Plans for new shopping center chugging along
City obtains critical access permit from CDOT
Times Editor
Originally published 2013-01-24



Perhaps the most significant hurdle for a proposed commercial development in Gunnison’s Van Tuyl Village has been cleared.

City Manager Ken Coleman reported in recent weeks that city leaders have swayed officials with the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT), allowing for the reconfiguration of an intersection that would feed the proposed development.

Meanwhile, the developers pursuing the commercial project aren’t wasting any time in navigating the City of Gunnison’s land-use approval process.

Jon Hauser, managing partner of Denver-based Drake Real Estate Services, announced in late October that the property in question — which is on the north side of Gunnison and abuts Hwy. 135 — is under contract, and closing would likely take place in February or March.

Drake has submitted an application to subdivide the 4.8-acre commercial parcel into four lots, ranging in size from .5 to 2.5 acres. Hauser has indicated that Tractor Supply Co. is a potential tenant for one of those lots and O’Reilly Auto Parts is eying another lot.

Previously, however, Hauser said that the project’s feasibility is based, in part, on acquiring full access to and from Hwy. 135. The current access into the proposed development can only take place for vehicles traveling south on the highway — the result of a CDOT access permit decision a few years ago.

Coleman told council last week that it appears city leaders had successfully argued to CDOT officials the need for a full-access intersection. He said last week that the city had received the needed permit, which was awaiting his signature before being sent back to CDOT to become effective.

“I think things are moving forward for this coming construction season,” he said of Drake’s project.

Primary access to the proposed development will be off Hwy. 135 via Van Tuyl Circle. Secondary access points will be from Sydney Street to the west.  

“Blue Mesa Shopping Center,” as it’s termed, received a thumbs up on Jan. 9 from the city’s Planning and Zoning Commission for the second part in a three-phase approval process. A preliminary plat for the project was approved.

City Planner Andie Ruggera called the preliminary plat the “nuts and bolts” of the proposal. For example, it includes plans for utilities and easements; grading and drainage; and routing of electrical, phone and natural gas lines.

The sketch plan — or first step in the project’s review process — received approval in November.

Ruggera said Friday that city leaders are currently awaiting an application for the project’s final plat.

She said that a public hearing on that plan is expected to take place Feb. 13 before Planning and Zoning Commission. Following the public hearing, a recommendation for whether to approve the final plat is expected to be forwarded to City Council, which will have final say over whether the development is approved.  

 

(Will Shoemaker can be contacted at 970.641.1414 or editor@gunnisontimes.com)