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HomeMy WebLinkAboutExhibit 7 - Public Comments HRF 11-MAR-26 1 Harvest Roaring Fork PUD Zoning and River Edge PUD Revocation (File PUDA-12-24-9048 and PUDA-07-25-9079) Public Comment Exhibits Exhibit # Public Comment, Name and Date Received 24-151 Fred Standefer – February 25, 2026 24-152 Petitions – February 25, 2026; February 27, 2026 24-153 Dr Jeffrey Morris – February 25, 2026; March 3, 2026 24-154 Denis Nola – February 25, 2026 24-155 Dave Malehorn – February 25, 2026 24-156 The Vitali Family – February 25, 2026 24-157 Brian Golden – February 25, 2026 24-158 Geneviève Joëlle Villamizar – February 25, 2026 24-159 Unsigned – February 25, 2026 24-160 Brittany Bergin-Foss – February 25, 2026 24-161 Sam Gemus – February 25, 2026 24-162 Anne Austin-Clapper – February 25, 2026 24-163 Phil Nyland – February 25, 2026 24-164 Zachary Cherry-Newby correspondence with Commissioner John Kuersten – February 25 - 26, 2026 24-165 Ray Ciborowski – February 26, 2026 24-166 Ericka Crampton – February 26, 2026 24-167 Dough Greenholtz – February 26, 2026 24-168 Robert de Wetter – February 26, 2026 24-169 Postcards – February 27, 2026 24-170 John and Deborah Johnson – February 27, 2026 24-171 William Douglas – February 27, 2026 24-172 Eric Whiting – February 27, 2026 24-173 Cindi Davis – February 27, 2026 24-174 Joe Moon – February 27, 2026 2 24-175 Deborah Korbel – February 27, 2026 24-176 Richard Katchuk – March 1, 2026 24-177 Zachary Cherry-Newby – March 2, 2026 24-178 Reilly Anderson – March 2, 2026 24-179 Gabriela Rand – March 2, 2026 24-180 Ross Roginski – March 3, 2026 24-181 Debbie Crawford-Arensman – March 2, 2026 24-182 Susan Cuseo – March 2, 2026 24-183 Edward Davis – March 3, 2026 24-184 Ross Roginski – March 3, 2026 24-185 Wewer Keohane – March 3, 2026 24-186 Kent Dorr – March 4, 2026 24-187 Matt Hunt – March 4, 2026 24-188 24-189 24-190 24-191 24-192 24-193 24-194 24-195 24-196 24-197 24-198 24-199 24-200 24-201 24-202 24-203 24-204 24-205 Subject: Harvest Roaring Fork Development Comment Name: Dr. Jeffrey Morris Email: jeff@srmginc.com Phone number: (360) 489-4595 Message: 1. HUMANS, BUILDINGS, VEHICLES, AND POLLUTION FROM HRF PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT PLAN WILL ASSAULT WILDLIFE HABITAT AND LIVES Audubon Society experts estimate Harvest Roaring Fork (HRF) development lands could support 300 households, not the 1,800 units the HRF project proposes. Housing density for 1,800 homes on the allocated 293 acres is four to six times the current density of the Willits community. 2. CONSTRUCTION DEBRIS, GARBAGE, AND ROADWAY LITTER 1,800 residential households, the town center, and hotel will generate annually 3,000 to 5,000 tons of additional garbage, excluding new roadway litter and HRF development construction debris. What does this increase mean for Roaring Fork Valley (RFV) garbage management, diversion and landfill disposal? Does the Valley currently have the means to manage this type of growth? Waste collection, processing and disposition providers will need time to upgrade current waste management methods. Finally, who will finance the needed waste management upgrades? My guess is that the financial burden will fall on the shoulders of local residents and businesses. 3. POLLUTION AND WASTES The HRF development will increase pollution to air, land, and waterways. Costs caused by this pollution will not be paid by Texas-based Realty Capital owners and investors. Impact costs will be paid by the RFV community. As an example, impacts from pollutants released each year by the HRF development household and commercial garbage collections, transport and disposal will cause life cycle human and environmental health costs in the million-dollar range. We will bare most of those costs. We cannot let an out of state corporation HARVEST our valley for their financial benefit. Our Garfield County Commissioners must vote NO on the Harvest Roaring Fork development proposal. Respectfully, Jeffrey Morris, Ph.D. Economist Sound Resource Management Group, Inc. ( www.srmginc.com ) Dear Planners, This project is wrong headed and can not be supported. I am appalled that it has even made it this far. Only humans can screw this valley up. Dennis Nola, FASLA Subject: Harvest Roaring Fork Name: David Malehorn Email: dave.malehorn@icloud.com Phone number: 9703792872 Message: I am very much AGAINST this proposed development due to the size of the project. In a time of water shortage, traffic volume, and the loss of our quality of life, I know we can do better than this development. Respectfully Subject: Please Protect the Cattle Creek Confluence from Unsustainable Development from the proposed development known as the HARVEST ROARING FORK PUD Name: Greg & Anna Vitali Email: gvitali@att.net Phone number: (661) 645-0066 Message: Commissioner Mike Samson, I respectfully urge you to reject this development and to protect the Cattle Creek Confluence for current and future generations. Reasons to reject: * Traffic, Safety & Infrastructure. * Water Quality & Watershed Health. * Rural Character & Scenic Beauty. * Public Services & Community Costs. * Ecosystems & Wildlife. Thank you for your leadership and for listening to the concerns of residents across this beautiful Roaring Fork Valley. Sincerely, The Vitali family Carbondale 2757 design co 1 | 1 po box 1764 carbondale, co 81623 Date: February 25, 2026 Re: Harvest Roaring Fork PUD application Dear County Planners and Commissioners Sending a note for consideration in your review, based on our general professional experience and also brief experience in communication with the developer applicant. As an architect in Carbondale, with a focus on housing work locally in our valley and throughout our connected mountain communities, we’ve had the privilege to collaborate with genuinely motivated private and public partnerships to address our workforce housing challenges. To put it bluntly, the developer applicant for Harvest Roaring Fork is not that type. Call it a hunch, or an easy read from years of experience and encounters with similar developers, but their approach is transparently insincere. Their goal is to use the much needed, hot button topic, of workforce housing as a path to harvest an open site and our valley resources, for profit. Harvest Roaring Fork indeed… $$$. *Blend in some talking points of local collaboration and environmental stewardship. Job well done. As a proponent of density rightly sized and rightly placed- close to our municipal centers, infrastructure, and services- we often advocate for smart and thoughtful solutions to our housing and sprawl issues. This proposal however, meets none of those criteria of rightly sized and rightly placed, and will only contribute to the typical outcomes of sprawl. For both factors, the developer and scale, I hope for the denial of this application. Thank you brian golden | principal. aia. leed ap. Subject: Harvest Name: Geneviève Joëlle Villamizar Email: salt.dirt@gmail.com Phone Number: (970) 505-8506 Message: The Roaring Fork Valley cannot bear this level of development. The promise of affordable housing is false. The impacts of this kind of development are not worth