Bicknell council denies developer’s request for 20 culinary water hookups

The Bicknell Town Council on May 1 voted to deny a request from developer Dave Van Dyke for 20 new culinary water hookups.

Council members discussed an engineering review that indicated the existing line could add 13 hookups but lacks necessary fire flow for additional connections. The council noted the proposed hookups would extend service almost two miles toward Torrey and that the developer indicated willingness to upgrade lines and install fire suppression if required. “As the developer, he is willing to upgrade the line from an 8 inch … put in all the fire suppression,” one speaker summarized from the developer’s proposal.

After questions about how many hookups were already sold and who would secure state approvals, one council member moved “that we don't approve” the request; the motion was seconded and approved by voice vote. The presiding speaker recorded the outcome: the motion to deny the 20 connections was carried with no opposition.

Council members said the decision reflected concerns about long-term town obligations and limited financial upside for Bicknell. Members noted the county and a nearby town would benefit from property taxes and that many of the prospective properties appeared to be secondary homes that would use minimal water. The motion makes clear the council did not reach agreement to allow the hookups as proposed; the developer may return with revised plans or further engineering and state fire-marshal approvals in the future.

What comes next: the denial leaves the existing 13 hookups identified in a prior study unchanged; the council suggested the developer could fund further engineering if he chooses to pursue alternative configurations or state approvals.