Yesterday, elected officials in Eagle County initially approved plans for a controversial subdivision in the midvalley. The Fields is a 19-acre property, near the intersection of Highway 82 and Valley Road.
The Fields is a 19-acre property, near the intersection of Highway 82 and Valley Road. The developer’s “sketch plan” is the subject of fierce debate in the midvalley.
The Eagle County Community Center in El Jebel was packed at 3:30 p.m. Thursday. The board of commissioners heard from the developer, the Colorado Department of Transportation and from members of the community.
Using a PowerPoint presentation, the developer reiterated why adding around 100 new residences across Highway 82 from Blue Lake is a good idea. It’ll prevent sprawl with a mix of affordable and “attainable” housing options. They’ve also developed a plan to improve traffic immediately, for everybody, even with the additional residents.
A CDOT representative said the developer’s plan would improve traffic, but not drastically; the current and proposed traffic situations both fail their standards.
During public comment period, Edward Sullivan, who lives nearby was skeptical of the developer’s promises.
"Can the neighborhood absorb one or two dozen more homes? Yes. Can it absorb doubling, or quadrupling of the number of residences? I say no," he said.
There are others, like a young woman who told commissioners the project provides affordable housing which would reduce her commute.
"No one wants to drive an hour and a half back and forth to work each way. It’s three hours out of your day you could spend with your kids," she said.
Commissioners will continue the review the proposal and consider the public’s feedback in the process.
