{"id":2457455,"date":"2020-04-21T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2020-04-21T06:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.aspentimes.com\/?p=324637"},"modified":"2020-04-21T00:00:00","modified_gmt":"2020-04-21T06:00:00","slug":"land-use-attorneys-planners-lobby-pitco-to-shelve-proposed-growth-revisions","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kspn\/local-news\/land-use-attorneys-planners-lobby-pitco-to-shelve-proposed-growth-revisions\/","title":{"rendered":"Land-use attorneys, planners lobby PitCo to shelve proposed growth revisions"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Owl Creek Road is empty in this shot from spring 2019. Pitkin County has growth control measures in place to limit development outside of Aspen.<\/strong>
David Krause\/The Aspen Times<\/em><\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n

Aspen-area land-use attorneys and planners are pressing Pitkin County commissioners to table proposed changes to growth control rules until after the pandemic threat eases and the public can attend official meetings again.<\/p>\n

Representatives of more than 20 law or planning firms signed onto a letter to the commissioners to express concerns about a public hearing and second reading of the rule changes set for Wednesday. The commissioners have started holding their meetings via video conferencing, though at least one commissioner is in chambers at the time. The public watches the meetings live and calls or writes with comments.<\/p>\n

\u201cDebating and voting on this ordinance with no members of the public present and in person on account of state and local \u2018shelter-in-place\u2019 restrictions during the COVID-19 pandemic is unfair and inconsistent with Colorado\u2019s open meetings and Sunshine law requirements,\u201d said the letter from the land-use planning and legal industry. \u201cAllowing the public to simply call in via Zoom or other teleconference technology does not allow for meaningful public input.\u201d<\/p>\n

The proposed rule changes that riled the industry would alter the complicated growth management quota system for residential development in Pitkin County. The county initiated a competitive system for a limited number of development allotments more than 40 years ago. The rules are designed to limit the number of homes and the pace of development. The process forces developers to provide public benefits to achieve a better \u201cscore\u201d for their project. Landowners with a higher score secure an allotment.<\/p>\n

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