Larimer County OKs YMCA of the Rockies appeal to allow additional special events for remainder of 2026

The Larimer County Board of County Commissioners voted 2-0 on June 8, 2026, to grant the YMCA of the Rockies an appeal that allows additional special events on its Estes Park property for the remainder of the 2026 season, subject to conditions including required special-event permit applications and compliance with county noise rules.

Planner Justin Curry told commissioners the YMCA property is about 587 acres at 2515 Tunnel Road, southwest of Estes Park and adjacent to Rocky Mountain National Park. The site functions primarily as a conference and event center with lodging, recreation and day camps. Curry said staff had to clarify when the county’s special-event permit rules apply because the campus functions as a regular place of assembly for many organizational activities.

Curry and planning manager Jenny Axmaker cited sections of the county land-use code that limit special events: Article 7’s Section 722 (no more than three special events on a property per calendar year) and Section 724 (no more than one special event per property per calendar month). Staff recommended approval for the remainder of 2026 with conditions, and noted that the county is updating its special-event code with an anticipated fall adoption and January 1, 2027, effective date.

Courtney Hill, chief operating officer of YMCA of the Rockies, and Shannon Jones, general manager of the Estes Park center, said the YMCA’s requests focus on community fundraisers and nonprofit events rather than commercial promotion. “We’re not looking for 100 special events. I would say max eight events that we would most likely be entertaining just for the Estes Park community,” Jones said, adding most would occur in the YMCA’s slow season when occupancy is typically 30% or less.

Applicants and staff told commissioners that events that include amplified music are expected to be held indoors unless approved through a special-event permit and that all uses must comply with the Larimer County noise ordinance. Justin Curry said engineering and public-health referrals raised no concerns; special-event review staff recommended that any approval be limited to the remainder of 2026 and expire Jan. 1, 2027, to allow the county’s updated code to take effect.

Commissioner Kristen Stevens, who moved to approve the appeal, said the request met the review criteria set out in section 6.7.2 B5 of the land-use code and that the events would benefit the Estes Park community by enabling local fundraising. Chair John Kafales agreed, noting the YMCA’s long history in the valley. The motion to approve file 26-GNRL-0589, subject to the staff-recommended conditions, passed 2-0 (one commissioner excused).

Under the board’s action, the YMCA must still apply for individual special-event permits at least 60 days before each event; approval of the appeal does not guarantee issuance of permits. Staff also asked the YMCA to file an amended special-review application and an updated master plan to address event counts for 2027 and beyond.

No public speakers addressed the item during the hearing; staff acknowledged one written comment in opposition citing concerns about noise and traffic. Chair Kafales suggested the applicants try to engage with the commenter to build trust. The board concluded its meeting and adjourned at 3:35 p.m.