Planning commission approves board‑formed concrete for 522 Highway 133 with mock‑up requirement

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The Carbondale Planning and Zoning Commission on Wednesday approved a material change for the 522 Highway 133 restaurant project, allowing board‑formed concrete on exterior walls instead of the stone originally shown in the application, with the condition that the applicant produce an on‑site mock‑up of the concrete and the wood siding for commission review and approval.

The commission'025s decision followed a lengthy discussion about visual character at the town'025s gateway along Colorado Highway 133, cost differences between materials and the need to control color and texture if the board‑formed concrete is used. The motion to approve passed 4‑3.

David Worth, the architect representing Chester Student Bev LLC, told commissioners the design team revised the project after prior feedback and is proposing board‑formed concrete for roughly 20% of the building'025s north facade under the bridge. "Rather than proceeding with the typical, concrete wall that you saw last week, we're now proposing board formed concrete," Worth said, adding the material "introduces a rich tactile texture" and aligns with the "intent to create a building that serves as a modern enduring statement for the town." The applicants said the board‑formed concrete portion is about 2,200 square feet and represents roughly 20% of the facade area.

Commissioners praised the added texture but split over whether the concrete matches Carbondale'025s established materials palette. Commissioner Nick Michonne, who identified himself as an architect, said the board‑formed concrete solves the commission'025s texture request but urged pigmenting the mix to achieve the desired gray tone. "If they're proposing gray, then they would want to add gray pigment. Absolutely," Michonne said.

Commissioner Kim McGee opposed the change, saying the original stone "tied in more with the stucco at La Fontana" and reflected an investment in quality appropriate for a gateway location. "Stone definitely would be better... I don't think I can support that," McGee said.

Other commissioners cited cost as a driver. The applicants provided contractor estimates that put the additional cost for board‑formed concrete at about $50,000 to $56,000 depending on configuration, while stone veneer was described in the hearing as roughly $98,000 more (the applicants also referenced a range for veneer that they described verbally during the meeting). The applicant said the board‑formed concrete will be poured from natural wood formwork (1x6 or 1x8), with a small mock‑up planned to set texture and pigment ratios.

Commissioners who supported the change said the project remains mostly wood (the applicant noted about 80% of the exterior is wood) and that a controlled mock‑up can ensure the concrete and wood read as intended. Commissioner Jesse Garcia and Commissioner Franco Polambo both voiced support for approving the proposal with the mock‑up condition. Commissioner Cindy Supplieso also voiced support, saying the building'025s overall design would be an asset to the town.

The approved motion, moved from the dais, authorized the material change for the 522 Highway 133 restaurant to use board‑formed concrete in lieu of the stone shown in prior submittals, subject to review and approval of an on‑site material mock‑up of the concrete and the wood siding by the commission or planning staff.

Staff said the commission and planning staff will inspect the mock‑up once produced and that the applicant will coordinate timing for that review. The commission did not attach additional design conditions beyond the mock‑up and materials review.

The commission also discussed broader policy implications, noting that most existing buildings along Highway 133 use brick, stone or earth‑toned stucco and that allowing unpigmented raw concrete could set a visual precedent. Commissioners asked staff to consider the corridor'025s design expectations when future applications arrive.

No other formal actions were taken on the agenda item. The meeting continued with routine staff updates and scheduling notes.