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Grand County approves $3 million OLRT emergency grant to Hot Sulphur Springs to protect 110 acres of open space
Summary
The Board approved a $3,000,000 emergency OLRT grant to the Town of Hot Sulphur Springs to acquire 110 acres (Varra family property) along the Colorado River for open space, river access and agricultural preservation after advisory committee recommendation and commissioner debate about price, timing and conservation easement assurances.
The Grand County Board of County Commissioners voted to approve an emergency grant of $3,000,000 from the Open Lands, Rivers and Trails (OLRT) fund to the Town of Hot Sulphur Springs to acquire 110 acres adjacent to town (the Varra family open space). Anna Drexler, the OLRT administrator, told the board the request represents about 83% of the project cost and includes river frontage and roughly 2 cubic feet per second (cfs) of water rights.
Drexler said the OLRT advisory committee recommended full funding by a 7–1 vote; the lone opposed member had concerns about high cost per acre, the rushed timeline typical of emergency grant requests, and limited matching funds. Drexler noted that the pooled 2016 OLRT tranche had about $5.5 million available and that the 2023 tranche adds additional funds.
Commissioners pressed the town’s representatives and staff for additional detail on whether an appraisal had been completed (Drexler said an appraisal existed from 2021 and updated comparables were added by the seller’s realtor), the water-rights reliability for the cited 2 cfs (town staff said it is available most years but not guaranteed every year), and the status of any conservation easement (the town intends to pursue a conservation easement but there is no completed agreement yet). Board members raised concerns that the timing felt rushed because the property was being marketed and there was an active buyer interest, and asked whether requirements or deed restrictions would ensure permanent conservation; staff said OLRT criteria and the grant resolution require public notice and that funds would revert to the OLRT fund if the town later sold the property for non‑OLRT purposes.
After debate and questions about due diligence, appraisal history, survey work and long‑term protections, a commissioner moved to approve the emergency OLRT grant to the Town of Hot Sulphur Springs; the motion carried by voice vote. The advisory committee’s recommendation and the board’s motion authorized the pass-through to support acquisition and conservation of the site.
The board did not attach a condition that the conservation easement be executed prior to closing, but staff said OLRT rules and the resolution require appropriate public notification and that procedures exist should the property later be sold for non‑qualifying uses.
