Larimer commissioners approve Sorrell Resort Cabins special review, grant two appeals with conditions

The Larimer County Board of County Commissioners on Monday approved an administrative special review and two associated appeals for a three-cabin resort at 509 Riverside Drive in Estes Park, allowing up to 16 guests across three detached rental cabins.

Staff presented the application as an administrative special review for a “resort cabins” use in the Estes Valley EVA1 zone and described two appeals: (1) an appeal to waive the curb, gutter and sidewalk requirement along the property frontage and (2) an appeal to the Estes Valley site-density calculation in Article 13.4.2(a). Cassidy Fiore, principal planner with Community Development, said, “This is a request for an administrative special review for 3 detached rental cabins with a total of 5 bedrooms and 3 additional sleeping areas for a maximum of 16 guests to be rented out on a short term basis, and 2 appeals have been requested to articles, 13 6 8 1 c 4 and 13 4 2 a of the land use code.”

Why it matters: the application requests relief from two locally specific code requirements in the Estes Valley planning area—sidewalk/curb improvements along Riverside Drive and a density calculation that discounts floodplain when determining allowable units. Approving the appeals and the special review enables the owner to develop a small, multi-unit commercial accommodation rather than construct a single-family home, but the board attached conditions aimed at limiting impacts on wildfire risk, riparian habitat and neighborhood character.