Long-Term Lease at Krabloonik Ends

Snowmass Village’s town council made the exit of the Krabloonik dog-sledding operation official by agreeing to an out-of-court settlement agreement, the Aspen Daily News reported. The agreement allows Krabloonik to remain operational through June 2024 on the condition that its dogs are properly cared for, and the ownership starts the process of finding new homes for the Alaskan huskies. The agreement beholds Krabloonik to a conditions-laden wind-down plan, and it ends litigation between the town and the Krabloonik ownership, Dan and Ginny Philips. Also, it spells the end of commercial dogsledding on the town-owned property since 1976. 

The town terminated Krabloonik’s lease Nov. 1 in the wake of a landlord-tenant fallout that began last summer when a best-practices committee concluded the operation underperformed on several lease stipulations relating to the dog’s wellbeing. Once the lease expires, the town will hold onto the property, but its fate is undecided.

Downtown Project Going Over Budget

Basalt’s major municipal undertaking of sprucing up the appearance of Midland Avenue and making it more pedestrian and bicycle friendly will require the town government to dip into its reserves for an amount still to be determined, the Aspen Daily News reported. Inflationary construction costs in recent years as well as an expanded scope of the project have driven up the price, but town officials said the budget is well positioned to absorb the expense of an important community investment without neglecting other projects or services. 

The town currently has $13.7 million in revenues available for the project. The town’s goal is to keep the project’s expense within a range of $17.2 million to $18.2 million, depending on whether there is a $1 million or $2 million contingency. The project is being tackled in two phases. The first phase is underway on Midland Spur, the short street in front of CC’s Cafe and Town Hall. The contract for that phase is $4.2 million. Phase two will focus on Midland Avenue itself, where sidewalks will be widened, pedestrian and cycling enhancements will be made and a water line will be replaced among other things. 

New Forest Service Buildings in the Pipeline

The U.S. Forest Service plans to remove three buildings on its property on Main Street in Carbondale and replace them with a new 6,800-square-foot office and visitor’s information area in 2024, the Aspen Daily News reported. The agency said the aging current facilities no longer meet the needs of the Aspen-Sopris Ranger District and are costly to maintain. The existing office building was constructed in 1939 as the district ranger’s residence. The visitor information area was added in 1995.

Work is expected to begin in early 2024 and last 18 to 24 months. Neighborhood sidewalks might require closures during construction. The White River National Forest is receiving nearly $4.5 million from the Great American Act Legacy Restoration Fund, which will cover much of the anticipated costs of the project. 

Ranch Land Approved for Conservation 

Pitkin County commissioners voted to approve a plan that will preserve a historic ranch outside of Carbondale rather than turn it into a subdivision, the Aspen Daily News reported. The new development plan for the former Tybar Ranch, now known as Turnabout Ranch, will vacate prior approvals for six homes of up to 7,500 square feet each and instead conserve 125 of 458 acres. 

The conservation easement will be placed on meadows on the east side of the ranch that has been identified as an excellent habitat for deer and elk. The Dorans will also dismantle an 18,000-square-foot, red barn prominent along Prince Creek Road. There are approvals for a 20,000-square-foot indoor riding arena and 28,000 square feet of agricultural buildings for a horse barn and other uses, which the new owners hope will be an equine-tourist destination. An existing employee housing unit will be redeveloped with the barn.