[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6535336,"mediaKeyId","3409011-e0527feec1742c466830ea052a12ba3c","parentId",3409011,"title","BLM launches environmental assessment on e-bikes in The Crown; county to weigh local access and enforcement","audioSeconds",236,"startMs",659000,"endMs",895000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3409011-e0527feec1742c466830ea052a12ba3c&start=659&end=895","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3409011-e0527feec1742c466830ea052a12ba3c/thumbnail_659000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6535336/Pitkin-County/Colorado/BLM-launches-environmental-assessment-on-e-bikes-in-The-Crown-county-to-weigh-local-access-and-enforcement","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6535336-5dbe92fc7b71d7fdf4a624c97fcc831a/orig.mp4?Expires=1771141671&Signature=n5j6lvXErS2dkLHPbLnqn9-FKBr~bvbz8Ub65LFqTaZIcH6Cftw5MIj~X-PgPm0peqkLvJa46frtpbPtIkHYpkZuWAMbk6Ye1X~cSujkgwOzEP6UW-uTqZw-VPes3HAc-v-HFtoqwIfXaxRIWgS8ElzvNFopdbfR6M9Lryo4DMwyuXLy3FtS0YQfcU3b4KP8K66owpHspjnXO7zQjzDVtqJuSAHJFzT6dkAzT4Iq2hMCq8fIS5VaU4OH-Lnv9tay0qbaa2Wk0DAmsCJNV0cUDjDdpkigIJ~LTfPqtQwGrLQkv~fAHUMZrB8MFmP~564gFgQSWVvc-QuhwSNA~akPAQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Pitkin County","date","2025-05-20T00:00:00Z","article","The Bureau of Land Management’s Colorado River Valley Field Office has opened an environmental assessment to analyze authorizing Class 1 e‑bikes on trails now designated for mountain bikes in The Crown Special Recreation Management Area, a BLM recreation planner told the Pitkin County Board of County Commissioners at a May 20 work session.

BLM Recreation Planner Alan Sapinski told commissioners, “we will now be going into an environmental assessment project … to analyze adding e‑bikes to traditional mountain bike trails.” He said the EA will include alternatives that could exclude trails “based on resource concerns, public feedback and adjacent land managers,” and that the field office is coordinating with towns, counties and partner agencies as it develops a proposed action for public scoping.

The announcement follows a March 2024 survey of mountain bikers organized by local advocates and the BLM that attracted roughly 1,300 responses and showed a majority of respondents said they would like to use e‑bikes on BLM mechanized trails. Sapinski said the BLM is also running visitor‑use surveys this Memorial Day weekend on The Crown and at Hardscrabble to collect data on visitor experiences and to include an e‑bike question.

Why it matters: The Crown is managed as a focused recreation area under the field office resource management plan and is physically intertwined with Pitkin County Open Space parcels and trailheads. County staff said alignment matters because many users do not recognize property boundaries and enforcement and messaging are easier when management is coordinated.

What county and BLM said they will do: Pitkin County Open Space and Trails Director Gary Tenenbaum described ongoing coordination and said staff will help publicize the BLM scoping tool and surveys. Sapinski said the EA will evaluate where e‑bikes could be authorized and will identify resource concerns to inform alternatives. The BLM plans to publish the proposed action this fall/winter and accept scoping comments through ePlanning.

Concerns raised: Commissioners and local residents pressed the BLM on enforcement, trail user behavior and wildlife impacts. Commissioner Greg asked how managers would enforce the distinction between Class 1 e‑bikes (pedal‑assist) and higher‑speed models, saying, “If you open it to class when you're opening it to everybody is my concern. So that means speeds will increase and damage to terrain will probably increase as well in conflict.” Locals and some commissioners also asked whether expanded e‑bike access would increase trailhead congestion at Bullpen (Prince Creek), and whether seasonal closures intended to protect elk are adequate.

BLM response: Sapinski and county staff said the EA will include a wildlife impacts section and will review existing research on user behavior and speeds. They emphasized education at trailheads and partnership with law enforcement and rangers as the primary compliance tools; they also pointed to examples from other field offices (Moab, Grand Hogback) as precedents and sources of public comments that may inform alternatives.

Next steps: The BLM will collect scoping comments when the proposed action posts, continue visitor use surveys this summer, and further coordinate with Pitkin County. County staff said both the Open Space board and BOCC will be briefed again before any final BLM decision or before the county makes any change to how county open‑space trails adjacent to BLM would be managed.

