Gilpin County commissioners on May 27 approved two lease agreements to secure off-site parking: an annual lease with the Central City Opera House Association for county property adjacent to the Opera House, and a seasonal lease with Light of the Mountain Fellowship to provide about 40 additional parking spaces for the county fair.

County legal staff explained the Central City Opera lease is an annual arrangement covering the lot on the building’s first floor and the lot across the street; staff noted the fee is nominal ($10 per year). The board approved Resolution 25-064 authorizing execution of the real property lease agreements with the Central City Opera House Association.

Separately, staff described a renewed arrangement with Light of the Mountain Fellowship to provide approximately 40 parking spaces and pedestrian routing across Highway 46 to the fair. Crystal Meyer, special events coordinator, said she coordinated with the Colorado Department of Transportation and Colorado State Patrol on signage and sight-line requirements; Colorado State Patrol advised that a crosswalk permit was not needed if signage and sight lines were adequate. Staff said the lease will reduce roadside parking and that the Justice Center lot, freed by a completed roofing project, will provide additional capacity.

The board approved Resolution 25-065, authorizing the Light of the Mountain Fellowship parking lot lease, by a 3-0 vote. Staff indicated the church had already signed its copy of the lease and handed it to the county for execution.