Sand Flats committee recommends denial of Steen property rezone, sends edited letter to county

Andrea Brand, Sand Flats Director, brought a revised letter to the committee asking whether any edits were needed before the Grand County public hearing on the Minnie Lee Ventures/Steen rezone application. Committee and counsel discussed public comment deadlines and local land-use authority. Cristin Hofhine of the Grand County Attorney’s Office reminded the group that "every comment that comes in is meant to be taken into consideration by the commission, whether at that meeting or after," and Melodie McCandless said the record "will be open for 10 days and then the Commission will vote on it."

Members focused on site-access, easements and trail impacts. Brand read a passage from the draft noting access constraints: "Given that legal access to the property is via the Class D roads near the 'Hot Tubs,' this would likely necessitate paving portions of the Hell’s Revenge trail. Such changes would fundamentally alter the character of the trail system and diminish the experience that supports local guiding businesses and recreational users." Committee members also noted BLM-held easements and prior adjustments in 2016 and raised concerns that rezoning to resort commercial could enable road improvements that change trail character.

Mark Pope moved to accept the revised letter, Molly Taylor seconded, and the committee voted to transmit the letter with the committee’s recommendation of denial; Melodie McCandless abstained. The committee’s recommendation and the revised letter will be part of the record at the Grand County Commission public hearing and in the subsequent 10-day comment period.