Chelsea Self / Post Independent
A contract to purchase the Glenwood Springs Mall property by would-be West Glenwood pasture developers R2 Partners has produced another concession aimed at convincing the city to approve its annexation and development plans.
A presentation of the annexation and zoning plans before Glenwood Springs City Council Thursday night included the donation of a 1-acre site to build a future new West Glenwood fire station.
In addition, R2 Partners would pay for 20% of the cost to build the new firehouse part of the developer’s efforts to address emergency response due to the threat of wildfires impacting the West Glenwood neighborhoods.
Kind Castle, a retail marijuana dispensary, has opened a new location in Craig and is in the process of obtaining a permit in Cedaredge, but owner John Dyet knows there’s likely no chance he’ll ever get approval to open up a location in Glenwood Springs.
“It’s been almost impossible to get a marijuana store approved in Glenwood. I narrowly was able to get my marijuana store approved in the Glenwood Meadows plaza even though it was a perfect application,” Dyet recalled. His application was approved by a 4-3 vote.
His application for another location was ultimately denied 5-1 by Glenwood Springs council members.
The Glenwood City Council will begin the public hearing for the annexation of 15.8 acres of land in West Glenwood and will likely extend the hearing to Aug. 5 due to the high number of anticipated public comments.
If approved, the council will then need to consider an application to rezone 12.3 acres into a planned unit development (PUD) district and another 3.5 acres to a commercial district on a parcel behind the Glenwood Mall.
On the 12 acres, R2 Partners plans to construct 219 multifamily apartments in one building, 40 townhomes to be sold and 13 work/live units that would provide residential space for one or more people as well as a commercial storefront.
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Photo courtesy of R2 Partners.
Garfield County staff provided an impact analysis on the proposed annexation of 15 acres in West Glenwood during Monday’s county commissioners meeting, highlighting concerns about additional traffic congestion.
Wyatt Keesbery, Garfield County Road and Bridge Director, said that he would like to see the city annex and take ownership of Donegan Road, Storm King Road and Mel Ray Road, the three roadways that surround the proposed development site.
“I think this would be a great opportunity for the city of Glenwood Springs to take on all of West Glenwood,” Keesbery said.
“Right now there’s very limited use basically just West Glenwood uses those roads.”