Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Land Use topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Planning commission approves short-term rental permit for 'BIMB Voyage' near Hatch
Summary
The Garfield County Planning Commission approved a conditional use permit for a short-term rental operated as 'BIMB Voyage' at 64 North 80 East Trail in Hatch. Commissioners heard staff describe infrastructure, tax and water compliance issues before approving the permit by voice vote.
The Garfield County Planning Commission voted to approve a conditional use permit for a short-term rental operation called "BIMB Voyage" at 64 North 80 East Trail in Hatch.
Staff described the site, its ownership and infrastructure at the meeting. "The property owner is Jared Fisher," said Unidentified Speaker 5, who outlined the site's connection to an Aquarius Trail network of sleeping huts and said several huts are on National Forest land and therefore outside county permitting authority. Speaker 5 told commissioners the private parcel has a drilled well and a septic system completed after investments he estimated as "probably $40,000 for a well and 10 to 15 for a septic system." The applicant represented that the unit would also be used for employee housing.
Why it matters: the discussion balanced local economic activity and tax revenue against limited local infrastructure and regulatory reach. Staff noted that some huts on the broader route are on National Forest land and are managed via Forest Service special use permits, which places them outside county land-use control. Speaker 5 also raised sales-and-use and transient-room tax questions stemming from previous out-of-state booking practices.
Commission action: Unidentified Speaker 3 moved to approve the conditional use permit for the short-term rental at the address given; Unidentified Speaker 1 seconded. The commission approved the permit by voice vote after no recorded roll call; the transcript records an affirmative voice vote but does not attribute individual yes/no votes to named members.
Details and context: Commissioners discussed county service limits for the Shangri La subdivision where the parcel sits (no county road plowing or extended utilities) and noted neighboring lots generally lack water, power and sewer. Staff said the applicant had worked with the health department and the division of water rights on wells and septic compliance. One minor enforcement matter (a red-tagged shed nearby) was also being addressed before final permitting.
Next steps: The permit was approved during the meeting and the commission continued discussion of the general plan update later in the agenda. Individual vote tallies were not recorded in the transcript; the approval was confirmed by voice vote.