it. I’ve lived all over the United States, in small towns and huge metropolises like Washington DC. This valley is an incredible and unique place in part because of the lower population. In part because of the wildlife that we see every single day that other people across the country, only get to see on social media and in movies. With the shifting demographics and the increase in affluent residents as small town locals are pushed out, I’ve witnessed the highway and back road between Glenwood and Carbondale change. People from urban areas bring city speeds, aggression, and entitlement. I have filled my freezer with so many dead animals salvaged along Hardwick Bridge Road. This section of the valley floor is critical wintering ground. Just this week you could see all of the elk on the berms, sunning. The commuter traffic takes such a significant toll on the *people* who already live here. Building more houses in a very precious parcel of land isn’t a work force solution. Our infrastructure cannot take 1500 at a minimum, upwards of 5000, more vehicles, 5000 more people. More strain on our utilities. More demand for finite water. More pollution. More stress. More road rage. More accidents on a daily basis. As we witness, the human impacts on the planet at a global level, we have to ask ourselves, how much more? This land has a carrying capacity and we have met that capacity. The quality of life is decreasing here. There are other places to build and develop in this is not one of them. It is far too precious. It does not meet the needs of the existing community. How many more people are we going to allow to profit off of our losses? Please do what you can to block this development. Thank you for reading. Subject: Please Protect the Cattle Creek Confluence from Unsustainable Development from the proposed development known as the HARVEST ROARING FORK PUD Name: Email: Phone Number: Message: I am writing with deep concern about the proposed large-scale development, HARVEST ROARING FORK, at the Cattle Creek Confluence, where Cattle Creek meets the Roaring Fork River. This area is one of the last intact open spaces along the river and is vital not only to Garfield County, but to the health and sustainability of the entire Roaring Fork Valley — including Pitkin and Eagle Counties. Here are key reasons why this proposed project should not move forward as proposed: 1. Traff ic, Safety & Infrastructure Thousands of new vehicle trips would overwhelm Highway 82 and local roads, requiring new traffic lights and stretching emergency response capacity. This puts residents at greater risk. 2. Water Quality & Watershed Health The Roaring Fork watershed is already under strain. A large development without robust stormwater safeguards would increase runoff, pollution, and sediment, degrading water quality for communities downstream. 3. Rural Character & Scenic Beauty The proposed density — 1,500 residential units, up to 375 ADU’s, a 120 room hotel, and 55,000 square feet of commercial space on 283 acres — is fundamentally incompatible with existing zoning and with the valley’s rural identity. 4. Public Services & Community Costs The proposal does not account for the strain on schools, fire protection, EMS, and utilities. This leaves existing taxpayers and communities to absorb the costs of growth. 5. Ecosystems & Wildlife The confluence is a rich ecological corridor, home to bald eagles, herons, elk, deer, foxes, trout, and migratory birds. Development of this scale would fragment critical habitat and disrupt migration and breeding grounds. This issue extends beyond Garfield County. Water quality, wildlife migration, and development precedent will affect the broader valley — including Pitkin and Eagle Counties. Our region must prioritize sustainable growth that protects natural resources and community well-being. I respectfully urge you to reject this development as proposed and to protect the Cattle Creek Confluence for current and future generations. Thank you for your leadership and for listening to the concerns of residents across the Roaring Fork Valley. Subject: Please Protect the Cattle Creek Confluence from Unsustainable Development from the proposed development known as the HARVEST ROARING FORK PUD Name: Brittany Bergin-Foss Email: babsdodge@yahoo.com Phone number: Message: Dear Mike Samson, Thank you for taking the time to read my message. I am writing with deep concern about the proposed large-scale development, HARVEST ROARING FORK, at the Cattle Creek Confluence, where Cattle Creek meets the Roaring Fork River. This area is one of the last intact open spaces along the river and is vital not only to Garfield County, but to the health and sustainability of the entire Roaring Fork Valley — including Pitkin and Eagle Counties. Here are key reasons why this proposed project should not move forward as proposed: 1. Traffic, Safety & Infrastructure Thousands of new vehicle trips would overwhelm Highway 82 and local roads, requiring new traffic lights and stretching emergency response capacity. This puts residents at greater risk. 2. Water Quality & Watershed Health The Roaring Fork watershed is already under strain. A large development without robust stormwater safeguards would increase runoff, pollution, and sediment, degrading water quality for communities downstream. 3. Rural Character & Scenic Beauty The proposed density — 1,500 residential units, up to 375 ADU’s, a 120 room hotel, and 55,000 square feet of commercial space on 283 acres — is fundamentally incompatible with existing zoning and with the valley’s rural identity. 4. Public Services & Community Costs The proposal does not account for the strain on schools, fire protection, EMS, and utilities. This leaves existing taxpayers and communities to absorb the costs of growth. 5. Ecosystems & Wildlife The confluence is a rich ecological corridor, home to bald eagles, herons, elk, deer, foxes, trout, and migratory birds. Development of this scale would fragment critical habitat and disrupt migration and breeding grounds. This issue extends beyond Garfield County. Water quality, wildlife migration, and development precedent will affect the broader valley — including Pitkin and Eagle Counties. Our region must prioritize sustainable growth that protects natural resources and community well-being. I respectfully urge you to reject this development as proposed and to protect the Cattle Creek Confluence for current and future generations. Thank you for your leadership and for listening to the concerns of residents across the Roaring Fork Valley. Sincerely, Brittany Bergin-Foss Subject: Cattle creek harvest project Name: Sam Gemus Email: sgemus22@gmail.com Phone Number: Message: Please vote no on this project. This Valley and all of it's resources are not here to appease developers' plans for housing and shopping. The great tragedy around most of our state is the over-saturation of suburban sprawl. This valley is great because it limits sprawl and maximizes natural habitat. Please choose to see that this crucial, beautiful land is not for those with pockets deep enough to destroy it. Thank you Subject: Harvest Roaring Fork Name: Anne Austin-Clapper Email: aaclapper8@gmail.com Phone