Ending: The BLM and Pitkin County framed the current step as informational and evidence‑gathering; no county decision was sought at the meeting. The BLM reiterated that specific trail authorizations or restrictions would follow further analysis and public input.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","BOCC Work Session (1st and 3rd Tuesdays) - 05/20/2025","oneSentenceSummary","The Bureau of Land Management’s Colorado River Valley Field Office has opened an environmental assessment to analyze authorizing Class 1 e‑bikes on trails now designated for mountain bikes in The Crown Special Recreation Management Area, a BLM recreation planner told the Pitkin County Board of County Commissioners at a May 20 work session.","taxTitle","Pitkin County, Colorado","taxId",27807,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6535323,"Pitkin County staff propose policy path to allow limited affordable housing outside UGBs after water, infrastructure review",3449,3186000,6635000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3409011-e0527feec1742c466830ea052a12ba3c&start=3186&end=6635","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3409011-e0527feec1742c466830ea052a12ba3c/thumbnail_3186000.jpg","/articles/6535323/Pitkin-County/Colorado/Pitkin-County-staff-propose-policy-path-to-allow-limited-affordable-housing-outside-UGBs-after-water-infrastructure-review","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6535323-b2a96335043454eec9d0f6ed02220e4f/orig.mp4?Expires=1771141671&Signature=aoxWMlgDvdPANafp7Y9e4ZDlmTFGJ4SUmh-Ng1ZoPxjWjHGrNWKVEuQJPyUKKYdYfAlbM4DmX4eCYx7T8c2Rci0dmi~M4C6enmg8yZmz6N2tsGINS9fiWf81bG1hA2-IVlofGqSNJ2bdu0hz4OSYRQDJG~074gCmXNiG~ukeyOr52vPRnkt2OziiKetBbNiNTsZV6ANsfnpAHMOTzIc8d0G-gR91AHwyLKsUyyZckMlYiH3jCJgVESov0WntxmbkS5hmDw2DfGrN2fAJYub8esGT8ys3cv28s5vbjHftparip8TOsnSQq3dTm1fR8JRAGN6mnxTr9J3-6oUhs0l7pg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Pitkin County staff told the Board of County Commissioners on May 20 that updates to county land‑use policies being developed through the Vision 2050 and comprehensive‑plan process could enable new or denser affordable housing outside current urban growth boundaries (UGBs) only where practical infrastructure and environmental criteria are met.

County Manager Kara Silbernaugle and planning consultants presented an approach that starts with the Community Growth Advisory Committee’s recommendation to emphasize affordable and “middle‑market” housing and then applies a set of “enabling and limiting factors” to identify where limited development outside UGBs could be appropriate.

Shelby of Brendle/Brentel Group (planning consultant) summarized the water analysis: nearly all Pitkin County water supply is surface water or tributary groundwater; about 70% of residents receive water from public/regulatory community water systems and the remainder rely on wells. She said approximately 62% of well permits in the county are “exempt” domestic wells, and that augmenting or expanding water service outside existing systems often requires nonexempt wells and water‑court augmentation plans—complex, time‑consuming and potentially costly processes.

“Nearly all of Pitkin County’s water comes from surface and tributary groundwater sources,” Shelby said during the briefing, and staff emphasized that the question for rural housing is not technical availability alone but reliability, monitoring and the legal process required to secure junior water rights or augmentation supplies.

The land‑use guidance staff proposed: keep the primary focus for new affordable housing inside UGBs, but create a narrow set of pathways outside UGBs for (a) densifying existing subdivisions that already have reliable service; (b) small new clusters where larger community water systems with sufficient senior rights and infrastructure capacity can support development; and (c) more structured caretaker/employee dwelling units (CDUs/EDUs) where well permits and water availability permit secondary dwellings.

Staff framed an intermediate “transition zone” outside but adjacent to urban areas as the most likely place for limited, policy‑driven exceptions, because those areas are likeliest to combine proximity to services and transportation with lower wildlife/hazard conflicts. Remote/rural lands distant from services and with concentrated exempt‑well reliance were described as least suitable.

Questions and next steps: Commissioners pressed for more detail on available developable land inside UGBs, the adequacy of water supplies during dry years and whether public water providers (municipal systems, water districts and HOAs) have capacity or interest in expanding service. Shelby said the county’s study used provider surveys and state water‑data systems to estimate current and 2050 demand, and staff will bring more granular provider data and maps to the comprehensive‑plan and comp‑plan water conditions report.

Staff emphasized the work is iterative: the comprehensive plan will host updated policy language, and if the board wishes, staff will draft code changes tied to water, transportation and habitat criteria. The presentation did not change existing policy or authorize new projects; staff asked for guidance on board guardrails and indicated the next steps will include community engagement and integrating the water conditions report into the draft comp plan.

