CENTRAL CITY — City Hall was packed Tuesday night, with not an empty seat in the room, as Central City held its final council meeting of 2025. The crowd showed up to hear the long-awaited public hearing on the proposed Gregory Gulch Gaming Resort, which had been continued for several months.

The council met on December 16, with Mayor Jeremy Fey, Mayor Pro Tem Chuck Spencer, Todd Williams, Marcia Enloe, and Zane Plsek present. Fey announced early that he would recuse himself from the Gregory Gulch agenda item after learning a sibling works for a company that may bid on vendor contracts related to the project. Spencer presided over the hearing in his absence.

Before getting to the main event, the council approved an amended consent agenda that included regular bill lists through December 9, approval of the December 2 meeting minutes, and Resolution 25-43 authorizing a hauling operations agreement with the Jefferson Conservation District.

The appointment of Shane Riley to fill a vacancy on the Central City Business Improvement District board was the final item on the consent agenda. Riley will serve through the May 2027 election.

The group briefly convened as the Board of Adjustment to open and immediately continue three variance hearings tied to 214 E. Third High Street. All three were continued to January 20, 2026.

Sitting as the regular council, they also approved Resolution 25-42, amending the 2025 budget to cover $116,853 in unexpected Water Fund expenses, involving service line breaks, water main repairs, hydrant and bollard failures, and treatment plant equipment failures.

Resolution 25-44 followed, approving an on-call services agreement with Mountain Peak Controls, Inc., for SCADA system work.

SCADA stands for Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition. It is a system used to monitor and control infrastructure in real time. Staff said the system is outdated and has lacked consistent oversight. The agreement allows up to $60,000 for a new system and $10,000 for on-call services.

The council also adopted Ordinance 25-10 on first reading, which would prohibit the use of graywater within city limits. A second reading and public hearing are scheduled for January 20. Staff said opting out avoids a complicated oversight program required under new state law and does not affect current properties.

The room fell quiet when the council opened the consolidated public hearing on the Gregory Gulch Gaming Resort Preliminary Development Plan and Ordinance 25-09, which would rezone about 12.33 acres to a Planned Unit Development.

Community Development Director Jeff Noffsinger reviewed the project’s history, including a September 3 Planning Commission hearing that resulted in a 5-0 recommendation to deny.

After developer G3 Gaming acquired additional property and revised the plan, the project was reheard last week and approved 3-2, with conditions related to building height in the western portion of the site.

Noffsinger stressed that the council was reviewing zoning and development standards, not final design. While current zoning limits height in Gregory Gulch to 53 feet, the code allows height bonuses for Planned Unit Developments that demonstrate public benefit.

Alexander Sheykhet, the project architect with Obermeier Sheykhet Architecture, presented the plan and called the project a “world-class destination resort.” The proposal includes up to 600 hotel rooms, gaming space, structured parking, and mixed-use elements.

“It is a historic day for the City of Central,” Sheykhet said. He added that the plan only sets parameters, with the final design expected to return to the council in early 2026.

Developers said the project could generate about $6.8 million in new net revenue for the City each year.

Council questions were wide-ranging. Williams asked about drainage and plans to enclose portions of the gulch with culverts. Enloe raised concerns about snow, ice, and shading along Lawrence Street. Spencer and Plsek questioned parking layout, garage height, and how navigable large parking structures would be.

Sheykhet said parking plans are still being refined, but would follow commercial standards, generally limiting garages to six levels with wide aisles. 

He recognized that construction would be disruptive, but that work would be phased, starting with road relocation and utilities before vertical construction.

The council also questioned land ownership and timing. G3 Gaming representative David Johnston said the team recently closed on additional parcels and received authorization on others previously tied up in the Maverick bankruptcy. 

One parcel remains unresolved but is nearing closure. With land acquisition almost complete, the team expects to submit a final development plan in February 2026, with horizontal construction potentially beginning later in the year.

Williams also asked about cost and feasibility. City Manager Daniel Miera said preliminary numbers indicate the project could proceed without burdening existing residents or businesses. 

Developers estimated the City would spend about $1.8 million annually on added services, costs they said would be offset by new revenue. Staff said the City will conduct its own financial review as the project advances.

Only two people spoke during public comment. One resident supported the project, citing jobs and economic benefits. Another participant, who was online, questioned how revenue projections were calculated. Developers said the conservative figure came from a financial analysis firm and would be independently reviewed by the City.

After more than an hour of presentations and questions, the council voted unanimously, with Fey recused, to approve Ordinance 25-09 on second reading. The public hearing closed at 7:31 p.m.

The meeting ended with year-end council comments before members entered executive session to discuss negotiations, a potential land acquisition on Gregory Street, and legal matters related to 130 Main Street.

The next regular Central City Council meeting is set for January 20, 2026, and will be held at City Hall with online access available through the city’s website.