Number: (970) 319-9588 Message: Please deny this application! It is way too large; ADU’s are not rented to workers but to Air B&B clients;The hotel is not necessary for local housing and wildlife needs space to roam! Daycare will be needed for all families looking for affordable housing. The traffic impact is the worst part of all this. The density is outrageous. Cut in half the size and let’s see what that brings us. Ace Lane, the developer of the Tree Farm gets approval and then sells out the individual development parcels! Should not be allowed. Thanks for taking time to read these considerations. Subject: Deny Harvest Roaring Fork PUD application Name: Phil Nyland Email: pdn711@gmail.com Phone Number: Message: Hello Perry and commissioners. Please affirm Garfield County Planning Commission's recommendation to deny this planned unit development (PUD) application. The proposed development creates irreversible impacts to traffic and transportation, wildlife and natural resources, and water demand while providing no clear solutions toward existing challenges of workforce housing, smart community development, and transportation solutions. Vote to retain the rural character of unincorporated Garfield County. Thank you, Phil Nyland Glenwood Springs, CO From: Zachary Cherry <zachcherrynewby@gmail.com> Sent: Wednesday, February 25, 2026 11:51 PM To: John Plano <jplano@garfieldcountyco.gov>; john@kuerstenconstruction.com Cc: Brooke Winschell <BWinschell@garfieldcountyco.gov> Subject: Re: FORMAL NOTICE: Public Trust Violation & 1st Amendment Interference - Harvest PUD Sorry for the mix up Mr Plano. This message was meant for Mr Kuersten. I apologize for any confusion. On Wed, Feb 25, 2026 at 11:28 PM Zachary Cherry <zachcherrynewby@gmail.com> wrote: On Feb 25th, you admitted on the record that you 'did not have adequate time to review and evaluate' this $31M project. Yet, in the same meeting, you admitted that you agreed with the developers "100% and will pass it". This has also been recorded and will be added to the public record. Respectfully, Zachary Cherry-Newby On Wed, Feb 25, 2026 at 10:10 PM Zachary Cherry <zachcherrynewby@gmail.com> wrote: John, I am writing to formally state my disapproval of your testimony during the Feb 25, 2026 hearing regarding the Harvest Roaring Fork PUD. Your attempt to 'vaguely' validate the applicant’s infrastructure claims—which the Board already found to be deceptive—constitutes a direct assault on the First Amendment Rights of the 67+ residents in unanimous opposition. By providing technical cover for a Lethal Highway Hazard (already flagged by CDOT), you are de-authenticating your role as a Chief Building Official. I am archiving your removal from the microphone for use in the March 11th Public Audit. The Backbone is the Law, and we do not appreciate 'Greedhead' tactics used to silence the truth of this Valley. Respectfully, Zachary Cherry-Newby From: Zachary Cherry <zachcherrynewby@gmail.com> Sent: Thursday, February 26, 2026 2:08 AM To: John Plano <jplano@garfieldcountyco.gov>; Brooke Winschell <BWinschell@garfieldcountyco.gov>; Glenn Hartmann <GHartmann@garfieldcountyco.gov>; jeffrey.erickson@pitkincounty.com Cc: david.townsley@cogs.us Subject: FORMAL NOTICE: Habitability Breaches & Code Violations - RealAmerica LLC (MountainView/Roaring Fork) Hello , I am writing to formally report systemic Building Code and Warranty of Habitability violations at properties managed by RealAmerica LLC. Mountainview flats and Roaring Fork Apartments. As a maintenance technician for both properties I have documented the following conditions. Mountainview flats The bottom level of the building has drywall glued directly to the foundation. This was documented to the out of state management on 1/5/26 with their official company moisture incident report. I asked them to make a decision because the job was too big for me to be able to do by my self. On 1/8/26 The out of state management told me to glue the drywall back to the foundation. I did not do this. as of 2/9/25 nothing had been done to fix the problem. I believe this issue is affecting multiple units. Roaring Fork apartments On 12/26/25 there was a flood affecting multiple units, I advised management that the amount of water required professional mitigation. They refused because of cost leaving the resident in the unit. They then refused to hire professional help to repair the ceiling in the unit even though the entire bathroom and most of the living room was affected. Management didn't care and refused to have it repaired in a timely manner. As you know the history of this building it seems to be an on going issue with this company in the Roaring Fork Valley I would be happy to share my data with any of y'all Thank you, Zachary Cherry-Newby 970-904-9508 From: John Plano <jplano@garfieldcountyco.gov> Sent: Thursday, February 26, 2026 8:57 AM To: Zachary Cherry <zachcherrynewby@gmail.com>; Brooke Winschell <BWinschell@garfieldcountyco.gov>; Glenn Hartmann <GHartmann@garfieldcountyco.gov>; jeffrey.erickson@pitkincounty.com Cc: david.townsley@cogs.us Subject: RE: FORMAL NOTICE: Habitability Breaches & Code Violations - RealAmerica LLC (MountainView/Roaring Fork) Hello Zachary, Neither of those properties are in Unincorporated Garfield County. Just a note that Garfield County does not have a Property Maintenance Code adopted. May I suggest that the State has help when there are conflicts between landlords and tenants. https://doh.colorado.gov/disputes-with-landlords https://coloradohousingconnects.org/renters-i-need-help-with-a-tenant-landlord-issue/ I wish you luck with your situation. Sincerely, John Plano Chief Building Official Garfield County Building Department 108 8th Street #401 Glenwood Springs, CO 81601 (970) 945-1377 Ext. 1560 From: Zachary Cherry <zachcherrynewby@gmail.com> Date: Thu, Feb 26, 2026 at 9:23 AM Subject: Re: FORMAL NOTICE: Public Trust Violation & 1st Amendment Interference - Harvest PUD To: John Kuersten <john@kuerstenconstruction.com> Concern “I did not review this” and “ I’m going to approve this 100%” explain that. You also said that people “knew what you were doing” and to “let you do it” explain your position. What were you attempting to do? On Thu, Feb 26, 2026 at 5:16 AM John Kuersten <john@kuerstenconstruction.com> wrote: You should be more concern that county staff is trying to influence an outcome of a public hearing and not allow its own planning commissioners to properly vet an application. When allowed we are typically very thorough. You realize staff recommendation was for approval and if I as a planning commissioner am not allowed to comment and ask questions that is the information we have to base our decision on. We on the Planning Commission have always allowed all parties time to ask questions, offer their opinions and promote discussion on the application. The County Attorney was out of line trying to rush the commission through their process and not afford the applicant a fair hearing thereby opening up a potential claim from the applicant of not having a fair hearing and due process. This helps no one either for or against. John Kuersten From: Zachary Cherry <zachcherrynewby@gmail.com> Sent: Thursday, February 26, 2026 9:31 AM To: Brooke Winschell <BWinschell@garfieldcountyco.gov> Subject: Fwd: FORMAL NOTICE: Public Trust Violation & 1st Amendment Interference - Harvest PUD Lets Make sure all of this is on the public record. From: Zachary Cherry <zachcherrynewby@gmail.com> Sent: Thursday, February 26, 2026 9:35 AM To: John Kuersten <john@kuerstenconstruction.com> Cc: Brooke Winschell <BWinschell@garfieldcountyco.gov> Subject: Conflict check Vice Chair Kuersten, you stated on the record that you 'did not have adequate time to review' the safety and infrastructure data, yet you promised to 'pass it 100%' anyway. Given that your company, Kuersten Construction, specializes in the exact type of large- scale excavation and infrastructure work this $31M project requires, how can the public be assured that your '100% agreement' is based on Findings of Fact and not the Future Business Interests of your private firm? Zachary Cherry-Newby From: Zachary Cherry <zachcherrynewby@gmail.com> Sent: Thursday, February 26, 2026 10:35 AM To: Brooke Winschell <BWinschell@garfieldcountyco.gov>; Glenn Hartmann <GHartmann@garfieldcountyco.gov>; John Kuersten <john@kuerstenconstruction.com>; John Plano <jplano@garfieldcountyco.gov> Subject: ADMINISTRATIVE ADMISSION OF ZERO PROPERTY MAINTENANCE OVERSIGHT This serves as a formal notice that the Garfield County Building Department has officially admitted a Total Systemic Failure to protect the health and safety of residents in unincorporated Garfield County. In an official communication dated Feb 26, 2026, Chief Building Official John Plano confirmed: "Garfield County does not have a Property Maintenance Code adopted." Forensic Implications for the Harvest Roaring Fork PUD: 1. Enforcement Vacuum: If this $31M project is approved, the County will have zero legal authority to enforce basic habitability or safety standards once the "Texas Suits" (Realty Capital) complete construction. 2. Bad Faith Approval: Any vote to approve this project "100%"—knowing the County has no code to protect the residents—constitutes a willful disregard for public safety. Demand: We request an immediate stay on all PUD approvals until a Property Maintenance Code is adopted. The Backbone is the Law. Respectfully, Zachary Cherry-Newby Hi Glenn Ray Ciborowski here I hope all is well with you. I'm writing to you to protest the new development that is trying to be pushed down our throats. That harvest subdivision is too large and will greatly impact hwy 82 and our Valley. We still have 1 grocery store and a hospital that is almost at capacity. The building going on in Glenwood Springs is ridiculous. The young people have no chance at home ownership as all these developers which come from different states build apartments ie the meadows .we need to have a building moratorium until true affordable housing plan is reached. I'm asking you to please allow common sense over greed. Thanks for your time Ray Ciborowski Subject: Harvest Roaring fork Name: Ericka Crampton Email: cramptone@gmail.com Phone Number: (970) 404-1777 Message: I am writing to urge you to vote no on this project. I am a mother of 6 year old twins. My husband and I grew up in Carbondale. And this development will be detrimental to the water most of all, and the wildlife in this area. Please think about the future impacts and not just financial. Please please don’t vote for this. Thank you, From a mother who hopes there is still the beautiful rivers for my future grandchildren Subject: Harvest Roaring Fork Proposal Name: Doug Greenholz Email: doug.greenholz@gmail.com Phone Number: (303) 868-8211 Message: I attended the P&Z zoning hearing last night for teh Harvest Cattle Creek proposal and signed up to speak during the public comment section. Because the meeting ran long, public comment was continued to March 11th, a meeting I cannot attend in person. Please accept the below and enter into the record as my public comment: I have been in the real estate development business for 35+ years and have been the applicant on many projects - some with a very high level of public interest. Never have I seen such a number of members of the public attend a public hearing; last night there were literally many hundreds of attendees. This speaks volumes about the lack of support for the Harvest project. It's clear that the Harvest proposal is not compatible with a lot more than the comprehensive plan. It's too dense, too big, resulting in too many big nagative impacts on natural and local resources: traffic, emergency egress capacity, air/noise/light pollution, wildlife, waterways, open space and WATER! As you know, water was already scarce last year in the RF Valley and this year it's going to be critical with municipalities already filing for alternative water sources. There simply isn't enough water for the valley already; this development simply turns a blind eye to the crisis. The proposal is ill-conceived and, as drafted, creates too many opportunities for the developer and future residents to further increase density / impacts. The project was touted as a partial solution to the shortage of affordable housing, but the arguments are rife with flaws (severely under-estimated build costs, lack of monitoring on RO/affordable housing, lack of monitoring/controls on ADU's, and many more). The County staff recommends denial. The conclusion in the staff reports sums it up concisely: "...the request for PUD Rezoning for the Harvest Roaring Fork PUS is NOT in the best interest of the health, safety, convenience, order, propserity and welfare of the citizens of Garfield county." The applicant is either out of touch or misleading or both. He claimed he had hundresd of conversations with locals about the project where he found support. Yet of the 67 registered public comments received prior to the meeting last not a single one was in favor; all were against. Hmmmmm. Responsible development - OK. This proposal is NOT responsible. I urge the Commission to do the responsible thing by denying the application as proposed. Please share this with the P&Z Commissioners. Subject: Harvest Roaring Fork Name: Robert deWetter Email: rdwm22@gmail.com Phone number: (970) 456-8957 Message: Dear Mr. Jankovsky. I attended the meeting last night at CMC. I was stunned by the number of people attending and grateful to CMC for providing overflow space in multiple classrooms in adjacent buildings. My wife and I have lived in Glenwood Springs since 2023 and we were full time residents in Snowmass Village prior to this time for 15 years. We are writing to express our strong opposition to the proposed development. Our opposition is based upon the size the of the project, the increased traffic, the elimination of the current open space beneficial to wildlife and quality of living, the impact the project would have on numerous environmental factors, the opposition to the project from the Roaring Fork Conservancy and local fly fishing guides, the further destruction of dark night skies, and for many other reasons. Last night the vast majority of people were in strong opposition to the project. As our commissioner, we are hopeful that the voices of your constituents, the majority of whom oppose the