The Fields Development
While The Fields Development is not part of Missouri Heights, we are sharing information about this project due to: Increased traffic congestion at the intersections of El Jebel Rd and Hwy 82 and Catherine Store Rd and Hwy 82, The higher density of the development is not compatible with the neighboring residential subdivisions and adds crowding in the mid-valley, and more. We encourage you to participate as individual stakeholders by becoming informed and sending in Public Comments.
The Fields Hearing will be tabled again today. No need to attend.
The reason given is that a new Staff Report was created but the staff failed to post it 5 days before the hearing which is required.
The hearing will be held via Zoom with the sole purpose of tabling it to another date.
The Fields planning file tabled to February 21
Jan. 31, 2023 - The Board of County Commissioners’ consideration of the Fields planning file (SSP-9165, ZC-9136, 1041-9137, VIS-9169) scheduled for today at 3:00 p.m. in the Mt. Sopris Room in El Jebel is being tabled to 4:00 p.m. on February 21, 2023.
Due to a technical website error, the latest addendum to the staff report associated with the Application was not available to the applicant and the public no later than five (5) working days in advance of today’s hearing. County staff regret any inconvenience and have rescheduled the hearing at the earliest convenience.
Following are links to information needed to prepare for the next hearing:
Application Materials: https://www.eaglecounty.us/planning/activelanduseapplications
Here’s the agenda: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1xrT1QPUYA05NL85z5EnU3gp0Xf3C-AI3/view?usp=share_link
All public hearings will have the option of attending in-person or virtually for public comment. Pre-registration for in-person or virtual public comment is not required.
If you would like to watch the meeting, there is a live feed at www.ecgtv.com . If you're not planning to participate directly in the meeting, then we highly encourage you to use the streaming link provided above, to avoid bandwidth issues.
Learn and follow the rules about providing virtual, in-person, and written Public Comments in Meetings. https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ZEcLDQUgK1cbi3L45O5rfcBCMUnQyL9E/view
There’s still time to send in Public Comments. Here are the email addresses to send Public Comments.
planningcomments@eaglecounty.us
These development proposals have the ability to severely impact the quality of life on Missouri Heights, in a negative way. It is important that our supporters take steps at this critical juncture to continue our mission by….. “protecting against unbridled development and other incompatible land uses as well as actions that put a strain on vital resources and infrastructure, especially to preserve water and prevent wildfire.”
The continuation of the BoCC Public Hearing on the contentious Fields Development was held Tuesday, December 20th. Watch the video here. See materials presented here.
NOW IS THE TIME TO DEVELOP AND SUBMIT PUBLIC COMMENTS
If you would like to provide written public comment on the Fields Application, email planningcomments@eaglecounty.us. You can submit as many public comments as you like. There is no limit per individual, but try to focus on how the Fields Application does not meet the standards for approval laid out in Eagle County Land Use code. You can find a list of these most effective arguments here - https://docs.google.com/document/d/1PDlv519Btq-BQdbdteY_zpcsOWohBNSxTaoZM0TmtOo/edit?usp=sharing
Thank you for caring about Smart Growth in the Mid Valley! Together we can make a difference.
January 31, 2023 has been postponed until February 21!
IMPORTANT: The Fields Developer has modified his application to increase the percentage of affordable housing. However, the Application still fails to meet the standards for a zoning change. The arguments for why it fails to meet the standards can be found here - https://docs.google.com/document/d/1PDlv519Btq-BQdbdteY_zpcsOWohBNSxTaoZM0TmtOo/edit?usp=sharing
At the December 20th BoCC hearing, it appeared that the 3 Commissioners are focused on these four main issues based on the questions they asked:
Is there a hardship to justify granting the on-street parking variance?
Is the trail public benefit? Can the Developer guarantee it will be built?
Is the Fields proposal compatible with surrounding densities?
Is there adequate infrastructure to support the Fields Development?
Once again, Eagle County staff is failing to critically and competently evaluate the Application which means we must do our homework and provide factual information to the BoCC.
If you are interested, you can find a document providing information on the 4 specific questions here.
