Residents from New Castle to Carbondale are growing more and more concerned about three proposed mixed-use developments in the area. Spring Valley Ranch, outside of Glenwood Springs, is eyeing close to 6,000 acres for mostly second homes, some affordable housing, two golf courses and a ski hill. Harvest Roaring Fork has plans for what it calls a “conservation community” on 236 acres at the old Unocal/Sanders Ranch/Bair Chase property between Carbondale and Glenwood Springs across Highway 82 from the Cattle Creek entrance. Roaring Fork Capital (RFC) is the developer whose projects include the Fairway Residences at River Valley Ranch in Carbondale, the Lofts at Red Mountain in Glenwood Springs, the Tree Farm Lofts in Basalt across from Willits and the Kodiak Club and Residences under construction in Basalt. RFC has not yet submitted planning documents to Garfield County.
And then there’s the Nutrient Farm Planned Unit Development (PUD), between New Castle and Canyon Creek near Riverbend on the south side of the Colorado River. This 1,026-acre project is billed as “an agricultural mixed-use community revolving around a working experiential farm with related agricultural, residential, recreational and commercial activities”.
Spring Valley Ranch and Nutrient Farm are in various stages of the county permitting process. Nutrient Farm went in front of the Garfield County Planning Commission on Jan. 29, attracting a standing room-only crowd that spilled out into the foyer of the county administrative building in Glenwood Springs. Area residents and attorneys showed up to comment on the development, with no one fully supporting it.
The Planning Commission’s task that night was to consider rezoning a portion of the Riverbend PUD to the Nutrient Farm PUD, vacating the Coal Ridge PUD and rezoning to Nutrient Farm PUD and rezoning the Nutrient Farm PUD for an operational farm, greenhouse, agricultural, residential, recreational and commercial activities. But the commission never made those decisions.
One of the biggest hurdles Nutrient Farm faces is water. Basically, it involves a new draw from Canyon Creek, which the developers say they are already using. Friends of Canyon Creek, a group of concerned citizens, worry that a new 9 cubic feet per second (cfs) year-round draw would drain the creek and damage the ecosystem. Trout Unlimited, a conservation nonprofit, has concerns about possible damage to its fish passage project in the creek that the organization has worked on since 2017. Aspen Valley Land Trust owns conservation easements along the creek which could also be compromised by the draw.
The developer’s attorney admitted that they would rather use water from Canyon Creek than the Colorado River. “Canyon Creek water is better for us to use on an organic farm,” said Dan Teodoru, attorney for the developer. But citizens question whether the project is a farm or a theme park. Nutrient Farm proposes adding residences, a private open space with trails and an adventure park to an existing organic farm. An onsite animal processing facility and possible water park are also in the mix. Friends of Canyon Creek has asked the county to deny the 9 cfs draw.
Garfield County planning staff recommended approval with 53 conditions and, after Teodoru’s contentious presentation and hours of public comment, the commission continued the hearing to March 12.
Citizens are organizing
Friends of Canyon Creek is one of three groups, including Protect New Castle and the Spring Valley Coalition, to raise awareness about area development. The names point to the projects they’re watching, but now a new group has emerged to try to bring everyone together.
Preserve Our Valley held its inaugural meeting on Jan. 30 in Glenwood Springs. Close to 30 people from the Roaring Fork and Colorado River valleys showed up, including some from the three citizen groups.
Siri Olsen and Rosemary Burkholder organized the meeting around the issue of the area’s carrying capacity. Water supply, traffic, wildlife displacement and an increased population were top of mind during the meeting. But the main purpose was to have a conversation about sustainable land use and the broader impacts of continuing development. “We want to preserve the quality of land that this valley deserves,” said Burkholder.
The group questioned whether a pause in development might be appropriate. “We’re approving and building, and no one is thinking about it,” said Olsen, who wrote a column about sustainability and carrying capacity published in The Sopris Sun on Jan. 8. The group hopes to provide a website soon.
Documents for Nutrient Farm and Spring Valley Ranch proposed PUDs can be found at www.garfield-county.com/community-development/planning-project-information
You can find info about Friends of Canyon Creek at www.friendsofcanyoncreek.com
Protect New Castle’s website is www.protectnewcastle.com
The Spring Valley Coalition is www.springvalleycoalition.com
The county planning and zoning commission’s hearing of the Spring Valley Ranch proposed PUD amendment is scheduled for April 9.