project, will persuade you to oppose this development. Thank you for your service to the people of Garfield County. Robert de Wetter. Subject: Opposition to Harvest Roaring Fork development Name: John and Deborah Johnston Email: jsjohnston66@gmail.com Phone number: (970) 922-9566 Message: I write for both my wife and myself and hope you will share our message with your fellow commissioners. We strongly oppose the Harvest Roaring Fork development. We attended the meeting of Feb 25, 2025 with an estimated one thousand others in opposition. We have lived in the valley for eleven years. We moved here for the beauty, the outdoors, the mountain community and the wildlife. All of these will be damaged by the proposed development. The developers claim to only want to aid in providing more affordable housing. But, their claim is specious. The added housing will only degrade the quality of life in the valley while exacerbating travel times for workers and will do little to alleviate the cost of housing. If the developers, and the Commissioners, truly want to aid workers they will turn their attention from increasing crowding and traffic in the valley to improving mass transit in the valley and surrounding areas. There are surely many creative ways to facilitate worker transit so housing can be created outside the valley in more affordable and less impacted areas. Dear Commissioners: I am a homeowner in Aspen Glen. I am writing you to express my concern about the PUD proposed at Cattle Creek. This would be a devastating degradation of Garfield County in so many ways. I know this area to be a major elk habitat in addition to blue Heron and eagles. The loss of this land to such a high density new city would doom Garfield County to looking like the Vail Valley. The loss of wildlife habitat would be catastrophic and could never be replaced. Please do not approve this project. Thank you; William Douglas Jr. 13 Mariposa Carbondale Dear County Commissioners, My name is Eric Whiting, and I am a lifelong resident of the Roaring Fork Valley. I am writing regarding the proposed Harvest Roaring Fork development. This property is long overdue for development. Growth is part of what keeps this valley vibrant and economically viable. People invest here because it is an appealing place to live and vacation. Thoughtful development sustains that vitality. I would welcome a mixed-use, walkable development similar in spirit to Willits — combining residential and commercial uses in a way that builds community and supports local businesses. However, after reviewing Harvest Roaring Fork’s proposal, I have serious concerns in two key areas. 1. Traffic & Highway 82 Safety Highway 82 is the primary artery of this valley. The current intersection plan is inadequate and unsafe. Major Concerns: • U-turn access onto southbound Highway 82 is dangerous, particularly during morning/evening rush hour. The current plan is not practical for the new users of the development. • Expecting existing Cattle Creek traffic to also execute U-turns shows little consideration for current users. The Cattle Creek intersection should realistically be merged into a single intersection with Harvest Roaring Fork. • The Thunder River Market intersection is already failing to handle traffic volume. The proposed intersections would exacerbate the issue at Thunder River. • The Cattle Creek turnoff has long been one of the most dangerous intersections in the valley. The current proposal doesn't fix this, while asking southbound Highway 82 users to quickly speed up, merge through all highway lanes, then slow down to execute a U turn. That's not practical nor safe, especially in snowy weather. • Adding high-density development with new direct access points will worsen already failing intersections. What Should Be Required: • At minimum: Multiple fully functional stoplights designed for projected future traffic. • Realistically: On/off ramps to prevent stopping congested high-speed highway traffic should start to be implemented all along Highway 82, starting with Harvest Roaring Fork. • Planning for future capacity now, not retrofitting after congestion and accidents worsen. • Creation of local connector roads tying into Old State Highway 82, allowing Riverview School traffic to avoid jumping on and off Highway 82 unnecessarily. If this development proceeds, this is the moment to fix long-standing Highway 82 safety issues — not compound them. 2. Wildlife Impacts I also reviewed Harvest Roaring Fork’s wildlife assessment. Any development reduces habitat. That is simply a fact. Wildlife populations in this region are limited primarily by available winter habitat. The neighboring Colorado River Valley provides adequate winter range. The Roaring Fork Valley has abundant summer range, but winter habitat is wildlife's limiting factor here. Reducing available winter forage and habitat reduces the number of animals the landscape can sustain. I am not suggesting this parcel remain undeveloped. However, the wildlife report should clearly acknowledge that development will reduce habitat capacity and wildlife numbers in the region. Honest analysis strengthens good planning. In closing, I support development on this parcel. But it must be done responsibly, with: • A highway plan that improves long-term safety and capacity • Realistic traffic mitigation • Honest acknowledgment of wildlife impacts Highway 82 is the lifeline of this valley. If we fail to plan properly now, we will live with the consequences for decades. Thank you for your time and service to our community. Eric Whiting February 28 2026 Dear Philip, My name is Cindi Davis. I recently moved from Aspen to Aspen Glen. We chose Aspen Glen for its openness and rural lifestyle — the same character and sense of space we enjoyed in Aspen years ago. The proposed Harvest Roaring Fork development would directly and negatively impact our daily lives here in Aspen Glen. Our home sits within view of the proposed high-density residential units and hotel. The views, quiet, and solitude we experience each day — especially from our back patio — would be significantly affected. This development would not only impact our home, but also our neighbors and the broader Aspen Glen community. I love living in Garfield County and have already made a positive footprint in the community. We are involved in valley charities, and our daughter runs the after-school program at Sopris Elementary. We intentionally moved down valley to experience and preserve the rural character we have grown to love. We believe this proposal goes against the existing land use code designated for this area of Garfield County. While we understand and support the need for development and affordable housing within municipalities and cities — which are better equipped to accommodate higher-density populations — placing a high-density development in a rural- zoned area will have serious unintended consequences. Such a project would strain roads, hospitals, healthcare services, police, and fire resources. Increased traffic alone would dramatically impact road safety and daily travel throughout the area. At this time, we respectfully request a site visit to our residence in Aspen Glen so