On the evening of May 8, around 45 attendees gathered at the Historic Courthouse in Central City for an informational meeting aimed to address growing concerns regarding the permitting process for building. County Commissioners attended, while the gathering was hosted by Gilpin County’s Community Development Department, Planning Division, and by Public Health.

For nearly two and a half hours, Community Development Director Robert Gutierrez fielded questions and concerns from homeowners, contractors, builders, and residents. He was joined by Ray Rears, County Manager; Brian Smith, Code Enforcement Officer; Kelvin Decker, Public Health; Kyle Parag, Planning Inspector; and representatives from Charles Abbott and Associates, the County’s contracted planning and inspection firm.

Gutierrez assured attendees that no regulatory changes had been made recently, despite public perceptions to the contrary. Instead, modifications in plan reviews, permits, and inspections have occurred over the past few years.

“I’ll be honest with you,” Gutierrez stated, “we have gone from a county that was not checking much to a county that is checking everything.” He acknowledged past mistakes in 2022, such as certificates of occupancy that didn’t specify what they were for, and emphasized that his department has worked to rectify these errors.

Kyle Parag reiterated Gutierrez’s open-door policy, saying, “I just want to echo that the door is always open. There is no reason for any of you to wait until there is a forum like this to come and express your frustrations with either myself or with Rob.”

Jason Ericson, a local resident and the first to speak, voiced his frustration while building an Assisted Dwelling Unit (ADU) for his autistic 17-year-old son. When he contacted the County for a variance, he was told to expand his six-year-old septic system, resulting in $30,000 in costs. Without the help of his brother, an architect, he doubted he would have succeeded in obtaining a permit.

Ericson’s brother criticized Gilpin County as the most challenging entity he’s ever worked with, and Ericson expressed fear of retaliation from the “new regime.” Gutierrez assured Ericson he need not worry and promised to follow up on his case and his known conflict with Decker.

Strict deadlines and a shortage of contractors have forced residents to make hasty decisions, leading to costly delays. Gutierrez emphasized the importance of thorough research before purchasing property, noting that a septic system or on-site wastewater treatment must be in place to obtain a certificate of occupancy.

Andrew Lund, a contractor, expressed frustration over inspection days being limited to Tuesdays and Thursdays, saying, “It is getting difficult to keep jobs going because of the amount of time you have to build up here.” He suggested extending building permits from one year to two years due to seasonal challenges.

Lund also questioned the decision to hire an out-of-state inspection company, asking, “What made Gilpin County hire an out-of-state company to do inspections when there are plenty of companies in the state of Colorado?”

An Abbott representative responded that Tuesdays and Thursdays were chosen after feedback was given from installers, also claiming surprise at the current request for more inspections.

Decker said to email him if a change of inspection day is necessary. Gutierrez said that for a small jurisdiction, the County offers a generous amount of days to perform inspections.

Remarkably, one attendee reported that he, as a contractor, has experienced no problems with the County since he started working in 2013. He has built 14 homes, with five in Central City, crediting his success to reading the building code and following the rules. “I just have not had any issues.”

County Manager Ray Rears explained that the Planning Department prioritizes public safety, stating, “It is incredibly difficult to find building inspectors across the country.” He defended hiring Charles Abbott, citing high value and a lack of response from previous inspectors.

Director of Operations Michael Theisen added that, although Charles Abbott is headquartered in California, its Colorado workers are state residents.

Resident Michael Price expressed agitation over perceived indifference to his zoning complaints, calling for Gutierrez to be fired. Rears asked attendees to maintain a calm and constructive tone, emphasizing that the meeting’s purpose was to improve the building process.

April Nielsen, a former Planning Division employee, praised Gutierrez for professionalizing the office. “The previous administration did not necessarily follow what was put in place. The purpose of today is to bridge a way forward,” she said.

More residents said they are still waiting for their permits to be approved and they would like five days a week available for inspections.

Gutierrez apologized for any delays and promised to follow up on several cases involving permitting. He encouraged anyone with issues to reach out via email, in person, or by phone.

For more information, visit the Community Development department online at gilpincounty.colorado.gov, in person at the Historic Courthouse located at 203 Eureka Street in Central City, or call 303-582-5214.