Hello neighbors,
Below are some Town Council meeting highlights from last month and some upcoming topics. As always, I hope you can join us for tomorrow’s meeting or consider sharing your feedback with us about any of these matters.
August 16 Meeting Highlights
- Town Council held a worksession to further discuss a request from Telluride Bluegrass Festival for continued use of the Gondola Parking Garage and on-street parking for their four-day event. Town Council recognizes the economic significance of the festival but again expressed that the residential impacts must be better addressed and mitigated. Council directed staff to draft and negotiate an agreement which will include updated terms to be presented and considered at this month’s Town Council meeting.
- Since the Town’s inception, Telluride Ski and Golf (TSG) has provided the town with various licenses, easements, and other conveyances that have been necessary for our town’s growth and development. Last month, Town Council discussed drafting a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the town and TSG acknowledging these public benefits as envisioned by the Comprehensive Plan. This month, Town Council will consider this MOU. Note: the town cannot assign any weight or value to these benefits at this time. The value of public benefits can only be made in conjunction with future land use application(s).
- Public Works Director Finn Kjome provided our monthly update on our current drought status and water restrictions. Additionally, Police Chief Chris Broady provided an update about our current wildfire risk and ongoing fire restrictions, which were lifted this month.
- Jon Dwight was reappointed as your residential representative to the Telluride Regional Airport Authority (TRAA) Board.
- Lastly, we received reports from Telluride Tourism Board, TRAA, Green Team Committee, and the Town Hall and Village Center Subarea Committees.
If you would like more specifics about any of these topics, you can review minutes from the meeting or watch the video on the town website.
September 20 Agenda Topics
- Town Council will consider a new, proposed agreement with the Telluride Bluegrass Festival calling for an increase in the cost of festival parking from $40,000 annually to approximately $120,000 annually. The proposed five-year agreement would ultimately generate $600,000 in town revenue. This additional revenue would be earmarked for future Gondola Parking Garage enhancements, after costs for additional support services. If approved, the Bluegrass Festival will be the only festival or event to which the town extends an on-street parking privilege.
- Town Council will hold a worksession to review the first draft of the 2019 budget. A few of the key capital expenditures being considered include:o Village Court Apartments estimated 38-unit expansion
o Broadband system fiber capacity upgrades (1G Project)
o Regional Wastewater Treatment Plant capacity upgrades
o Mountain Village Boulevard relocation and roundabout
o Ski Ranches Water System ongoing infrastructure replacements
o Town Hall emergency power generator
o Trail improvements within Mountain Village
o Village Pond restoration
o Completion of wayfinding improvements
o Consulting for a possible expansion of the Conference Center - Earlier this year, the owner of Lots 126R and 152R (commonly known as “Rosewood”) and the town entered into a Standstill Agreement requiring the owner to submit a new Planned Unit Development (PUD) application by September 14, 2018. Since the time of the Standstill Agreement, the property has changed hands and the new owner will not be moving forward with a project of the previously approved size and scale. The Standstill Agreement has been terminated and the town can now act to revoke the existing PUD approvals. Tomorrow, Town Council will consider giving direction to town staff asking them to initiate revocation of the PUD. The proposed PUD revocation would remove all approvals for mass and scale, variances granted, building design, and certain other approvals granted by the existing PUD. Once revocation occurs, any future project on these lots will need a new application and review.
- We will consider a resolution opposing Colorado Amendment 74, a proposed amendment to the Colorado Constitution, which seeks to amend the state constitution to include compensation for any government law or basic local land-use decisions such as zoning or liquor licenses, which might result in a reduction of fair market value of a landowner’s property. This proposed amendment contains expansive language that could result in significant costs to local taxpayers
- Amy Levek will introduce the Trust for Community Housing, a new local nonprofit focused on helping the region meet its affordable housing needs.
- Council will review the results of the recently completed Internet Technology Needs Assessment Report by Executech.
- Lastly, we will receive reports from AECOM, and the Town Hall and Village Center Subarea Committees.
A full agenda has been posted on our website; we welcome your input and hope to see you at the meeting.
Warm regards,
Laila Benitez
Mountain Village Mayor