decision- makers can fully understand the visual and community impact this proposed development would have. Thank you for your time and consideration. Sincerely, Cindi Davis Gems of Aspen 75 Horseshoe Lane Aspen Glen Carbondale, CO 81623 970 948 2677 cell Subject: No Development at Cattle Creek and Roaring Fork River Name: Joe Moon Email: hikejoemoon@yahoo.com Phone number: (970) 319-8856 Message: Dear Mike Samson, Please do not allow any development in the Cattle Creek and Roaring Fork area. It's obvious to me that this area should remain as is for the sake of the majority of people who live here, and certainly the ecosystem. Joe Moon Subject: “Harvest “planning/zoning Name: Deborah Korbel Email: debkorbel58@gmail.com Phone Number: 19709488612 Message: Hi Glenn, I’m Deborah Korbel, we go way back to our 20’s at Ski Sunlight. It is good to see a familiar face on City Council at the meetings. I am against the Harvest Development at the Cattle Creek area. For many reasons: 1. Highway 82 is already over saturated with commuter traffic and more. 2. Environmental impacts for wildlife habitat would be too much for elk, deer, heron rookeries and the ecosystem of the area. 3. The costs of building affordable housing will continue to rise to be unaffordable for service workers in Garfield County. 4. It is appealing to locals and guests of the valley to keep open spaces for what it is…wide open spaces. This area would serve the community better to become park like not another community bogging down traffic on highway 82 even more. Thank you for your help! Subject: Development at cattle creek confluence Name: Richard Katchuk Email: rfkatchuk@gmail.com Phone number: 9703091608 Message: I strongly oppose the potential development by Harvest Roaring Fork, LLC just across from Cattle Creek. We have lived in Carbondale full time since 2002. Traffic, congestion, and quality of life in our mountain town has changed significantly, especially in the last few years. This planned development would add excessively to the traffic, congestion and quality of life in this valley. Please vote no. Thank you. Please share my thoughts with the other two commissioners. Dear Commissioners, We are formally requesting that the public hearing regarding the Harvest Roaring Fork PUD Application, currently scheduled for March 11, 2026, at 6:00 PM, be relocated from the Colorado Mountain College (CMC) Spring Valley Ascent Center to a larger, more accessible venue in Glenwood Springs. Justification for Relocation: 1. Venue Capacity Failure: The February 25th hearing at the Ascent Center is designed for only 100 people, which is woefully inadequate for a project of this magnitude The ascent center reached maximum capacity, with overflow crowds forced to stand in hallways or leave the building entirely. Public records indicate the combined classroom space at the Ascent Center 2. Safety and Accessibility: CMC Spring Valley is located several miles up a steep mountain road (CR 114). This creates a significant barrier for the workforce—including maintenance techs, snowmakers, and teachers—who are the primary stakeholders in this housing debate. A central venue like Glenwood Springs High School or the Garfield county fairgrounds provides safer, more equitable access. 3. Transparency and Notice: Given the 3.2k+ views on recent community outreach threads and the active CDLE Strategic Enforcement Audit, public interest has reached a critical peak. To maintain the integrity of the Garfield County 2030 Comprehensive Plan, the County must provide a venue that does not physically exclude its citizens. We request an emergency notice of venue change be posted by March 4th to ensure the 1,500+ interested workers have time to coordinate attendance. Respectfully, Zachary Cherry-Newby Dear Members of the Garfield County Planning Commission, I am writing as a concerned Garfield County resident to urge the Planning Commission to deny the Harvest at Roaring Fork application. This project conflicts with the Garfield County Comprehensive Plan’s directives on sustainable growth, water resources, wildlife protection, and infrastructure capacity. The Comprehensive Plan is the County’s adopted policy framework for evaluating growth, and this application does not satisfy the standards the Plan requires before approving new development. Water Supply and Drought Resilience The Comprehensive Plan requires that development demonstrate long-term, physically available water supply and ensure growth does not exceed infrastructure capacity. The applicant relies on service from the Roaring Fork Water & Sanitation District and augmentation contracts. While augmentation addresses legal stream depletions, it does not guarantee physical water availability during extended drought or climate variability. Recent conditions confirm this concern: the Roaring Fork Watershed has experienced moderate to severe drought, with late 2025 snowpack at roughly half of normal levels and river flows below average. The Colorado River Basin — a critical regional water source — remains in severe drought, with one of the lowest runoff seasons on record last year. Approving this development without independently verified, drought-resilient supply is inconsistent with the Comprehensive Plan and shifts long-term risk onto current and future residents. Wildlife Habitat and Connectivity The Comprehensive Plan emphasizes protecting wildlife corridors and ecological connectivity. While conservation easements exist along the river, wildlife does not remain confined to these protected areas. Upland transitional habitat and movement corridors provide forage, shelter, and connections between riparian zones and the broader landscape. Claims that wildlife concerns are “overblown” ignore the role these non-easement areas play in maintaining viable populations. Fragmentation from density, lighting, traffic, and fencing contributes to cumulative, irreversible habitat loss, which would undermine the County’s ecological protection goals. Highway 82 Congestion and Infrastructure Capacity Highway 82 already experiences significant peak-hour congestion. As someone who drives this route frequently, I have firsthand experience with delays and bottlenecks. Additional residential density from this development will generate substantial new daily vehicle trips, further degrading safety, emergency response times, and air quality. The Comprehensive Plan requires that development not exceed existing infrastructure capacity. Approving this project under current conditions would violate that standard. If the Commission determines traffic impacts are acceptable, it should make explicit findings explaining how the project complies with Plan policies. Growth Alone Does Not Solve Housing Affordability Affordable housing is a real need in Garfield County, but simply approving more development does not make housing more affordable. Large-scale projects often increase demand for land, services, and labor, which drives up the cost of living across the community. Housing affordability is a systemic issue that requires coordinated planning, long-term strategies, and targeted interventions, not isolated development that may accelerate growth pressures. The Comprehensive