The Boulder County Planning Commission approved modifications to the Site Specific Development Plan for Gold Lake during a regular virtual meeting on Wednesday, October 20, 2021. The Commission also approved two vacation rentals in the Front Range.

Boulder County Staff Planner Summer Frederick introduced an application requesting modifications to the previously approved Special Review and Site Specific Development Plan on a parcel in the Forestry Zoning District

The property is roughly a 90-acre legal building lot located east of State Highway 7, the Peak-to-Peak Highway, at 3370 Gold Lake Road, on the north and south sides of Gold Lake Road, about 2.6 miles from its intersection with Colorado Road 100. The property is surrounded by land owned by the U.S. Forest Service.

On May 28, 2020, the Board of County Commissioners conditionally approved the Historic Landmark Designation of a site area with eight contributing structures as well as the vacation of Colorado Road 102 within the subject property’s boundaries. They also allowed for the relocation of the road to an area away from the lakeshore.

The Commission also conditionally approved modifications to the previously approved Special Review to allow for an increase in the number of special events, construction of new structures, remodeling of historic structures, and deconstruction of existing structures. The approved conditions of approval can be found in the BOCC Action Letter, Resolution, & Development Agreement.

Staff received a substantial modification application requesting to modify the plan to allow for an alternate distribution of approved square footage, location, and design of structures, alignment of CR 102, site access, and parking and traffic circulation. The application does not propose to modify any conditions of approval other than those mentioned.

The original plan included 31 buildings at 34,999 square feet. The new proposal includes 30 buildings, and public and private parking spaces have been reconfigured. Two cabins will be clustered closer to existing structures.

The development of cabins will be clustered in the historic area, with structures higher up the hill that had been previously located closer to the interior road. The owner’s cabin would be higher up.

Frederick said this plan was referred to several agencies, which supported the road realignment. Staff recommended three cabins remain at the same location and sizes originally approved. With a maximum area of 90 acres, 35,000 square feet of structures will be allowed, and the applicant met this criterion.

Staff found that the majority of the proposed modifications can meet the Special Review criteria with the recommended conditions of approval. Staff does not support the proposed increase in size and relocation of the new cabins and the owner’s cabin in the area above the southeastern shoreline.

Staff recommended that the Planning Commission approve the modifications, with the exception of the proposed increase in size and relocation of the new cabins and the owner’s cabin in the area above the southeastern shoreline, and forward the recommendation to the Board of County Commissioners.

Applicants Stephen Sparn, with Sopher Sparn Architects, and David Brand, property owner with Gold Lake Ventures LLC., said they will only touch briefly on the three buildings not in alignment with staff. Sparn has been practicing for more than four decades, but he has never worked in a place as pristine as Gold Lake with the goal of preserving the area.

Sparn hopes to begin construction in the Spring of 2022. This new proposal maintains the same uses as the previous proposal, but creates better-designed roads and two compact guest villages. The architecturally sensitive buildings will be moved away from the lake shore.

The building designs will be compatible with the mountain environment and include restoring historic cabins in keeping with the site. The new owner’s cabin will be located to the north, and the current owner’s cabin will be demolished.

Sparn said he has worked closely with Wildfire Partners and has a plan with them to reduce fire danger and preserve historic trees on the site. It will allow buildings and trees to be protected as a unit.

“Our proposed plan is appropriate,” Sparn said. “We are looking at structures, vegetation, site disturbances, and looking at techniques to buffer it from visual screening. Our solution best complies to the criteria.”

Sparn said they created two compact villages located off an existing road for fire protection and allows them to reduce the length of the road, which is only for maintenance. “We strongly believe buildings 5,6, and 12 meet the criteria, and the number and arrangement of cabins is appropriate.

“We have demonstrated the uses are adequately buffered and best balance efficient use of energy and preserving this legacy project with a light imprint,” Sparn said.

David Brand said the owner fell in love with the sanctity of Gold Lake. A beautiful vision emerged to build a retreat center for those who wanted renewal.

“Our dream was to have less buildings. Our new plans have created more openness around the lake without seeing a parking lot, but seeing a historic lodge, the eagles and the mirror of the lake.

“We wanted to build a center to connect with the land and trees. The modifications are the result of a lot of work and will create a win for Boulder County and those who have experienced Gold Lake,” Brand said.

Commissioner Dave Hsu asked that, if the Commission approves this, if it replaces the previous version. Frederick said the conditions preserve approvals from the previous docket.

Commissioner Mark Bloomfield said that relocating the owner’s cabin has some benefit, trying to push development away from the lake, and moving the owner’s cabin would help with that. Frederick said the proposed owner’s cabin is a two-story façade built into the hillside, reducing the number of structures from 31 to 30 but it is an increase in square footage.

Bloomfield said the proposal is a better alignment of buildings, and the visual impact will be reduced throughout the entire development. Commissioner Ann Goldfarb said she liked the compact villages, and it makes it a better facility. “I think the buildings, larger, serve a good purpose, and it serves the community well.”

The Commissioners recommended that the modified Site Development Plan be recommended to the Boulder County Commission with 11 conditions but removing the restrictions on the three cabins.

The Commission approved a vacation rental to be rented up to 120 nights per year with minimum 2-day and maximum 10-day rental periods on 43 Riverside Drive, about 150 feet west of its eastern intersection with State Highway 7; and a vacation rental of 365 days per year for up to 2 guests on a roughly 1.6- acre parcel at 18 Juniper Heights Road, located adjacent to the intersection of Juniper Heights Road and Gross Dam Road.

Staff Planner Kathy Sandoval said the property is in the Forest District and has one parking space for the renter and manager. It will not have a visual impact. A garage exists from the parking spaces adjacent to Gross Dam Road and two spaces from Juniper Road.

The next meeting of the Boulder County Planning Commission will be on Wednesday, November 17, 2021.