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Written by The Mountain Mail
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Wednesday, October 07, 2009 |
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Paul Goetz Mixed use by off road and regular vehicles on CR 187 may be more of a challenge to attain than Carl Bauer of Buena Vista planned, he told Chaffee County Commissioners during their meeting Tuesday.
"I didn't go to the Friends of Fourmile first because I thought it was simple," he said. "I didn't think it would cause such concern."
Bauer's request is to open about a six-mile stretch of the road to off highway vehicles creating a loop or connector with the Aspen Ridge road.
Bauer said off highway riders were shorted during the Fourmile Area Travel Management plan process.
"We gave up a lot and expected to keep routes," he said. "If the county wanted to close those roads they should have been at the meetings."
People opposed to the use say off road vehicles could create safety issues and increase road use.
Bill Schwartzkopf of Badger Creek subdivision said he has a lot of problems with OHV traffic.
He said the subdivision has 26 full time residents and most work in Buena Vista, Salida or Fairplay.
Two routes serve the subdivision - CR 187 and Park County Road 53.
"We have had all terrain vehicles hold up traffic driving down the middle of the road while residents are trying to go to work in Buena Vista or Salida," Schwartzkopf said.
Other issues include reopening the travel management plan process.
Commissioner Tim Glenn said the original plan was an "extensive" process including three to five public hearings as "controversial as the Nestlé decision."
He said it's not fair to say past commissioners arbitrarily closed roads.
"This was a macro-scale decision based on good information and I will stand by the former board," Glenn said.
Alan Robinson of Friends of Fourmile offered service as a mediator, asking Bauer if he would work with the Friends to create a plan before returning to the commissioners. Bauer agreed to work with the Friends.
In unrelated business, commissioners unanimously approved a trail study grant match of $5,000 - including $3,000 cash and $2,000 in-kind support. Commissioner Glenn wasn't present for the vote.
The feasibility study deals with a 27-mile trail connecting Salida and Leadville via Colorado Midland Railroad grade and the Leadville Stage road.
Robinson made the request and said the study would determine if a trail is feasible and would include public input.
Commissioners continued the meeting to 9 a.m. today when they will adjourn to executive session to receive legal advice on alternatives to a boundary line adjustment requested by C&E Commercial Properties, LLC and Eric and Karen Lundberg. -- Source: http://www.themountainmail.com/main.asp?SectionID=4&SubSectionID=4&ArticleID=17444 |
