TELLURIDE - The Town of Telluride this week started the process of placing a $15 million bond question on the November ballot to pay for improvements to the Colorado Hwy. 145 Spur and Colorado Avenue.

Town Manager Frank Bell told council on Tuesday that the town needs to develop a “bonding strategy” for work on the west end of the Spur and Colorado Avenue’s south side.

Improvements to the Spur’s west end, that is, that portion of the Spur that isn’t already under re-construction, is estimated to cost  $9.8 million, which includes more than $2 million for the engineering and construction of retaining walls on the  far west end of the Spur.

In addition, as part of the town’s effort to enhance the “vitality” of the town’s commercial core, $3.3 million will be needed for Colorado Avenue. Part of that money would be spent, for example, on doing a more Streetscape-style widening of the south side sidewalk of Colorado Avenue.

With that announcement, council member Stu Fraser proposed the town set its sights on a ballot question this fall to raise $15 million for public improvements.

But while council members Bob Saunders and Roberta Peterson said they favored other alternatives, such as a new sales tax or putting off the Colorado Avenue portion in order to keep property taxes down, others were concerned during the meeting that future bond questions after this year could make it difficult to make such town projects winnable in future elections.

“They are not sexy, but go ahead and prepare the language we need to go forward,” said council member Andrea Benda.

Lift 7 Subarea Planning Process Goes Into Full Swing

The Town of Telluride public process to re-think the entire southwest portion of town, known as the Lift 7 Subarea Plan, which includes the non-wetlands of the so-called Pearl Property bordering the entry into town, as well as the area near and around Carhenge and the parking lot for Shandoka, among others.

This week, a series of public meetings, or charettes, were held to discuss the plan, with a list of possible land uses, culled from a deli tray of possibilities, being considered.

The list includes everything from new resort amenities to improvements to parking, a location for a new medical center, as well as for affordable housing, as well as free market commercial and residential space.

The commentary taken from this week’s meetings will be used to shape the final design charettes as the planning process continues.

One of the hottest political footballs will be how the town approaches the non-wetlands area of the Pearl Property. In February 1998, town voters approved an ordinance maintaining the Pearl, which was originally acquired for parking, “in its natural state.”  The thinking is that the uplands on the Pearl may be somewhat less sacrosanct now that the entire Valley Floor appears bound for preservation in perpetuity.