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Huerfano County OKs exemption for Mountain View Ranches after developer cites $100,000 marketing loss and water concerns
Summary
The county approved an administrative exemption for Mountain View Ranches LLC after developers described water-supply uncertainty and requested flexibility for a time-limited marketing campaign; commissioners voted to approve the exemption following public discussion.
Huerfano County Commissioners approved an administrative exemption for Mountain View Ranches LLC after hearing from the project's representative about recent marketing expenditures and local water-supply challenges.
County leaders approved the exemption by voice vote after a short discussion. The developer representative said the company had spent nearly $100,000 on an East Coast marketing campaign and needed an exemption to continue planned sales activity within a 30-day window.
The developer representative described past projects and water testing on parcel lots, saying, “We did a test well on Lot 86, and it was producing 15 gallons,” and added that other lots had required much deeper drilling, in one case “close to about 1,200 feet.” The representative said those results are part of the materials shown to prospective buyers.
Commissioners and members of the public pressed on how water availability and other site constraints are disclosed in marketing. One commissioner, speaking during discussion, emphasized the difficulty of securing water in the area, saying it “took us 25 years” in a personal example of well development. The developer representative said the company includes test-well results in sales materials and provides local bulk-water delivery contacts in marketing brochures.
A motion to approve the exemption was made and seconded; the chair called the vote and commissioners indicated approval. The clerk recorded the motion as approved.
The exemption allows Mountain View Ranches LLC to proceed under the conditions noted in the motion; commissioners did not specify additional reporting or monitoring requirements during the meeting. The county did not provide a written amendment to the land-use code in the meeting packet specific to this exemption.
Staff and the developer agreed to follow up after the meeting on remaining documentation and to provide contact information for local water delivery services included in marketing materials.
