Carbondale staff to send referral comments on large Garfield County PUD; trustees flag traffic, water and housing

Town planning staff presented a draft referral comment April 9 after Garfield County referred a large planned-unit-development application for comment. Carbondale’s town planner summarized technical points and asked trustees whether the draft reflected the board’s priorities.

Staff recommended, and trustees agreed, that the referral emphasize transportation and water-resource concerns, and request stronger affordable‑housing commitments. Trustees said regional traffic implications — and the likelihood the proposal would add several new highway access points near Cattle Creek and the Route 82 corridor — merit a higher level of traffic mitigation analysis and coordination among jurisdictions. Several trustees urged county reviewers to consider grade-separated or other large-scale improvements rather than additional signalized intersections.

Trustees also asked staff to request a review of the project’s water-rights and water‑availability analysis and how any changed diversion or use could affect downstream ditch users. On housing, trustees asked staff to encourage the applicant and the county to require a larger proportion of durable income‑restricted, resident‑occupied and price‑capped units than county baseline rules require.

Staff will finalize the town’s referral letter and send it to Garfield County before the county deems the application complete. The referral does not prejudge county action; trustees noted there will be continued opportunities for public comment in Garfield County’s formal review process.