Ending: County staff said the approach intends to balance rural conservation values with targeted policies that enable affordable housing where infrastructure, legal water reliability and hazard/wildlife considerations allow it. Any changes to regulations or UGB policy would return to the board for formal action after public review and the comp‑plan update process.","County staff presented analysis tying Vision 2050 and Community Growth Advisory Committee recommendations to a water‑and‑land‑use framework that would allow limited affordable housing outside urban growth boundaries where public water/sewer and other criteria permit it.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6535331,"Pitkin County activates 1.5 MW battery at Aspen Area Business Center; microgrid will serve public facilities, add revenue pathways",262,3093000,3355000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3409011-e0527feec1742c466830ea052a12ba3c&start=3093&end=3355","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3409011-e0527feec1742c466830ea052a12ba3c/thumbnail_3093000.jpg","/articles/6535331/Pitkin-County/Colorado/Pitkin-County-activates-15-MW-battery-at-Aspen-Area-Business-Center-microgrid-will-serve-public-facilities-add-revenue-pathways","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6535331-922ac8bfbae9e3ab2318d45cdda8ed75/orig.mp4?Expires=1771141671&Signature=U3mfEdP8G4sg7ei4fBxsqpgCx2d-bdfgl0i68Wyyv06FiZlnjNRpIKq~US5SWAZx0p5EfC35lhHk3jqB6B25f9O3631CDPUuEs0OY1I9mS3D8OoCd~uUFu8xcHlaqEdEP3nCVEH0Y~dldv2mppGyRagEPLESvhuHBBFPPz~VBWJWb~46nDTTRsxL1V0kt-9ZfCcEafbksd1FkPxxf6~T58hhHj40d3GKxrdxvlBI6ReZizpXbQske5C7rk62chJgd6BemgWyZ0n0sYHFlsCfhboazxwhJB5HW82xn8wgTNhuKnczu8fkfvZxHLNPzFNHwcbtWhf5kLVIeiIexyzVkA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Pitkin County officials told the Board of County Commissioners on May 20 that construction and commissioning are complete for a 1.5 megawatt battery energy storage system (BESS) installed at the Aspen Area Business Center site, and described next steps for microgrid controls, maintenance contracts and potential revenue arrangements with Holy Cross Energy.

GR Fielding, Pitkin County construction and asset director, said the installed BESS can “be discharged or charged at a 1.5 megawatt rate” and has initial usable storage of about 3.6 megawatt‑hours; he noted expected degradation over decades toward roughly 2 MWh while remaining useful beyond that life span. Fielding described the microgrid arrangement as an emergency‑use capability that can run a cluster of public facilities in an outage and as a candidate for Holy Cross Energy’s market programs.

Funding and partners: County staff described a mix of funding sources including a state DOLA (Department of Local Affairs) energy grant, contributions from the airport, general fund and grants and a partnership with Holy Cross Energy. Fielding said additional capital and operation/maintenance contracts remain under negotiation and that the county has budgeted initial maintenance and power line items.

Operations and market use: Fielding said the county is working to enroll the BESS in Holy Cross’s Power Plus Flex (or similar) program to capture revenue for operations and maintenance when the battery is dispatched for grid services. He explained that, outside emergencies, the BESS primarily operates as a distributed resource on the Holy Cross grid; during certain outages the system can “island” with the nearby solar facility to sustain local critical facilities.

Emergency service and limits: With the two battery containers currently installed, the system can supply a limited number of hours if discharged at peak rate (Fielding said roughly two to three hours at full 1.5 MW draw). County facilities that are part of the microgrid also have legacy backup generators, Fielding said; the plan anticipates the BESS would extend runtime and shift to other redundancies as needed.

Next steps and risks: Staff said final microgrid software and control integration with Holy Cross will require additional commissioning once utilities complete the controller software (Fielding said Holy Cross’s controller design timeline is measured in years). The county is negotiating operations, maintenance and possible revenue agreements and expects to bring those contracts to the board. Fielding said that maintenance expertise is specialized and the county is working with the project vendor on likely ongoing maintenance agreements.

Ending: County staff framed the system as an initial investment in distributed resilience with options to expand in future phases if the county elects to add containers for more storage. The BESS is operating and undergoing final testing while staff pursue contractual and operational details.","Pitkin County completed a 1.5‑megawatt battery energy storage system at the Aspen Area Business Center (AABC). County staff described funding, current capacity and next steps for microgrid controls and operational agreements with Holy Cross Energy.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

BLM launches environmental assessment on e-bikes in The Crown; county to weigh local access and enforcement

Pitkin County staff propose policy path to allow limited affordable housing outside UGBs after water, infrastructure review

Pitkin County activates 1.5 MW battery at Aspen Area Business Center; microgrid will serve public facilities, add revenue pathways