HomeMy WebLinkAboutAbby Matthias_2-OCT-25Abby Matthias
56 Thu nderstorm Circl,e
Carbondate, CO 80162
October 2,2025
Garfiel.d County Board of County Commissioners
108 8'h Street, Suite 100
Gtenwood Springs, CO 81601
Dear Commissioners,
As a Longtime resident of the Mid-Vattey, I am writing to express my strong opposition to the
proposed Harvest Roaring Fork devetopment at the conftuence of Cattte Creek and the
Roaring Fork River. I have l,ived in this vattey for over 13 years, and l've watched it grow-
sometimes in ways that serve the community, and sometimes in ways that sacrifice what
makes this ptace so speciat.
This devetopment, as proposed, woutd be a mistake. lt's far too large, far too urban, and far
too damaging for this uniquety sensitive [ocation.
A Bad Fit for the Mid-Val,l,ey
The proposed ptan-over 1,500 housing units, 450 accessory dwettings, a hotet, and
commerciat buitdings on 283 acres-is comptetety out of scate with the rurat, natural
character of the Cattte Creek area. lt doesn't reftect the Mid-Vattey vatues I know:
thoughtfut ptanning, open space preservation, and keeping our communities livabte for
everyone.
l'm not against growth, but this isn't smart growth. lt's urban sprawt ptaced in one of the
last naturaI entry points into the Roaring Fork Vat[ey.
Traffic Witt Get Much Worse-And Less Safe
We al,t know that Highway 82 is atready overburdened. Adding 12,000+ dail.yvehicte trips
wittexacerbate a daity nightmare for Mid-Vattey commuters, schooI buses, emergency
vehictes, and anyone trying to get through Gtenwood or downvattey. The traffic anatysis
submitted by the devetoper underestimates the true impacts-teaving out major parts of
the proposat.
As someone who drives this stretch atmost daity, I know firsthand that we cannot absorb
this kind of increase safety or efficientty.
Emergency Services Can't Keep UP
This proposal, aLso doesn't account for the massive demand it woutd ptace on locatfire,
EMS, and law enforcement-atl, of which are atready stretched thin across the Mid-Vattey.
ln fire-prone terrain l,ike this, stower response times are not just inconvenient-they're
deadl,y. lt's irresponsibte to al.tow a devetopment of this size without guaranteeing the
resources to protect the peopl.e who woutd live there.
Viotates Existing Zoning and Long-Term Planning
This tand is zoned for tow-density, suburban-styte residentiaI use, in keepingwith the
character of the surroundin garea. ALtowing a high-density project of this scate woutd set a
dangerous precedent and undermine the work done by ptanners, citizens, and
commissioners over decades to guide batanced devetopment in our county.
l've seen how quickl,y the fabric of a community can unravet when zoning decisions start to
ignore context and community input.
Witdlife Witt Paythe Price
This area isn't just undevel,oped-it's vitaL wiLdtife habitat. l've seen etk, deer, foxes, eagtes,
and herons in this corridor with my own eyes. l've taken watks atong the Roaring Fork and
watched migrating birds stop to rest in the riparian zone.
Paving over this l,and and introducing constant noise, [ight, and human activity woutd
destroy an irrep[aceabte ecosystem that has existed here far [onger than any of us.
A River Corridor Atready Under Stress
The Roaring Fork and CattLe Creek are essentiatwaterways for our va[tey. With ctimate
pressures atready shrinking water avai[abitity and stressing aquatic systems, we can't
afford unchecked stormwater runoff and devetopment so ctose to the riverbank.
Any contamination or sediment runoff f rom this devetopment threatens not onty the river
itsetf, but downstream users, agricutture, and recreation.
This ls Not What Our Valley Needs
Cattte Creek is one of the last untouched gateways into the Roaring Fork Vatl,ey-a ptace
where open space, witdtife, and rural [andscapes greet residents and visitors atike. Once
we tose that, we don't get it back.
We're not just tatking about buitding homes-we're tatking about changing the entire
character of the Mid-Vattey. And that's a choice we shoutd not take tightty.
What I Ask of You
As a resident who loves this vatl,ey, I respectfutl'y urge you to:
1. Reject this proposal, outright, as incompatibl,e with the community, the zoning, and
the environment,
2. Or require a substantial.l,y scal,ed-down version that atigns with Mid-Vattey needs and
vatues,
3. Or initiate a comprehensive ptanning process for the entire cattte creek area,
invol,ving community voices and environmentaI expertise from the outset'
In Glosing
I've tived here tong enough to know that once we approve projects like this, we set a tone
for what's acceptabte. PLease don't Let this be the moment we say yes to short-term
devetopment and no to long-term sustainabitity.
The Mid-Val.l,ey deserves better. Our rivers, wil,dtife, and communities deserve better. I ask
you to make the responsibte decision and protect what's l,eft of this rare and beautifuI
ptace.
Thank you for your service and for considering the voices of those of us who cat[ this vattey
home.
Sincerety,
Abby Matthias
Mid-Vattey Resident