Burkholder: Retain wild at Cattle Creek and the Roaring Fork River
We know Harvest Roaring Fork will soon return with a revised development proposal. We don’t yet know what changes will be presented, and it would be premature to judge a plan none of us has seen. What we can do now is ask an important question: What kind of valley do we want to leave for future generations? Before approving one of the largest residential developments ever proposed in Garfield County, we should first understand the housing market we already have. Is the challenge simply a shortage of housing units, or is it a shortage of housing that local workers can afford?
Recent market information suggests the answer is more complex than a single phrase like “housing shortage.” In communities, inventory remains elevated, homes are taking longer to sell, while affordable housing remains difficult to find. Understanding both the ownership and rental markets is essential if we hope to identify solutions that truly meet the valley’s housing needs. They deserve thoughtful solutions rather than assumptions.
Good planning begins with good information. Before making decisions that will shape this valley for generations, I hope our elected officials will carefully examine the existing housing inventory, “affordable/workforce” units, the long-term rental market, approved but unbuilt developments and the specific affordability needs throughout the Roaring Fork Valley.
The Roaring Fork Valley is more than a place to build. It is a place where wildlife still moves through open landscapes, where the river remains the heart of our communities and where we carry a responsibility to preserve the possibility that those raised here can stay, strengthening our traditions, culture and sense of belonging.
Whatever proposal comes before our community, I hope we measure it not only by the number of homes it creates, but by the legacy it leaves. For me, that legacy is simple: Retain wild at Cattle Creek and the Roaring Fork River.
Rosemary Burkholder
Carbondale
