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Resident urges Mesa County to protect agricultural land from 'Ridge Crossing' sprawl
Summary
During public comment Karen Murray Boston urged commissioners to block or modify Ridge Crossing, saying it conflicts with Mesa County's 2023 master plan, will reduce legacy farmland, and will increase traffic (she cited 30–40 construction trucks per day in phase 1 and nearly 300 daily vehicle trips at build‑out).
Karen Murray Boston spoke during the public‑comment portion of the Jan. 20 meeting, urging Mesa County to be “proactive and forward thinking” about development in the North Fruita area and to protect long‑time farmers and legacy agriculture from sprawl.
Boston identified the Ridge Crossing development as a project that she said conflicts with the county’s 2023 master plan goals for infill, affordable housing and preserving agricultural land. She told commissioners that Phase 1 alone anticipates 30–40 construction hauling trucks per day and “almost 300 vehicle trips per day” after residents occupy the initial build‑out, and she urged consideration of alternative zoning and traffic mitigation.
Boston cited national resources — including the Federal Highway Administration and Smart Growth America materials — and said she would share documents with the board illustrating approaches that balance growth with protection of ag land. She also raised concerns about law enforcement and emergency‑service response to increasingly remote development.
The board thanked Boston for her comments and moved on to the consent agenda.
