opponents objections included truck traffic, odors, a decline in property values, impacts on recreation and tourism, and fears that water runoff following any fire would pollute area wells. Opponents speculated that MRI’s real motive in creating a solid waste transfer station is to sell out to Waste Transfer, which will then use the facility to ship trash to its landfill in Montrose. If that happens, landfills in Pitkin County and Glenwood Springs would lose money. MRI officials have said MRI page 5
Arturo Ortiz helps move cattle during a recent snow storm from one pasture to another just east of Carbondale. Photo by Jane Bachrach THE SOPRIS SUN • DECEmbER 13, 2012 • 3