Plan calls for sustainable, planned growth — approving this project without addressing broader economic impacts undermines those goals. Precedent and Long-Term Responsibility Approval would set precedent allowing development without verified water supply, on constrained roads, and with cumulative wildlife impacts. Responsible growth requires strict adherence to adopted policy. If the Commission considers approval, it must make explicit findings demonstrating how this project meets all relevant Comprehensive Plan standards for water, wildlife, and transportation. Conclusion The Harvest at Roaring Fork application fails to meet the Comprehensive Plan’s standards for sustainable growth, resource protection, and infrastructure alignment. The Commission should deny this application to uphold the Plan and safeguard the long-term interests of Garfield County residents. Thank you for your attention and your service to the community. Sincerely, Reilly Anderson 1017 Bennett Ave. Glenwood Springs, CO 81601 Subject: Harvest Roaring Fork Proposal – Opposition Name: Gabriela Rand Email: randgabriela@gmail.com Phone Number: (970) 319-3046 Message: Dear Commissioners, I am a 30-year resident of Glenwood Springs and live in Elk Springs. I am writing to oppose the Harvest Roaring Fork development near Cattle Creek and ask that you deny the application as proposed. In Elk Springs I have seen how new construction displaces wildlife; deer and other animals that regularly moved through the area are now far less visible. The Harvest Roaring Fork parcel is one of the last undeveloped stretches of valley floor in the lower Roaring Fork Valley, next to the Roaring Fork Conservancy easement and along Cattle Creek and the Roaring Fork River. Colorado Parks and Wildlife and the Roaring Fork Conservancy have identified it as important habitat. Even if the easement stays intact, dense development around it will bring lighting, noise, pets, fencing, traffic, and constant human activity that fragment habitat and disrupt feeding and migration. Once this site is built out, that loss is permanent. Highway 82 between Carbondale and Glenwood Springs is already overburdened. I commute to Aspen daily; what should be about an hour can easily become two hours or more with a single accident or closure. Delays and speeding are routine, and basic maintenance is lagging. The pothole at the intersection near Thunder River Market keeps getting larger and still has not been properly repaired, forcing drivers to swerve on a busy stretch. This shows our road system and maintenance budget are already stretched for current users. Adding a development “half the size of Carbondale and twice the size of Willits,” as Commissioner Rudd noted, will greatly increase daily trips on Highway 82 and local roads, yet there is no realistic, funded plan to add capacity, improve safety, or address deferred maintenance. Without major, guaranteed transportation improvements and firm commitments from CDOT, this project will worsen congestion, safety issues, and road degradation. Basic services, especially groceries, are already strained. Glenwood Springs stores frequently struggle to keep produce and other essentials in stock; I often see empty vegetable shelves. The application mentions commercial uses but does not clearly commit to a full-service grocery store or when it would open. If thousands of new residents are added without a real on-site grocery option, they will rely on already-stressed stores in Glenwood and Carbondale, meaning more traffic on Highway 82 just for basic shopping. County staff have found that the proposal does not adequately address traffic and infrastructure impacts. Transit along Highway 82 is already heavily used; pointing to regional bus service is not enough without concrete commitments to capacity and safe pedestrian/bike connections. The Rio Grande Trail crosses this property and is a key recreation and commuting corridor; high-density development, new driveways, and crossings will affect trail safety and character. Water and wastewater systems, emergency services, and schools will also be stressed unless robust, enforceable plans and funding are in place up front. I strongly support real affordable and workforce housing, but key details of this proposal are unclear: how the deed restrictions will work, how many units will truly be affordable to local workers, and how long affordability will last. The fact that “we need affordable housing” should not be used to justify any very large project regardless of location, scale, and impact. A development that degrades wildlife habitat, overloads an already congested and under-maintained highway, and adds pressure to groceries, schools, and utilities may ultimately harm the community it claims to serve. Given staff’s recommendation for denial, the concerns from Colorado Parks and Wildlife and the Roaring Fork Conservancy, and the unresolved issues around wildlife, transportation, grocery and service access, and infrastructure, I respectfully ask you to deny the Harvest Roaring Fork application as proposed. If it is considered further, it should be significantly scaled down, with independent traffic and infrastructure analysis, firm and funded transportation and safety improvements, strong wildlife protections and open-space buffers, and clear, enforceable long-term affordable-housing provisions for local workers. Please enter this letter into the public record for the March 11 hearing. Sincerely, Gabriela Rand Hello - My husband and I have been Garfield County residents for nearly three decades now. We wanted to attend the latest meeting of the county planning commission, but because of health issues that make it difficult to get into and out of a small and crowded room, we attended via Zoom. We understand the public comment portion of the meeting has been rescheduled for March 11. Because somewhere between 500 and 1000 people attended the meeting in person last month, we are hoping that you can move the March meeting to the gym at CMC Spring Valley. I know they have the equipment available because in the past they have shared online guest speakers from a stage in the gym. I'm sure the folks at the campus would be happy to help you out. Thank you for listening to public input on this issue. With regards, Debbie Crawford-Arensman Glenwood Springs Subject: Harvest Roaring Fork Name: Susan Cuseo Email: scoutqzo@gmail.com Phone Number: (970) 618-9676 Message: Dear Perry Will, Attending the February 25th Planning Commission event went even further to solidify my opposition to Harvest Roaring Fork development. The size is too large an addition to that space and our valley in general. Harvest plans a small city where no city is reasonable. Natural resources do not support it – starting with water. Add highway safety, power infrastructure, desperately lacking real affordable housing. Wildlife has already been squeezed out of so much natural habitat by development in our valley. Harvest leaves only a very small area of riverside for them, not enough. Our community understands this Texas developer is clearly a build-sell-run business model, and both the lack of responsibility and lack of honorable community