Lorch: Saving Spring Valley from resort development

Many thanks to the Garfield County Planning Department for clearly stating that the Spring Valley Ranch PUD amendment proposal does not meet county regulations, sending this private resort plan back to the drawing board. We can hope it departs this area and finds a more suitable location.

Storied Development, a multi-billion-dollar Georgia based hedge fund, is proposing an exclusive 6,000-acre recreation ranch resort on prominent hillsides above Lookout Mountain, within 4 miles of Glenwood Springs. Their plan will create lots for over 500 monstrous second homes, along with two private golf courses, a south-facing ski resort dependent on snowmaking, a commercial center, and a vast list of other resort facilities. It conflicts with numerous county standards and comprehensive plan policies. It is incompatible with the rural character of the area and threatens to dry up neighbor’s wells by wasting about a million gallons of ground water per day. It will also displace wildlife and destroy critical habitat; create safety concerns on Highway 82 and three county roads; destroy the scenic quality of hillsides and ridges; create indiscriminate noise, light, air, land, and water pollution in the Roaring Fork Valley; … and the list of negative impacts goes on.

But this battle is not over yet! This developer still holds an option to purchase the ranch and has promised to keep chipping away at the county rules. We must anticipate that a proposal will be back soon, threatening to create an unsustainable development that will decimate this unique valley.

Stay tuned to help Save Spring Valley from this outrageous attack on your community’s character and livelihood. It may be coming to a meeting near you soon.

Brian D. Lorch

Glenwood Springs