The Board of Pitkin County Commissioners (BOCC) will again take up the subject of a proposed Off Highway Vehicle Plan at a work session on Tuesday, April 25th. During the discussion they will consider the written comments from over 400 people who either expressed their opinions online or at an open house in March. The work session is not a public hearing but an opportunity for county commissioners to discuss the matter before asking staff to prepare an ordinance. A public hearing on the matter will be scheduled at a date and time to be announced this spring. Written public comment is being taken through April 7th online at www.pitkincountyconnect.com.
“We appreciate the robust public comment that this issue has generated. This feedback is valuable as the BOCC considers an OHV Management Plan,” said Public Works Director, Brian Pettet. “I want to make sure the public understands that there will be an opportunity to comment before the BOCC during a formal public hearing this spring. Their work session in April is intended to allow the board to productively hash out the issue among themselves. They will have all written comment to date at their fingertips during the work session,” Pettet said.
During the March 29th Open House Public Works officials presented four possible OHV management scenarios for the public to consider:
Scenario #1 is a 'status quo' approach where all county roads would remain off limits to OHVs and ATVs according to state law.
Scenario #2 would open four roads co-claimed by Pitkin County and the U.S. Forest Service to OHVs and ATVs. These roads include Bear Creek Road in the Woody Creek area, Seller Lake Road, Diemer Lake Road and Powerline Road in the Fryingpan River drainage. This scenario complies with the current USFS Travel Management Plan.
Scenario #3 would open 86 miles of county roads to OHVs and ATVs, including the Pitkin County Portion of Pearl Pass Road, more roads in the Fryingpan drainage and some roads in the Prince Creek/Dinkle Lake area above Carbondale.
Scenario #4 would open all county roads with less than 100 vehicle trips per day to OHVs and ATVs. This option includes opening the backside of Aspen Mountain to the vehicles.
The Pitkin County Off Highway Vehicle Management Plan would designate which roads in Pitkin County (if any) would be open to OHV use and create a strategy for management and enforcement.
Contact: Brian Pettet, Director of Public Works - 920-5392