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Gunnison planning commission forwards 700 South Main mixed-use proposal to city council
Summary
The Gunnison Planning Commission unanimously voted April 29 to forward JL Construction's conditional use permit for a 20-acre mixed-use project at 700 South Main to the city council, requiring engineering studies, an economic impact study and resolution of property-line disputes.
The Gunnison Planning Commission on April 29 unanimously voted to forward a conditional use permit for JL Construction's proposed mixed-use development at 700 South Main to the City Council for further review.
City Administrator Dennis Marker introduced the application for the roughly 20-acre Residential/Commercial-zoned site and cited a four-page memo from city engineer Kelly Chappell that identified 16 potential impact areas, including traffic, water demand and sewer capacity. Marker told commissioners state law confines the commission's review to reasonable impacts and mitigation based on existing city codes.
Applicant Josh Flake described the project as including about 80 townhomes, up to 120 apartment units if buildings are constructed to three stories, a hotel and retail space. Flake said the development would be built in four to five phases, starting in the northeast portion and rolling forward commercial lots to generate early revenue to help finance required utility improvements.
Commissioners and staff raised infrastructure concerns. The discussion identified a possible sewer gravity-flow issue at the west end of the site, the need to loop water lines to meet increased demand, and the requirement that 700 South be fully built and paved to serve the project. Commissioners also noted a potential conflict between local height restrictions and fire-code safety requirements for taller buildings.
Flake requested a code amendment to permit single-car garages rather than two-car garages, saying smaller garages would help maintain an intended market price near $300,000 per unit. Commissioners did not act on a code change at the meeting; the motion forwarded the application with conditions requiring further study.
Commissioner Steven Saulter moved to forward the permit to the City Council for review, requiring the studies noted by the city engineer, an economic study and the resolution of any property-line disputes; Commissioner Vern Miller seconded. The motion passed unanimously.
Because of time constraints and a planned joint session with the City Council immediately after the meeting, other scheduled items (including miscellaneous multi-family regulations, lot frontage requirements and general development standards) were not taken up. The commission approved the March 25, 2026 minutes and adjourned at 7:20 p.m.
Next steps: the City Council will review the application and the required studies; the commission record shows the council referral is conditional on completion of the engineer's analyses, an economic impact study and resolution of property boundary issues.
