Crested Butte Town Council spent much of its June 15 work session reviewing a sweeping final draft of the town’s new Land Development Code, which consolidates zoning and subdivision regulations into a single Chapter 16 and reduces the town’s 22 zone districts to 11.
Community Development Director Mel Yemma presented three unresolved policy questions requiring council direction before the draft advances to the Board of Zoning and Architectural Review for a recommendation.
The mobile home district drew the most discussion. Staff removed two previously proposed changes — a deed-restriction incentive allowing stick-built or modular replacements, and a six-inch setback reduction — after neighborhood pushback. A new maximum lot size remains in the draft to prevent consolidation. Council discussed but did not resolve whether to apply town-wide simplified parking minimums to the district. Several members expressed support for preserving the neighborhood’s affordable character for future residents. One resident told council that three units in the district are modular homes, not traditional mobile homes, a distinction that could affect how the code is written.
On ornamental lighting, council indicated majority support for keeping two separate end dates — January 15 for residential and April 15 for commercial — aligning with BOZAR’s position and overriding a previous council preference for a single unified date. Members cited dark-sky preservation and sustainability as primary reasons.
Digital marquee signs generated sharp debate. Council heard from Superintendent Leslie Nichols, who argued a digital sign at the school would reduce staff burden and improve emergency communication. Most council members expressed willingness to allow a tightly regulated digital sign for the school only, with restrictions on lumens, motion, and hours of operation to be formalized through an intergovernmental agreement. Councilmember Mallika Magner warned of a slippery slope toward broader requests from other organizations.
Council also passed a consent agenda that included special event permits for the July 4 parade and the Crested Butte Social, adoption of the Gunnison County Hazard Mitigation Plan, and first reading of an ordinance updating municipal code Chapter 13, Article 5. A public hearing on the sale of 16 Ninth Street, Unit 3A, and adoption of amended 2026 affordable housing guidelines were also on the agenda.
The zoning code draft moves next to BOZAR before returning for public hearings and formal adoption votes.
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