Pitkin County commissioners remand Star Mesa land‑use approval; approve airport contract, several conservation and housing items

The Pitkin County Board of County Commissioners on Wednesday, Feb. 26, remanded a contested Star Mesa ("Star Sky") land‑use approval back to the hearing officer and instructed the parties to resolve a narrow legal question about whether 2015 HOA consents lawfully amended the subdivision’s protective covenants. The meeting — which lasted into the evening — also produced votes and actions on a range of matters including a county parking contract, conservation easements, airport housing, liquor licensing, wildfire restrictions, debt policy and agricultural leases.

The commissioners voted 4–1 to remand the Star Mesa hearing‑officer determination approving a relocated activity envelope and site plan for the Lotwanna parcel (commonly called Lottawanna or Lotwana). The dissenting vote came from Commissioner Francie Jacober, who said she would have affirmed the hearing officer’s decision. The remand asks the hearing officer to examine whether the county code section 7‑21‑20(e) (standards for scenic view protection when development is at the edge of an open meadow or pasture) applies and to take any necessary follow‑up evidence. Before the hearing officer reconsiders, the board directed the applicants and opponents to try to resolve — outside of the land‑use hearing — whether the 2015 consents validly amended the Star Mesa declaration of protective covenants.

Why the remand: opponents had argued the proposed building site would place a residence inside the central, irrigated Star Mesa meadow and would therefore conflict with a 1984 settlement (the “Penobscot” agreement) that requires building sites be sited along the mesa rim. The…