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Lake County planning commission conditionally approves backcountry cabin at 33330 Shiloh
Summary
The Lake County Planning Commission unanimously approved a conditional site plan for a 600-square-foot backcountry cabin on the 11.3-acre mining claim 33330 Shiloh, imposing six conditions including a U.S. Forest Service private-road special use permit and revegetation with Colorado Parks and Wildlife guidance.
The Lake County Planning Commission voted unanimously on Dec. 8 to conditionally approve a backcountry site plan allowing a 600-square-foot, off-grid cabin on mining claim 33330 Shiloh, a property staff said is roughly 11.3 acres near East Tennessee Pass Road/USFS Road 102.
Staff told the commission the site shows minimal earthwork and limited tree removal, and that Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) mapping indicates lower habitat sensitivity at the parcel though staff cautioned elk use extends beyond mapped polygons. To address wildlife and site stewardship, staff recommended — and the commission adopted — six specific conditions of approval.
Those conditions require, before issuance of a backcountry structure license, that the applicant obtain a private-road special use permit from the U.S. Forest Service; implement a noxious-weed revegetation plan developed with assistance from CPW and the Lake County Conservation District; consider and follow CPW best-practice recommendations to protect nearby habitat; comply with Lake County Fire Rescue recommendations; meet Lake County Office for Emergency Management requirements (reflective address signage, reliable communications, annual maintenance of defensible space and access routes); and treat statements made by the applicant during the hearing as binding conditions of approval.
Applicant Jason (surname as in transcript) and co-applicant Megan Gilman told the commission the proposal is for a "very small part time use cabin for our family's use," that water will be hauled rather than piped, an incinerating toilet variance has already been approved, and that they plan to minimize grading and only remove trees necessary for wildfire mitigation.
Commissioners asked technical questions about finished grade and overall structure height (plans showed 20 feet from the finished floor; staff and applicant noted differences between finished-floor and grade-based measurements and said the structure-license review will verify height under the code's average-finish-grade standard). The commission also confirmed there is to be no permanent fencing and that wildlife-secure trash storage is required by code.
A motion from Commissioner Joey Edwards to conditionally approve the site plan, including the six conditions described in staff's report, was seconded and passed with all members voting in favor.
Next steps for the applicants include securing the U.S. Forest Service private-road special use permit and obtaining the required structure license and any associated administrative reviews; staff said the site-plan conditions and structure-license reviews will verify compliance with height, access and safety standards before any permanent construction may proceed.
