Board continues hearing on Gold Mountain Ranch special-use permit; applicants asked to provide titles, site plan and operational details

After several hours of testimony and public comment May 6, the Ouray County Board of County Commissioners continued consideration of a special-use permit application from Keystone Portfolio Management for a proposed “guest ranch” operation that spans multiple parcels near Ouray and Ridgeway.

Key decisions: commissioners voted to continue the hearing to 1:30 p.m. on Aug. 26 and asked applicants to return with additional materials that staff and commissioners identified as necessary to evaluate consistency with current land-use rules. Commissioners and staff emphasized they are deciding under the county’s existing land-use code rather than on any hypothetical future code changes.

Requested documentation and clarifications: commissioners and staff asked the applicant to provide a clear site plan of existing conditions with parcel boundaries and infrastructure; a title search or commitment showing ownership and identifying any fractional or split-surface interests within the proposed permit boundary; an authorized-agent statement showing the applicant’s authority to apply for the parcels included; details about on-site wastewater systems and a plan if use exceeds septic capacity; clarification of water rights and ditch/irrigation infrastructure; and operational limitations proposed to protect wildlife (Colorado Parks and Wildlife asked for timing restrictions to reduce disturbance to bighorn sheep) and to preserve historic public access routes.

Public testimony and objections: public commenters and written objections included recreation operators and neighbors who praised the applicant’s stewardship and the Via Ferrata operation, while a written objection from Nevada Ouray Corporation’s attorney raised concerns that several mining-claim parcels within the application area are fractionally owned and could be landlocked or have rights impaired if the county adopted the proposed permit area. County staff and counsel said applicants could cure ownership issues by excluding privately owned fractions from the requested permit area or by providing agreements from affected owners.

Wildlife and public-access concerns: Colorado Parks and Wildlife recommended timing restrictions in production and winter-range areas for bighorn sheep; commissioners asked the applicants to propose operating windows and to avoid motorized activities and other disruptive uses in sensitive periods. Commissioners also asked that historic public access routes shown in county maps remain unobstructed and suggested conditions to guarantee continued public access.

Next steps: the board will expect an updated application and documentation by Aug. 26; staff offered to compile a list of the specific missing items and conditions discussed so the applicant can pursue title work, site mapping and technical consultations. The hearing will be reopened at the continuation date for further deliberation and potential action.