Public raises roundabout design, boat-ramp camps, speeding and building-height concerns at Carbondale meeting

Several members of the public used the Town of Carbondale's public-comment period to press trustees on transportation safety, riverfront cleanliness and building-permit enforcement.

Matt (Matthew) Warwick asked trustees to reconsider a recent design change to the acceleration lane at the Marketplace exit, saying the new design extends the acceleration lane into the roundabout without a merging segment and that could encourage higher speeds. Warwick asked whether the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) made the change and urged the town to apply its own balance between moving traffic and protecting a pedestrian- and bike-focused neighborhood. Andy Zach, a member of the bike-path commission, said the commission did not get a chance to discuss the change and described widening the highway as 'antithetical' to the town's goals for pedestrian and bicycle comfort.

Business owner Dave Johnson urged action to address recurring homeless camps, vehicles broken into and trash at the Carbondale boat ramp under the bridge. Johnson said he photographed four tents, a barbecue grill and scattered trash and reported an assault last autumn. He told trustees he had spoken with a Garfield County deputy who told him the county has jurisdiction under the bridge and was willing to partner with the town on evictions; Johnson asked the town to coordinate an enforcement and clean-up response and volunteered to organize community clean-up help.

Resident Denise Moss described long-running speeding on Hendrick Drive, which she and neighbors have been raising for more than two decades. Moss said motorists regularly exceed posted speeds, creating safety risks for children, seniors and people walking dogs. She recommended modest traffic calming such as cones with temporary 20-mph signage or bike lanes and asked trustees why simple measures are hard to implement. Trustees said they are aware of the problem, cited the mobility-access plan and asked staff to follow up, noting pilot projects for traffic calming were discussed.

Pat Garrett raised concerns about building-height measurement, soils and retaining-wall practices for a property on Perry Ridge in RVR. Garrett said the approved structure steps up a steep slope and that a soils report from 2017 covered a smaller building; he requested the town revisit historically used methods for measuring building height (unimproved slope and building pad) and asked that retaining walls comply with OSHA excavation and retaining-wall guidance. He said he has raised the issue previously with planning and building staff and expects follow-up.

Trustees and staff responded to the commenters: staff said they would follow up with the bike and trails commission on the roundabout design and would coordinate with law enforcement partners and CPW (Colorado Parks and Wildlife) on the boat ramp situation. Trustees said they would follow up on Hendrick Drive traffic-calming suggestions and would include building-code and planning staff in reviewing the Perry Ridge concerns.