SPRING UPDATE
YOUR support to Save the Slate from overdevelopment resulted in saving the entire Gunnison Valley from overdevelopment. With YOUR support, the Board of County Commissioners unanimously voted to change the “right by use” home size from 12,500 square feet (10,000 square foot home with a 2,500 square foot accessory dwelling) to 7,000 square feet (5,000 square foot home with a 2,000 square foot accessory dwelling) this past October. The average home size in Gunnison County is currently around 3,000 square feet, so this new restriction in size better aligns with current development. This would not have happened without your support to Save the Slate from over development
Under the new regulation, one could still build a 12,500 square foot home, but plans would be subject to further review by the planning commission, the public, the water experts and the wildlife experts. We have heard that a number of new homes have decreased their size, as they don’t want to submit their plans for government and public review. These are big wins for sustainable development and the next seven generations of residents and visitors of Gunnison County and the Slate River Valley. This is a big win for the future.
What’s next?
Currently, Save the Slate is focused on limiting over development in the Upper Slate River Valley. We have our eye on a number of parcels that could request subdivision, opening up opportunity for over development, plans that do not align with conservation efforts.
Save the Slate is also working on rehabilitating wetlands that have been degraded by gravel mining. Our goal is to restore these degraded wetlands to productive wetlands, which will support wildlife, clean water and prohibit development of this precious habitat.
Take action!
On Tuesday, September 7, 2021, the Gunnison County Board of County Commissioners will hear public comment on a proposed amendment to the current Land Use Resolution (LUR). This amendment, recommended by the Planning Commission, would decrease the maximum use-by-right square footage of new residential construction. Voice your values!
Email the Planning Commission at planning@gunnisoncounty.org or call (970) 641-0360 before the public hearing and tell your public officials that you say “yes” to the proposed amendments to the Gunnison County LUR. Zoom into the hearing “in person.” Tell them you want responsible development for the wildlife, community and the climate.
The proposed changes would have allowed YOU, and the citizen planning commission, and the water and wildlife experts to impact the pending compound in the Slate River wetlands. Email planning@gunnisoncounty.org right now and let the Commissioners know YOU want a voice, YOU support the proposed LUR changes.
Why should you support? Read and share our fact sheet …
Save the Slate is a Gunnison Valley grassroots organization whose mission is to inspire citizen participation and advocate for the public interest in the areas of environmental defense, community preservation and climate change mitigation.
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Environmental Defense.
We advocate for strengthening protections in the Slate River corridor and other scenic areas in the Gunnison Valley from excessive development in order to preserve critical wildlife habitat and maintain water quality for the health of our community and future generations.
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Community Preservation.
We advocate for community preservation — smart growth in the Gunnison Valley that prioritizes affordable and sustainable housing solutions in an effort to preserve our community’s values and socio-economic diversity.
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Climate Change Mitigation.
We advocate to avoid and reduce Gunnison County’s largest sources of greenhouse gas emissions. We advocate for climate change adaptation, altering our community’s behaviors, systems and energy use to protect our families, economies and the environment from the impacts of climate change.
Make a donation.
If you care about protecting wildlife habitat, smart community housing and reducing greenhouse gasses in Gunnison County, please donate today. Every penny goes back into our advocacy work.
Two male Great Blue Herons fight for a prime nest high above the Slate River. Your donation will help protect the Slate River Wetlands where these beautiful big birds come to nest every spring.
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“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world: indeed, it's the only thing that ever has.” — Margaret Mead