May 14, 2008--Town continuing to refine its watershed ordinance (Crested Butte News)
The Crested Butte Town Council will give the public another opportunity to comment on the ordinance designed to protect the town’s watershed from the effects of development. The Town Council agreed unanimously on Monday, May 5 to continue its public hearing on the watershed ordinance until May 19. The new draft includes new standards for the storage of substances considered toxic near water bodies, construction on steep slopes, and new setback requirements for construction near lakes, streams and wetlands. The watershed protection ordinance will allow the town to take advantage of a state statute that permits towns to prohibit and mitigate impacts to their water supply within a five-mile area. The town first adopted a protective watershed ordinance in 1978 and revised it in 1996. The town has been working on this version for the past year, during which time it adopted a temporary moratorium preventing development within the town’s watershed in August 2007. The ordinance essentially requires a permit for land use change activity within the town’s watershed, with varying degrees of overview, depending on the project.
To view the full article, visit the Crested Butte News. For a copy of the original article contact the WIP at (970) 247-1302 or stop by the office at 841 East Second Avenue in Durango.