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Grand County upholds first short‑term rental violation at 60 Hughes after public hearing
Summary
After a public hearing July 1, the Grand County commissioners denied an appeal and upheld a first notice of violation for trash at 60 Hughes (Crown Hughes) related to a bear accessing an unlocked dumpster; staff and the property’s attorney described corrective measures already taken.
The Grand County Board of County Commissioners on July 1 denied an appeal and upheld a first notice of violation against Crown Hughes for trash left outside a short‑term rental at 60 Hughes.
Community Development staff presented aerial photos and ground images documenting trash scattered near the property and said the county issued the first notice for a trash violation after a bear accessed an unlocked dumpster. "We believe there's adequate evidence that it did occur," the Community Development representative said, recommending a first violation.
Kent Whitmer, attorney for the property owners, asked the board to limit consideration to the single notice issued and described extensive mitigation steps taken by the owners: tenant agreements that require guests to lock the dumpster, signage warning of bears, scheduled messages to guests and cleaners, and construction of an approximately $15,000 trash enclosure. "They have made every effort to resolve this issue," Whitmer said, noting the enclosure was nearly complete but the garage door opener had not yet been installed when the bear incident occurred.
Staff confirmed the property had previously been suspended for six months under short‑term rental rules and that an advertised bed count had been corrected; staff and the owners agreed that the only violation considered at this hearing was trash. Community Development said the enclosure's location may require a separate surveying review to confirm it is not within county right‑of‑way, which would be addressed separately.
Commissioners framed the action as a first violation — a warning — and noted no monetary fine applies at this stage. The board voted to deny the appeal and to leave the first notice in place, while several commissioners praised the owners’ corrective measures and urged continued compliance. The county staff noted that a pattern of four violations within two years could lead to license revocation under the short‑term rental regulations.
Next steps include any required survey or right‑of‑way review for the enclosure and continued monitoring of compliance under the county’s short‑term rental rules.
