Carbondale citizens continue to protest U.S. Forest Service (USFS) plans for a complete redesign of the property at the corner of Main Street and Weant Boulevard. The MainStreet Alliance gathered Sunday at the Fourth Street Plaza. The group says the USFS has ignored public comment.
“The people filled Town Hall in August, unanimously against cutting down those trees and offering a different plan for the [USFS], which allowed them to pretty much build the same type of buildings,” said Satank resident Cody Lee. “They shouldn’t be allowed to continue this process in the Town of Carbondale because they didn’t listen to the wishes of the citizens of the town.”
Events of the last week of February at the Aspen-Sopris Ranger District were a shock to some. Two large spruce trees were chopped down and donated to a Roaring Fork High School woodshop class.
One building has been demolished and the area is now a construction zone with the Community Tree still standing at the northeast corner.
Asbestos was found in the other two buildings, delaying demolition. The fence continues to block parts of the sidewalk around the property despite a Feb. 7 complaint filed with the town by resident Pam Zentmyer arguing that the fencing obstructs the public’s right-of-way. Zentmyer told The Sopris Sun that she had not received a response from the Town.
Alejandra Rico said the fallen trees plus hearing MainStreet Alliance members on KDNK were catalysts for her to get more involved. “It’s making me realize that we need to move efforts towards community organizing and push forth with whatever means we have,” she said.
MainStreet Alliance is calling on the USFS to put the project on hold and sit down with the community. “I truly believe when we have all stakeholders coming together, we can have a better outcome for all involved parties,” said Jim Coddington with MainStreet Alliance.