A more comprehensive list of all arguments against the Fields Development can be found here. It has presentations that were created to comply with the 3 minute time limit imposed by the BoCC for public comment.
Application Materials: Check for updates
SSP-9165 The Fields Subdivision Preliminary Sketch Plan
1041-9137 The Fields Permit Application
ZC-9136 The Fields Zone Change
VIS-9169 Variation from Improvement Standards
SSP-9165, ZC-9136, VIS-9169 Application Materials - March 25, 2022
SSP-9165, ZC-9136, VIS-9169 Application Materials - November 9, 2021
SSP-9165, ZC-9136, 1041-9137, VIS-9169 Referral Responses November 9, 2021
Public Hearing Information:
BoCC - February 21, 4:00 pm El Jebel Mt Sopris Room - Packet Materials
Attachment 1 Supplemental Information Dec 30, 2022
Attachment 2 Previous Staff Reports - Aug 17, 2022 and Dec 20, 2022
Attachment 3 Application Materials
Attachment 4 Public Comment All comments through Dec 20, 2022
Attachment 5 Public Comment cont. Comments Dec 21, 2022 to Jan 23, 2023
Attachment 6 Referral Letters
Staff Presentation Dec 20, 2022
Staff Report 1041 Aug 17, 2022
Applicant Presentation Dec 20, 200
Applicant Supplemental Documents Dec 30, 2022
*Hearing agenda start time is approximate
Public Comment Information:
Written public comment: planningcomments@eaglecounty.us
All public hearings will have the option of attending in-person or virtually for public comment. Pre-registration for in-person or virtual public comment is not required. Virtual public comment links will be activated on the date and time of the scheduled hearing: Virtual Public comment link
If you would like to watch the meeting, there is a live feed at www.ecgtv.com . If you're not planning to participate directly in the meeting, then we highly encourage you to use the streaming link provided above, to avoid bandwidth issues.
Guidance for Submitting Public Comments
At the August 17 hearing, the Commissioners spoke about wanting public comments to focus on the “standards.” They said they are required to evaluate the Fields Application based solely on Eagle County standards.
Smart Growth has made it easy for everyone to submit public comments based on these standards. Click here to see the list of public comment topics (and scripted emails) that focus on the standards. You can choose a topic and submit it via email to planningcomments@eaglecounty.us.
You are allowed to submit multiple public comments, so even if you’ve already submitted a comment, you can email another one.
To present one of these public comment topics at the next meeting email smartgrowthvalleyroad@gmail.com.
Follow the newly updated: Eagle County Public Meeting and Hearing Procedures For Board of County Commissioner Meetings and Hearings, Revised August 2022
You can view the written comments submitted on behalf of Save Mid Valley here https://drive.google.com/file/d/1z05DnFO0CilHZRPtv5RVOO7SmXw9kodi/view?usp=sharing
You can still submit your comments to:
Eagle County Commissioner Matt Scherr - matt.scherr@eaglecounty.us
Eagle County Commissioner Jeanne McQueeney - jeanne.mcqueeney@eaglecounty.us
Eagle County Commissioner Kathy Chandler-Henry - kathy.chandlerhenry@eaglecounty.us
The Fields Development Background
Watch the November 10 Hearing on ditch company comments: Roaring Fork Valley Regional Planning Commission-November 10, 2022
Watch the August 17 Hearing: Board of County Commissioners Special Meeting-Fields PUD Hearing-August 17, 2022 ...to be continued.
The public comment process will remain open. However the County asks you to relate your comment to the standards of approval, in order to have "value" to them. Implicitly....to be read.
Read the Keep Missouri Heights Public Comment submitted to Eagle County. Read about the Straw Poll we conducted to gauge our Supporter's sentiment about The Field's Development.
In the news: Eagle County commissioners skeptical about benefits of The Fields - Aspen Daily News (August 18) El Jebel development seeks rezoning approval from Eagle County - Aspen Times (August 21)
Join the KMOHR mailing list: Send an email message to KeepMOHRural@gmail.com with the subject line: Opt IN.