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November 17, 2004
Crystal ball cloudy for Kentucky Placer
Whether preserved in its entirety, or used for affordable housing or trophy home sites, the future of the Kentucky Placer parcel on the south side of Telluride will continue to be scrutinized by local governmental entities.
Both county and town open space commissions met in a special worksession Monday to open talks on future ownership and stewardship of the 117-acre parcel, a swath of undeveloped land flanking the San Miguel River and Town Park.
"The overall goal is to keep it open space," said Telluride Open Space Chair Roberta Peterson. "We'd like the Bear Creek Preserve to stay exactly as it is now."
Peterson said the town commission's ultimate desire for the entire Placer - particularly parcels bordering the Bear Creek Preserve - is for absolute preservation.
Members of both the Telluride open space group and their counterparts from San Miguel agreed that sharing decisions on the future of the Kentucky Placer - from second home development ideas to complete conservation - would be the best approach, though the county open space group professed the parcel did not weigh as heavily for them.
County open space staff Linda Luther said her commission has enough on its plate already.
"The county's interest in this is secondary. Because the town said it is important, we're sitting here," she said. "I am here in the spirit of keeping cooperation going Š I have a lot of projects in play right now. I personally don't want to see Kentucky Placer as priority."
A number of open space projects are already spoken for in the county's budget, Luther said. The town's commission, too, has funds already earmarked for other projects, notably preservation of the Valley Floor, leaving financing for the Placer less than assured through dedicated funding already in place. Open space members agreed acquisition through grants and matched dollars is possible.
Once the commission maps out the future of the Kentucky Placer, Telluride Projects Manager Lance McDonald said, ballpark financing will be presented to potential matching entities like Great Outdoors Colorado and the Town of Mountain Village - GOCO could potentially award the preservation project up to $700,000.
But county open space members said keeping all options open - including possible development of the triangle parcel just west of the Bear Creek road bordering the Preserve - is an important consideration due to costs and stewardship of the entire parcel.
Title to the Kentucky Placer is currently held by the Trust for Public Lands, which purchased the land from the Idarado Mining Co. last April. TPL recently appraised the land at $4.1 million, and has set the selling price to the town at $2.9 million under a purchase agreement that could be extended five to seven years. The town has until Dec. 31, 2006 to purchase the property. Failing that, TPL must find a buyer for the land or ownership reverts to Idarado.
County open space members said financial contribution - and stewardship of - the Kentucky Placer could be minimal on their part.
If homes are built on the currently platted 35-acre lots near the Preserve, road access via the Bear Creek road could be problematic. Because the road is zoned under the county's High Country zone district, it is subject to High Country restrictions, which forbids winter maintenance and major upgrades.
Of equal concern is a small stretch of land just west of the road where the Telluride Trails Project ends one of its slated trails. The Ronbo Trail (recently renamed the O'Reilly's Trail) is slated to empty out onto the lower Bear Creek road, one of five trails in a system created by U.S. Forest Service and Mountain Village officials who are planning to link the gondola summit to Mountain Village and Telluride.
Because of the trails proximity to the Kentucky Placer, commission members said the town's input and funding is critical in preserving the Placer.
"I don't think it's a total Town of Telluride decision," said Peterson.
While some county members remained skeptical, San Miguel County Open Space member Nancy Craft, who serves as the liaison between the two open space groups, said preserving the entire Placer isn't out of reach.
"I don't see it being a total daunting task," she said.
Members broke down the land's potential into five options: protecting the entire Kentucky Placer; developing part of the triangle or western edge; developing the western edge triangle and additional lands; developing affordable housing; and, a no action alternative.
A joint meeting with the Towns of Telluride and Mountain Village and San Miguel County officials will be held in December and will include an update on the Kentucky Placer.
By Kara Tatone
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Posted by Adam at November 17, 2004 10:24 AM