Pitkin County affirms interest in $10 Brush Creek purchase

Pitkin County might soon purchase the 27 acre lot that houses the Brush Creek Park and Ride from the Colorado Department of Transportation for $10.

The Board of County Commissioners unanimously approved the acceptance of the property at the Wednesday, July 23, regular session in the first of two readings. On the second reading, the purchase will be finalized. 

Brian Pettet, director of Public Works at Pitkin County, said this purchase has been in the works for close to a decade. 

“It was in 2016 when the Board of County Commissioners submitted a letter to the Regional Transportation Director for CDOT requesting the transfer of Brush Creek Park and Ride from the state to the county,” said Pettet. “Since then, there’s been varying degrees of discussion.”

By purchasing the property from CDOT, the county can make changes and improvements to it, so long as they fall within some stipulations placed by a deed on the property. 

“CDOT did put a deed restriction on there,” said Pettet. “The 27 acres could only be used for public transportation purposes or non-proprietary public use.”

The commissioners discussed what type of use the deed restriction would restrict. For example, Commissioner Kelly McNicholas Kury asked whether a rental car company leaving cars in the lot would count as non-proprietary use as the company makes money from the vehicles. 

“I think anytime we walk close to the line of public transportation purposes or non-proprietary public use, we would want to contact CDOT to get clarity on what they think is right and what would be acceptable,” responded Pettet. 

However, Richard Neiley, Pitkin County attorney, clarified that the example of charging for overnight parking would likely fall within the county’s rights under the deed restriction. Overnight parking is one of a few different types of parking that commissioners discussed as a potential change that they would be interested in adding to the parking lot after taking responsibility for it. 

Commissioner Jeffrey Woodruff noted that he would like to see the parking lot become a “world-class” amenity. Changes he noted that would bring it to that quality included charging stations, disability access, and facilities that are comfortable.  

Second reading on the resolution is scheduled for Aug. 13.