On Oct. 27, less than a week after a hearing with the Garfield County Planning Commission, Spring Valley Holdings LLC or SVH withdrew the application for a proposed development on 6,000 acres in Spring Valley. In a letter to the county attorney and planners, SVH representative Daniel Goldberg wrote, “After hearing from the community, we believe it is in the best interest of both the neighbors and the greater community for us to abandon our historic PUD Plan in favor of the Rural zoning regulations in the Garfield County Land Use Code.”
Five days earlier, after more than four hours of presentations, discussion and public comment, the Garfield County planning commission unanimously voted to recommend denial of the application. More than 170 people packed the hearing room. Ninety-six wrote comments to the county, mostly against the development. Twenty-eight spoke up at the hearing.
Issues included increased traffic, more pressure on the intersection at Highway 82 and Thunder River Market, water use and sustainability, a proposed private ski area and critical wildlife habitat.
Carbondale resident Ted Benge, co-owner of Capitol Peak Outfitters, told the Planning Commission that, being in his early 30s, he qualifies as the voice of the next generation. “Maintaining the rural character, open space and wildlife in this valley and in this county is absolutely critical to the culture and to the future and the next generations,” he said.
Benge added that the survival rate of elk calves and mule deer fawns in the area has declined, migration patterns have changed due to development and recreation and the Springs Valley Ranch development would further destroy important habitat. “The wildlife corridors proposed, as CPW noted, are basically inaccessible, elk won’t use them,” he said. “They're not going to be able to access and utilize the wildlife sanctuary that's been proposed.”
The Spring Valley Coalition, a citizens group formed in opposition to the development, stated in an email to KDNK that they commend Spring Valley Holdings for listening to the community.
