A Sopris Sun correspondent successfully shook the sleep out of his eyes this week to report that on Tuesday Basalt Town Council voted to deny an application to construct a mixed residential-storage development at 555 Basalt Ave.
The application in question was to construct 42 commercial storage units, 30 residential units, 12 live-work units and two community-serving spaces on a single mixed-use property in the South Side neighborhood. After many continued hearings, council voted 5-1 to deny the application at Town Hall, which was filled by Basalt residents. It was standing room only during the period for public comment. A majority of speakers voiced their support for the project, especially for its inclusion of affordable single-person residences and industrial space.
Local contractor Justin Gray, who appeared at the Oct. 27 meeting, reiterated his support for the project. “For me and my business, having somewhere to keep tools and materials as well as the ability to have a permanent meeting and office space is a necessity,” Gray said. “I’ve spoken to a few other contractors. It turns out we’re all looking for the same thing.”
“This project could help Basalt establish a down-payment-assistance program that makes home-work space ownership possible for those who might otherwise never be able to achieve it,” Elizabeth Lahey said. “As someone who rents, I can tell you there’s an enormous difference between living somewhere and knowing you have the security of having a place you call your own.”
Darryl Grosjean, a resident of South Side and former employee of Basalt and Rural Fire Protection, voiced safety concerns, especially regarding an existing flooding issue on the adjacent Cody Lane, which freezes in the winter.
“I’ve noticed so many injuries in the wintertime, especially at crossings at pedestrian areas,” Grosjean said. “It would be a mistake by the council to permit these hazardous conditions to continue until a pedestrian is injured or even killed at this location.”
Laurel Fox of South Side added her safety concerns. “We need to address the one road that everyone gets out at. If we have a fire in South Side, we’re looking at a huge issue with more people on Cody Lane and Basalt [Ave.] when you think of that one light on Highway 82,” she said.
Other commenters not in favor of the project were concerned primarily with traffic generated, especially from the commercial spaces.
At the previous meeting, public opinion was evenly split on the development, with nine commenters supporting the project and nine against. During this meeting, 15 commenters supported the project and 12 urged Council to deny the application.
After all the comments had been considered, Councilor Greg Shaffran put forth a motion to deny a proposed amendment to the Master Plan, which led to the ordinance for the development itself also being denied. Both motions to deny were approved 5-1.
Councilors denied the application on the grounds that, according to the Basalt Master Plan, improvements to infrastructure must be made before applications are approved. Additionally, uncertainty about traffic generation fueled doubts about how the project would actually unfold once completed.
The motion was opposed by Councilor Elyse Hottel, and Councilor Hannah Berman was absent for the vote.
Lukewarm on sales tax
After taking to the polls on Nov. 3, Basalt residents voted to approve a ballot measure funding a new combined Police Department and Public Works building, though only by a slim majority of 51.4%.
Ballot measure 3A asked Basalt residents to approve a 20-year sales tax hike of 0.5% beginning in the new year to fund the construction, operation and maintenance of the new public facility.
According to unofficial results posted by the Town of Basalt on Nov. 4, 971 of 1,888 voters voted yes on 3A. Within Pitkin County, 295 of 528 voters approved of the measure for an approval rate of 55.9%. The measure was less favorable, comparatively, among Eagle County voters, of which 676 of 1,360 voted to approve for a rate of 49.7%. In total, the needle tipped to approve by only 27 votes.
The facility is planned to be located on a pair of annexed, town-owned properties south of the Highway 82 and Original Road intersection, just across from the Midvalley Medical Center. The facility is still in the planning and conceptual design phase, which the town estimates will be completed in the first quarter of 2027. If so, the project could potentially go out to bid next summer.