Only three months into 2026, the nomination of a new Bureau of Land Management (BLM) director and the repeal of the Environmental Protection Agency’s 2009 Endangerment Finding, which regulates greenhouse gas emissions, pose new threats to Western Slope public lands, as well as public health. On Wednesday, March 4, former New Mexico Congressman Steve Pearce […]
Will Buzzerd
Posted inLocal Government
GarCo Planning recommends denial of Harvest Village
On Wednesday, March 11, the Garfield County Planning Commission voted 6-1 to recommend denying the application for a proposed 1,500-unit development in unincorporated Garfield County, between Carbondale and Glenwood Springs. The commission denied the application at nearly 11:30pm, after hundreds of citizens came to the meeting in opposition to the project. Much of the time […]
Posted inLocal Government
Basalt Report: E-bike safety, new chief of police and Midland design guidelines
During the March 10 council meeting, Basalt resident Kathleen Brehm came to the podium to voice concerns regarding e-bike safety. Brehm first came to Basalt Town Council on Jan. 27 to share her story. Two years ago, she was injured by an e-bike rider while walking on the Rio Grande Trail. After several surgeries, Brehm […]
Posted inLocal Government
For two, Basalt’s new STR fee is too much to bear
In May of 2025, the Town of Basalt held a series of contested public hearings on a potential $2,532 per bedroom per year fee for short term rental (STR) operations in order to generate revenue for affordable housing. The fee was approved by a vote of 4-3, but not without hours of debate between councilors […]
Posted inLocal Government
Basalt Report: Council discusses plan for Willits housing and community space
For nearly two years, the Town of Basalt has been making conceptual plans and conducting outreach to plan a new community space and affordable housing complex in the Willits Town Center. The approximate 1.5-acre site is referred to in Town documents as Parcel 2E, and sits across from TACAW at the corner of Lewis Lane […]
Posted inLocal Government
Basalt Report: Town to pursue speed cameras to slow traffic
This week, Basalt Town Council discussed a new form of automated speed enforcement technology that may come to Highway 82 in the near future in order to slow traffic at exits. The presentation was led by Lieutenant Aaron Munch of the Basalt Police Department (BPD) and Brendan Knox, a representative of municipal-enforcement software company Dacra […]
Posted inArts & Entertainment
Redstone Art Foundation celebrates art and justice with movie night at Redstone Inn
This Saturday evening, Feb. 7, the Redstone Art Foundation kicks off its third winter movie night series at the Redstone Inn with a combo of Mexican cuisine and screening of the 2015 film “Woman in Gold.” While the dinners are a paid affair, Crystal River Valley cinephiles can sit in on the screening for free. […]
Posted inLocal Government
Basalt Report: Town finds its footing in regional housing needs
This week, the Basalt Town Council was provided with a decades-long look at housing needs across the Roaring Fork Valley and where Basalt stands among trending rises in home vacancy rates, median home prices and rental costs with an assessment that projects the Town may have to construct over 600 units in the next 10 […]
Posted inLocal Government
Basalt Report: Councilors and Eagle County Commissioners share pizza, plans for the future
During this week’s regular Tuesday meeting, Basalt Town Council held a shared meal and joint work session with the Eagle Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) to discuss updates concerning wildlife, childcare, land use and housing, both in Basalt and the greater county. The first topic of discussion concerned recent county-funded efforts to reduce wildfire risk. […]
Posted inNews
1,500-unit development faces fierce opposition ahead of February planning meeting
On Jan. 6, hundreds of Roaring Fork Valley residents gathered remotely, and in person at Carbondale’s Third Street Center, to voice concerns about Harvest Roaring Fork, a proposed 1,500-unit residential community on roughly 283 acres of open space near the confluence of Cattle Creek and the Roaring Fork River. Hosted by a citizen-led opposition group […]