[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6588415,"mediaKeyId","5663812-fd844d48289636a7e5d7899ca60cb58d","parentId",5663812,"title","Idarado HOA signals litigation over Southside Perimeter Trail; county attorney to research historic-trail designation","audioSeconds",249,"startMs",2937450,"endMs",3186750,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5663812-fd844d48289636a7e5d7899ca60cb58d&start=2937&end=3186","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5663812-fd844d48289636a7e5d7899ca60cb58d/thumbnail_2937450.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6588415/San-Miguel-County/Colorado/Idarado-HOA-signals-litigation-over-Southside-Perimeter-Trail-county-attorney-to-research-historic-trail-designation","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6588415-cbcb854a6c15229dbfbd2a0bce71b991/orig.mp4?Expires=1771021817&Signature=EsD2qghnz3v0-dM~ugpTCYpR2KvCAb0dVbmuN~UkdFkiUcYgxI12nT7LcYfcX8qa6TuqBunFvKpWLhRrrxEW9Vk5ZQLbGYPM0ZXMn03hhCZojBP7zUBBFXJoXwUXdLcYAxyCFdHrsRIXYM~-P0ZPmbj6hgaXfh6CJvbS8rBWMgrULAUeovYAg-IZG0qsRgjj0YgnPlbBJYFWdcJusBJpjZVsFXTK67aLoQSUnbr5QdQriEpLyc4v3RHZ~7NWbISy4v7CRrdJeuH-YisyzhfB706PC8BA4bzB6Jdk5x8M3tnaDLiq8TFUwMh0w~EyIj2F3gPbzgVfzYOgL8Ca5ISgtA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","San Miguel County","date","2025-08-22T17:40:16.963Z","article","Members and staff at the July 28 Open Space Commission meeting discussed opposition and potential litigation tied to the Southside Perimeter Trail, a route included in a Telluride Mountain Club package submitted to the U.S. Forest Service for NEPA review.

County staff reported they had met with Telluride Mountain Club and Idarado Homeowners Association representatives on a site visit June 18 and that Idarado neighbors subsequently signaled opposition. “I heard from Sophie at the Telluride Mountain Club that they are going to be filing litigation to prevent the trail from moving forward,” a county staff member said. Staff said, as of the meeting, no one from the county had been formally served.

The proposed perimeter trail crosses parcels managed by four parties: the town, the county, the U.S. Forest Service, and Idarado/Newmont. County staff told the commission that county attorney Maura Fahey would research whether pursuing a historic-trail designation or other legal strategies could carry weight if private owners claim rights that impede trail use. Fahey cautioned that the county must be careful with public statements while litigation is pending.

Commission members discussed precedent elsewhere, including a similar perimeter-trail process in Ouray that overcame legal hurdles. Several commissioners urged staff to gather legal precedence and asked the county attorney to prepare a legal assessment so county officials know their options if the HOA files suit. Participants also discussed the broader pattern of private-property litigation affecting trail access across the West.

Ending: Staff will follow up with the county attorney and coordinate with Telluride Mountain Club; commissioners asked that the county be ready to respond publicly if litigation is filed and requested information on legal precedent and likely costs associated with defense.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","OSC 7 28 25 Recording 640x360","oneSentenceSummary","County staff told the Open Space Commission on July 28 that the Idarado Homeowners Association plans litigation to block the Southside Perimeter Trail, which is part of a Telluride Mountain Club package in the U.S. Forest Service NEPA process.","taxTitle","San Miguel County, Colorado","taxId",73428,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6588425,"San Miguel County rereleases Mill Creek Park survey, discusses pollinator plan and grading RFP after no bids",236,37880,274010,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5663812-fd844d48289636a7e5d7899ca60cb58d&start=37&end=274","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5663812-fd844d48289636a7e5d7899ca60cb58d/thumbnail_37880.jpg","/articles/6588425/San-Miguel-County/Colorado/San-Miguel-County-rereleases-Mill-Creek-Park-survey-discusses-pollinator-plan-and-grading-RFP-after-no-bids","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6588425-d06fcadcf6897d3b60790b0406f9c2f7/orig.mp4?Expires=1771021817&Signature=aohmKZ1~dkptFfwg~JvOZ3yZZjjBhgZ~cwT3lyixvhafYgey~gZiWoAicCnRojT-xFnskY2BIcU5PJv4WBbbxdgPdzdgHoDoZqUBMDpA6UU-FTVqruBBXQYmkYUdZ65qrmc9NQRdooJ29MQyffyaAH2ITpDxYLq1D0z88qLhhvriz5yFQinMFmRslPTWmRTY3qvNe0NXCynjFa3GJoABAJCv-gKr4mc1y8tifMXXya65Jk2Sqyeo55ClQOoN8lkuRlb~2vDtjTZkliQaAWMU35YmhbLViH3X91Ke~8lRkDkMTHm5UiLhqMq7Tv-taMfe6ZOiwKCPnN2FQB~nfduOBA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","San Miguel County Open Space staff on July 28 relaunched a short community survey asking residents what they want at Mill Creek Park, a 1.09-acre site on the northeast corner of Mill Creek Road opposite the Shell station. The county issued a press release with a link to the six-question survey and asked that responses be accepted for roughly two to three months.

The survey push came during the Open Space Commission meeting as staff reiterated that the parcel was intended for passive park use, with pathways (not formal trails), pollinator plantings, picnic areas and benches, existing porta-potties, signage and some picnic tables already on site. “Affordable housing isn’t happening on this site,” Susie (Open Space Commission member) said during the meeting. “The site was deeded over as open space/parkland. So it was not meant to be developed, and it won’t be developed.”

