Tuesday’s meet saw all trustees in attendance and a packed agenda. First, a consent agenda was unanimously approved, including accounts payable, meeting minutes and support for a grant application requesting $650,000 from Great Outdoors Colorado for the new pool. Trustee Jess Robison recused herself from an item appointing her father, Jack Wheeler, as well as Mark Chain and Janet Buck, to the recently revived Board of Adjustments.
During public comments, Sue Zislis advocated for adding a dedicated Downtowner page on the Town’s website and also requested assistance with paying for printing informational fliers. Amy Krakow offered suggestions for minimizing human-bear conflicts, like the hiring of an additional ordinance officer.
Several trustees during gen-
eral updates applauded the Public Works Department for their speedy installation of an improved pedestrian crossing at Highway 133 and Cowen. Colin Laird suggested seeking outside funding to assist with providing bear-proof trash containers to Carbondale residents.
During the town manager’s updates, Lauren Gister sadly announced that Town Clerk Jessica Markham will be moving to Rapid City, South Dakota in a few months and the job has been posted. She also introduced Greg Hansen, the Town’s new finance director, moving from Granby. Regarding bear activity, she mentioned that it’s been an unusual year with the Town’s ordinance officer spending most of his work week giving warnings and tickets and talking to people.
Moving on to action items, three candidates were interviewed to join the Planning and Zoning Commission, with Jay Engstrom stepping down after nearly a decade of service. Anne Krimmer, a Carbondale resident of 25 years, was chosen to join the commission as an alternate with a 7-1 vote. Additionally, two existing members, Jarret Mork and Kim Magee, were reappointed.
Next, trustees approved a $1,000 request toward a grant writer pursuing a federal grant to improve the electric vehicle charging station at Cowen Drive, as well as at other Garfield County locations. Trustee Chris Hassig advocated for charging stations downtown to drive business.
The Central Self Storage public infrastructure improvements were accepted, including a lighted trail connecting the park-and-ride with the Cowen Drive crossing. With unanimous approval, the security deposit was reduced to $32,410 for a one-year warranty period.
A public hearing was then held for updates to the Town’s community housing inclusionary requirements — “The real meat of the meeting,” Mayor Ben Bohmfalk said. As stated in a memo, the Planning and Zoning Commission held five public hearings on the topic ahead of this meeting, which was noticed in The Sopris Sun on Aug. 22.
The inclusionary zoning requirements were first adopted in 2001 and were amended in 2008. Currently, all residential developments greater than four units are required to make 20% of the total units accessible based on Carbondale’s Area Median Income (AMI): www.bit.ly/CdaleAMI24
Additionally, unless the property consists solely of rentals, 20% of units are required to be resident owner-occupied: where the person who owns the property uses the home as their primary residence. Incentives also exist in the form of partial fee exemptions.
Planning and Zoning looked primarily at increasing the percentage of deed-restricted units to 25% and applying the requirement to developments with more than three units. If an already-built rental project is converted into an ownership project, it would need to meet the prevailing requirements at the time of conversion.
Riley Soderquist, responsible for the 1202 Main Street and Hayden Place developments, asked trustees to consider the challenge it would cause them to go from for-rent to for-sale if these changes are approved. Mark Chain, former town planner, commented on the history of these regulations, emphasizing a funding source will be key to meaningfully addressing the affordability challenge. With only two comments, trustees decided to continue the public hearing to Sept. 24 so that more members of the public may weigh in.
They then approved a letter supporting the Carbondale Geothermal Coalition’s application to the U.S. Department of Energy for a grant to construct a thermal energy network near the Third Street Center. Although the Town is not committing to owning the system or participating financially in the project at this time, it’s inferred that this may be necessary if the grant is awarded. “We do have to be careful,” Bohmfalk cautioned. “We’re a very ambitious board right now. We’re taking on a lot.”
Lastly, trustees received an update from the aquatics center project team. They were informed that the full guaranteed maximum price will be ready by Friday, Sept. 13 and presented at the next regular meeting, Sept. 21. Discussion centered around the spa element, estimated to cost $470,420, as well as the fate of a pine tree standing between a sewer line connection and the new building site. Trustees were informed it would cost between $100,000 and $200,000 to attempt to save that tree, with no guarantees for success.
“I will not give you the spa before we get the tree,” Hassig proclaimed, advocating to nix the spa for what’s meant to be a summertime pool anyway. So far, the fundraising campaign has brought in $1,045,739 with an overall goal of $1.6 million. Any funding beyond that goal would help to afford additional features.
At nearly 9:30pm, the meeting concluded.