Planning staff recommends approval of Marchand Ranch event venue in Canyon City with CDOT conditions

Fremont County planning staff told the Planning Commission they consider SRU 24-005 for Marchand Ranch, a wedding and event venue at 4801 State Highway 9 in Canyon City, to be in compliance with the Fremont County Zoning Resolution and recommended approval with contingencies that include incorporating language requested by the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT), submission of a revised site plan and approval of a landscaping waiver.

The venue, operated under a temporary use permit since April 20, 2023, has an event boundary of about 3.16 acres within a 220‑acre parcel and an indoor occupancy of 200. Staff said events would primarily be held in afternoons or evenings with an end time around 10:30 p.m. and routine cleanup starting around 11:00 p.m. Staff reported no complaints to date and said on‑site services include an OWTS (onsite wastewater treatment system), weekly refuse pickup by Republic, downward‑facing solar lighting and hard‑surfaced ADA parking.

Planning staff told commissioners they had received an updated CDOT letter dated April 30, 2025, that would allow an access permit provided the county includes specified language in any SRU approval. The applicant, Tiffany Foster, said she received the CDOT letter and is willing to accept the requested language as a contingency while she works with CDOT to clarify apparent contradictions in the letter about event parking. Foster said she is “really happy to do the shuttles” and noted she has handicap accessibility on site; she said alcohol service will be contracted to a third party, Rebecca Rice of Bar Hoppers (an LLC), who will lease a small space to operate the bar.

Discussion before the motion focused on the CDOT language and on how to limit confusion over parking levels. Commissioners also noted staff’s finding that the SRU meets building code and OWTS regulations and that the fire protection plan met code. Staff said Fremont Conservation District had raised concerns previously about noxious weeds but that an approved weed plan addressed those concerns.

A motion to approve SRU 24‑005, incorporating the CDOT letter dated 04/30/2025 as a contingency, requiring a revised site plan and granting the landscaping waiver, was made and seconded. The transcript does not include a roll‑call or recorded vote tally; a speaker congratulated the applicant after the motion and second were on the record.

If approved as recommended, the conditions the commission discussed would require the applicant to include the CDOT language in the county approval, submit a corrected site plan to staff, and accept the granted waiver for landscaping. Staff said building permits and compliance with fire and OWTS codes remain requirements of operation.

The commission considered the SRU while conducting routine review of agenda items; staff remained available to follow up on final wording with CDOT prior to any administrative issuance of permits.