Montezuma County commissioners approve local rezoning, subdivision amendments, grants and hospital support

The Montezuma County Board of County Commissioners on March 25 approved multiple land-use applications, authorized grant submissions for noxious-weed cost-share programs and signed a letter supporting a congressional funding request for Southwest Health System’s CT scanner replacement.

The approved land-use actions included a single-lot development and AR-3/9 rezoning application submitted by Elle Chapel LLC (agent Keenan Levitt) for property at 16795 Road S, Cortez; a three-month extension of vested rights for a previously approved two-lot minor subdivision for property at 26510 Road K.5; and a subdivision amendment to split Lot 3 of the Eagles Roost subdivision into two parcels at 13538 Road 32.4 in Mancos. The board also approved Social Services payables totaling $1,504,843.23 and moved to apply for noxious-weed cost-share funding and a Colorado Parks and Wildlife grant for the county’s noxious-weed program.

Why it matters: The zoning and subdivision approvals change parcel status and enable property owners to record plats or otherwise proceed with parcel sales or development. The grants and county support for hospital funding affect local program budgets and potential capital equipment for health services.

Most important facts

- Single-lot rezoning: The board approved the single-lot development and AR-3/9 rezoning application for Elle Chapel LLC, to separate an existing cabin and associated septic from a larger farm parcel and record deeded access (a 30-foot easement) on the final plat. Planning staff said septic has been installed and water is available to the parcel. The Planning Commission recommended approval with the contingency that septic be installed; that contingency has been satisfied.

- Vested-rights extension: The board granted a three-month extension of vested rights for a previously approved two-lot minor subdivision at 26510 Road K.5. Planning staff said the subdivision was approved after two public hearings in April 2022 but a plat was not recorded; the new owner is requesting additional time to get surveys and plats completed. (Transcript includes differing references to the property owners: planning staff identified the owners "Adam and Britney Bridal"; the motion recorded the prior owners as "Justin and Tammy Hooten." The board record shows the extension was approved.)

- Eagles Roost subdivision amendment: The board approved a subdivision amendment to split Lot 3 (6.31 acres) of the Eagles Roost three-lot subdivision into two lots, creating a four-lot subdivision; the Planning Commission recommended approval and required that existing ditch easements be shown on the plat.

- Hospital support: Commissioners signed a letter to U.S. Senators Michael Bennet and John Hickenlooper supporting Southwest Health System’s request for congressionally directed spending to replace or upgrade a CT scanner.

- Noxious-weed grants: Commissioners approved a $10,000 county cost-share application for the 2025 Noxious Weed Department (50% reimbursement for product) and approved submission of a separate $10,000 grant application to Colorado Parks and Wildlife; if all sources are awarded, staff said total reimbursements would be $25,000 for the county’s program this year.

- Social Services payables: The board adopted Social Services records for Feb. 25, 2025, and approved payables for February totaling $1,504,843.23.

Votes at a glance

- Single-lot development and AR-3/9 rezoning (Elle Chapel LLC, 16795 Road S, Cortez): Motion moved and seconded; voice vote with all commissioners recorded in favor (tally: yes 3, no 0). Outcome: approved.

- Three-month extension of vested rights (previous two-lot minor subdivision, 26510 Road K.5): Motion moved and seconded; voice vote in favor (tally: yes 3, no 0). Outcome: approved.

- Subdivision amendment (Lot 3, Eagles Roost, 13538 Road 32.4, Mancos): Motion moved and seconded; voice vote in favor (tally: yes 3, no 0). Outcome: approved.

- Letter of support for Southwest Health System (congressionally directed spending for CT scanner): Motion moved and seconded; voice vote in favor (tally: yes 3, no 0). Outcome: approved.

- 2025 Noxious Weed Department cost-share application ($10,000): Motion moved and seconded; voice vote in favor (tally: yes 3, no 0). Outcome: approved.

- Colorado Parks and Wildlife grant application ($10,000): Motion moved and seconded; voice vote in favor (tally: yes 3, no 0). Outcome: approved.

- Social Services minutes and payables ($1,504,843.23): Motion moved and seconded; voice vote in favor (tally: yes 3, no 0). Outcome: approved.

Background and details

Planning staff described the Elle Chapel application as creating a slightly larger-than-3-acre lot for a long-standing cabin, separating it from surrounding farmland and reserving deeded access on the final plat. Commissioners asked staff to ensure the 30-foot easement and access are included in the recorded plat. Planning staff said the septic system has been installed and that water is available to the parcel.

For the vested-rights extension, planning staff said the original two-lot minor subdivision received approval in April 2022 but the owners did not complete the survey or record the plat; the new owner requested a three-month extension and a slight reconfiguration of the west lot to encompass a ridgeline. The board’s motion extended the vested rights and preserved the two-lot status.

On the Eagles Roost amendment, staff said Lot 3 would be split along an east–west line so that the residence remains on the west lot and access to the new east lot would come from Road P. The Planning and Zoning commission recommended approval and asked staff to ensure the ditch easement is shown on the plat.

The noxious-weed items were presented as cost-share and grant requests to support 50% reimbursement of chemicals and product; commissioners noted the county’s total available cost-share budget would be lower than last year if current award levels hold.

What’s next

- Staff will record plats and update deeds with the required easements for the approved single-lot development and subdivision changes.

- The county will submit the noxious-weed grant application to Colorado Parks and Wildlife and proceed with the local cost-share program if funding is available.

- The letter of support will be sent to Senators Bennet and Hickenlooper to accompany Southwest Health System’s congressional funding request.

Sources and provenance

Key transcript evidence for this article includes planning staff’s description of the Elle Chapel application and the board’s motions approving the items (transcript excerpts: "Mister Chapel is proposing to create a 3 acre, a little larger than 3 acre single lot development ..." and the subsequent recorded motions and voice votes).