YOUR AD HERE »

Eagle: Town roads, facilities, near capacity?

Kathy Heicher
Eagle Correspondent
Vail CO, Colorado

EAGLE, Colorado ” Eagle’s town staff warned the Town Board last week that the town’s public facilities, including roads, water and wastewater, are nearing capacity.

“This is an issue that has to be dealt with,” said Eagle Town Planner Bill Gray, citing traffic congestion on the Eby Creek Road corridor as an example.

“… we may have to just say no until we figure some stuff out,” Gray told the board.



The comments came while the Town Board was reviewing the 24-unit Wilson Lofts townhouse project. Developer Matt Dietz wants to build the Wilson Lofts on a 7.5-acre parcel located to the north and above the City Market parking lot. The land is owned by Merv Lapin.

As proposed, the townhouse units would be about 1,000 square feet each. According to the developer’s application, the houses are intended for local residents and employees. Two of the units would be price-controlled, as part of the town’s affordable housing project. The developers are proposing restrictions on the other 22 units that would limit ownership to local residents.

Support Local Journalism



Gray said the project, which would introduce residential units into Eagle’s Market Street commercial area, fits the goals of the Eagle Area Community Plan, and the changing demographics of the town. Dietz said the project will target a demographic of professional people who work upvalley. The application for the project suggests average prices in the $223,200 range. At the meeting, Dietz cited a need to keep the prices under $400,000.

While Gray recommended approval of the concept, he warned that improvements to the Eby Creek Road corridor would probably be needed. The town has an ordinance that says new development can’t take place if public facilities aren’t adequate.

Planning consultant Rick Pyleman, representing Dietz, said that facilities impacts are cumulative.

“Everybody in town and half of Gypsum uses Eby Creek Road,” he said, “We’re willing to do our part, but …”

Town Engineer Tom Gosiorowski said the town’s capacity issues are because of all the development.

“We need to consider the overall impact. We have reached the point where we are exceeding our own standards and capacities (on roads),” he said.

Board member Kraige Kinney cited a need for workforce housing.

“We’re getting to the point we need to find the right project, even if it’s in the wrong place,” he said.

“There is a difference between 24 and 240 units … I don’t think it is going to be that big of an impact on traffic,” Kinney added.

Ultimately, all four of the board members present ” Bryant, Kinney, Stephen Richards, and Mayor Jon Stavney, voted to approve the concept plan.


Support Local Journalism