involvement speak to long term disaster. Please make the right decision for long existing community stakeholders who are also the citizens who elected you. Heed our opinions and warnings. Say NO to HARVEST. Very Sincerely, Susan Cuseo Subject: Harvest Roaring fork Development Name: Edward Davis Email: nmss.teddavis@live.com Phone number: (970) 274-1855 Message: Dear Mr. Jankovsky, My name is Edward Davis. I recently relocated from Aspen to Aspen Glen with the understanding that the property surrounding our home was designated and protected under rural zoning standards established by Garfield County. Those zoning protections were a material factor in our decision to purchase and invest here. The proposed Harvest Roaring Fork development appears inconsistent with the County’s adopted Land Use and Development Code, Comprehensive Plan policies, and the stated intent of rural zone districts. Rural zoning is designed to preserve open space, limit density, protect scenic corridors, and minimize infrastructure burdens. Introducing high-density residential units and a hotel into this district would constitute a substantial deviation from those purposes. Under Colorado land use law and the County’s own Code provisions governing rezoning, planned unit developments, or special use approvals, any departure from existing zoning must meet clear criteria, including: Demonstrated consistency with the Comprehensive Plan Compatibility with surrounding land uses Adequate infrastructure capacity (roads, water, sewer, emergency services) Protection of public health, safety, and welfare Avoidance of adverse impacts that cannot be mitigated Based on publicly available information, it is unclear how a high-density residential and hospitality project within a rural zone district satisfies these required findings. Further, approval of this proposal could raise serious precedent concerns. If rural zoning protections can be effectively overridden through discretionary approvals, it undermines reliance interests of property owners who purchased based on existing land use designations. Predictability and uniform application of zoning regulations are foundational principles of sound land use governance. Traffic impacts along Highway 82 and local connector roads must also be evaluated under level-of-service standards and cumulative impact analysis. Increased density will inevitably affect emergency response times, law enforcement coverage, and healthcare access. Any approval must be supported by substantial evidence in the record demonstrating that infrastructure capacity exists or will be fully funded and implemented without shifting burdens to existing residents. We respectfully request that the Board require strict adherence to the County’s Code standards and make detailed written findings of fact supporting any decision. If the required criteria cannot be clearly satisfied, the application should be denied or substantially modified to align with rural zoning intent. Additionally, we formally request a site visit to our residence in Aspen Glen so that you may directly observe the visual corridor and proximity impacts that are central to this matter. My family is deeply committed to this valley. We support local charities, and our daughter leads the after-school program at Sopris Elementary. We chose this community because we believed in the County’s commitment to preserving its rural character. Thank you for your time, service, and careful consideration of the legal and long-term implications of this proposal. Respectfully, Edward Davis 75 Horseshoe Lane Aspen Glen Carbondale, CO 81623 970-274-1855 Subject: Harvest Roaring Fork Name: Ross Roginski Email: rossroginski@gmail.com Phone number: Message: I oppose the Harvest Roaring Fork development. We should be stewards of all our natural resources. The. Size and density of this project should be seen as unacceptable. Thank you Hi Perry… Why are we going through all these meetings and why didn’t the planning commission just say no” to the Harvest property when it is so out of bounds of what should be allowed? The DOT proposal is ridiculous as well. Seems like a major waste of manpower and backbending for the benefit of the Harvest group when it could have simply been denied?? Help!! And no one seems to understand that this would massacre the elk and other four legged habitat??? Thanks for whatever you can do to save this land from turning into a Denver suburb!! Wewer Keohane Sent from my iPhone Good day - this email is to NOT support the proposed development at the confluence of Cattlecreek and the Roaring FOrk river in Garfield County - by Harvest Roaring Fork LLC. This development will not have a positive influence for the area, but will have a negative impact on the river/water quality, wildlife, and in my opinion take away the rural aspect to our community. Thank you Kent Dorr. Subject: Harvest Roaring Fork PUD Name: MATTHEW HUNT Email: matthew.hunt@huntcompanies.com Phone Number: (303) 601-5692 Message: Dear Glenn Hartmann, I am writing with deep concern about the proposed large-scale development, HARVEST ROARING FORK, at the Cattle Creek Confluence, where Cattle Creek meets the Roaring Fork River. This area is one of the last intact open spaces along the river and is vital not only to Garfield County, but to the health and sustainability of the entire Roaring Fork Valley — including Pitkin and Eagle Counties. Here are key reasons why this proposed project should not move forward as proposed: 1. Traffic, Safety & Infrastructure Thousands of new vehicle trips would overwhelm Highway 82 and local roads, requiring new traffic lights and stretching emergency response capacity. This puts residents at greater risk. 2. Water Quality & Watershed Health The Roaring Fork watershed is already under strain. A large development without robust stormwater safeguards would increase runoff, pollution, and sediment, degrading water quality for communities downstream. 3. Rural Character & Scenic Beauty The proposed density — 1,500 residential units, up to 375 ADU’s, a 120 room hotel, and 55,000 square feet of commercial space on 283 acres — is fundamentally incompatible with existing zoning and with the valley’s rural identity. 4. Public Services & Community Costs The proposal does not account for the strain on schools, fire protection, EMS, and utilities. This leaves existing taxpayers and communities to absorb the costs of growth. 5. Ecosystems & Wildlife The confluence is a rich ecological corridor, home to bald eagles, herons, elk, deer, foxes, trout, and migratory birds. Development of this scale would fragment critical habitat and disrupt migration and breeding grounds. This issue extends beyond Garfield County. Water quality, wildlife migration, and development precedent will affect the broader valley — including Pitkin and Eagle Counties. Our region must prioritize sustainable growth that protects natural resources and community well-being. I respectfully urge you to reject this development as proposed and to protect the Cattle Creek Confluence for current and future generations. Thank you for your leadership and for listening to the concerns of residents across the Roaring Fork Valley. Sincerely, Matt Hunt