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Residents press council to keep road open after boulders placed; contractor says barriers protect new curb
Summary
A resident complained that boulders placed on a local access road were intended to close the route; the contractor who placed them said they were temporary protections for fresh curb-and-gutter work and discussed options to permit ATVs while deterring full-size trucks.
During public comment at the Gunnison city council meeting, resident Paul Childs told the council he was "totally opposed and against" apparent efforts to close the road up to a local landmark (referred to in testimony as "the g") after noticing boulders had been placed across the route.
Council members and staff discussed the history: earlier committee conversations had contemplated placing boulders on a 4-wheel-trail segment but not permanently blocking standard vehicle access. Later in the meeting, a developer/contractor identified as Josh said he placed the boulders to protect a roughly 3-foot drop from gravel to newly poured curb and gutter and to prevent vehicles from damaging fresh concrete.
Josh told the council he believed the development-review discussion two to three years earlier anticipated restricting full-size vehicle access while permitting motorcycles, ATVs, hikers and horses. "We put boulders there to protect that from vehicles coming down, going under the fresh curb gutter, sidewalks, and stuff until we can get that done," he said. He proposed creating an alternate truck access farther south, adding signage (for example, warning full-size vehicles to proceed at their own risk) or feathering the grade in the immediate area so the road remains safely passable to smaller vehicles.
Council members asked staff to follow up with the developer to document the plan and to either move the boulders or post signage explaining intended use. No formal motion or vote to close the road was taken at the meeting; discussion concluded with direction to coordinate a solution that balances safety and access.
"That'd be just great," a resident said when told the boulders could be moved and the road kept open, reflecting broad public desire to retain access while ensuring the curb work is protected.
Next steps: staff and the developer will coordinate on a plan to restore or clarify access (signage, a short grade adjustment or a formal cut for vehicular passage) and report back to the council.
