New Conservation Easement in Roaring Fork Valley
As of this Wednesday, Cold Mountain Ranch in the Crystal River Valley was placed under conservation easement, allowing minimal development on the 610 acres. The Board of County Commissioners for Pitkin County approved the resolution, adding this parcel to the 30 million acres that is already protected in the state of Colorado according to the Colorado Ownership Management and Protection. The sale will be finalized in April 2009.
Cold Mountain Ranch is a historic working cattle ranch located off of Highway 133 as you travel out of the Carbondale area. The owners, Bill Fales and Marj Perry, received $5.1 million from Pitkin County Open Space funds and a $2.4 million grant from Great Outdoors Colorado, $7.5 million in total. The ranch appraised for $16 million.
Along with the money, the owners reserve the right to right to build two to three new homes on the 610-acre parcel. This is the first easement granted under a new section of the county land-use code that allows for an “Open Space Master Plan.” Historically, owners would have to complete a two-step process for creating open space and developing a building plan. Under this new section, landowners can work out a conservation easement, and development rights, on their property in a one process.
The Colorado Coalition of Land Trust is an excellent source for more information on conservation easements in Aspen, Pitkin County and all over Colorado. Their Conservation Easements 101 gives a brief overview on how conservation easements work.
