Garfield County planning commission recommends denial of Nutrient Farm PUD amid water-supply and review gaps

The Garfield County Planning Commission on May 28 voted 7-0 to recommend the Board of County Commissioners deny the proposed Nutrient Farm planned unit development (PUD) and related Riverbend/Coal Ridge PUD revisions, citing outstanding water‑supply questions and incomplete technical information. The recommendation follows staff analysis and new referral comments from the Colorado Division of Water Resources that the county and applicant must still resolve.

Staff told the commission that the application — a rezoning and amendment affecting about 1,137 acres east of Newcastle and spanning five parcels — “as submitted and revised, does not meet the requirements and standards contained in the Land Use and Development Code.” The staff report identified particular shortfalls tied to water supply documentation and recommended denial with five findings for the Board of County Commissioners to consider.

Why it matters: the PUD would change the zoning and potential uses for a large parcel that adjoins residential neighborhoods and conserved lands. Commissioners and many residents said unresolved water rights and technical details create too much uncertainty to forward an approval recommendation; staff and referral agencies signaled they need additional documentation before the county can reliably evaluate public‑safety, environmental, and infrastructure impacts.

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