County staff said renderings showing a largely natural design remain the guiding plan; work to date has included grading completed last fall and placement of picnic tables and trash receptacles to encourage interim public use. Staff also said they obtained approval from the State Historic Preservation Officer to encase — rather than remove — historic structures found on the parcel during site work; those features were left in place and buried after a cultural-resource survey.

The commission heard that a recent RFP for additional grading and soil prep on the Mill Creek parcel, which staff estimated could be on the order of $150,000, received no bids after closing May 23. “A number of companies were interested but then secured other projects and contracts,” a county staff member said; staff indicated the work is unlikely to happen this year and that the county will share the survey results with the commission and revisit next steps once community input and funding availability are clearer.

Commissioners and volunteers also discussed pollinator plantings tied to Mill Creek Park and to the Down Valley Pollinator Garden. County staff said the renderings for Mill Creek include pollinator plantings and informal pathways and noted that the commission has budgeted for the project in prior years. “We just wanted to make it safe…and entice people to start using it by placing picnic tables out there,” a county staff member said.

The commission set a timeline for sharing survey results with the group and then discussing next steps. Staff reminded the commission that budget planning for 2026 will begin next month; commissioners and volunteers identified potential for a staged approach (piecemal implementation) and flagged the idea of pairing small, interim improvements with longer-term work if funding becomes available.

Ending: Staff said the survey will remain live for several months and that results will be returned to the commission for discussion of next steps; the commission will also continue to monitor opportunities for contracting the needed grading work if bidders become available.","San Miguel County Open Space staff on July 28 relaunched a short community survey asking residents what they want at Mill Creek Park, a 1.09-acre site on the northeast corner of Mill Creek Road opposite the Shell station.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6588410,"Open Space Commission to consider formal memorial policy after family request for Bridal Veil Trail",449,3739540,4188750,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5663812-fd844d48289636a7e5d7899ca60cb58d&start=3739&end=4188","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5663812-fd844d48289636a7e5d7899ca60cb58d/thumbnail_3739540.jpg","/articles/6588410/San-Miguel-County/Colorado/Open-Space-Commission-to-consider-formal-memorial-policy-after-family-request-for-Bridal-Veil-Trail","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6588410-66ea5ba484206a845ae4c79cb29aed76/orig.mp4?Expires=1771021817&Signature=SrhXv9h2jI2Jr5IViBjF3rZUHz0xpetadsjzEEvlbn-30TFPfS~YCY5QwqQ1l1b0htucvN4YKESkjN1g9hnUgaM3eZspGhxR1KvmNBdNpkoVl81CEu2ALvs8YVrYhlcRjv1EaovwuP1xAkSdx3aVGYAP8GuBLAFn~QINDjbHhxovPZHiLjpDjMimMIqlJ8O0fjkxGbJY-zFrBfldI~4PkKwNRWlHCaSXHE4CZ4YqKG0iw2F4l2X1f61UHPb7ONuH0CL2XfGuPcVFyGdOcujXGTkjFAdWAZdUtBMRXNJbqzuBUi~FFUrdcYqfvfIwdoye6~Z8YVT3afteIAHrVeYhOQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","At the July 28 meeting, a family request to place a memorial for a child who died on Bridal Veil Trail prompted the San Miguel County Open Space Commission to discuss whether the county should adopt a written memorial policy.

County staff said they had searched records back to 2013 and found earlier discussions and recommendations but no clear evidence that the county ever adopted a formal memorial policy. Staff provided the commission with the Town of Telluride’s memorial policy as an example; that town policy specifies acceptable memorials (benches, trees, plaques), costs, locations and maintenance responsibilities.

Commission members noted practical questions the county should address in any policy, including who pays for installation, who is responsible for ongoing maintenance, whether temporary floral tributes are permitted, and where permanent items can be placed on county land. “I don’t really have any legs to stand on and don’t know the feeling,” Susie (Open Space Commission member) said about managing an external request without a written policy.

Suggestions at the meeting included developing a discrete memorial area (for example, at a designated park) rather than allowing memorials to be placed throughout all county open space, favoring natural plantings such as trees over permanent benches where feasible, and requiring families to cover installation and maintenance costs. Staff said they would follow up with the requesting family to clarify what they want and would return recommendations to the commission.

Ending: Commissioners asked staff to assemble sample policies (Town of Telluride and others), clarify any prior county action, and present options — including recommended locations, maintenance arrangements and cost-recovery approaches — at a future meeting.","A family’s request to place a memorial to a child on Bridal Veil Trail prompted the San Miguel County Open Space Commission on July 28 to consider drafting a formal county memorial policy.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6588420,"Commission considers regenerative practices for pollinator gardens; volunteers and staff support pilot with Be Happy Lands",910,952470,1863010,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5663812-fd844d48289636a7e5d7899ca60cb58d&start=952&end=1863","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5663812-fd844d48289636a7e5d7899ca60cb58d/thumbnail_952470.jpg","/articles/6588420/San-Miguel-County/Colorado/Commission-considers-regenerative-practices-for-pollinator-gardens-volunteers-and-staff-support-pilot-with-Be-Happy-Lands","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6588420-fa00ae71cea7b119258fc89f3c80b0af/orig.mp4?Expires=1771021817&Signature=mcPCEqZa~HX48rLwjhgl6UZ87M9JmKZHH92peK2xRROl7eA2b3PZMPH2yaISMmfXg1rnOgWc68WUm4LAEIELq~L7t3T9V0YTDi0KcIr4wBUZZ9RWzbYtGevSrhDStULp~iFKSrB7qbfNur-YDuiXTGkpzxqwfk-FJ9RDs2f-nrbfG5-~Od1UQk1oV9QAA2yIiIlk8mYi7cXknUBCYBkRwGEhmLqoxiaRzZ2-epS158rjrjTjtIMYcpECmQ4xkbLvhygEAgIZCeSyndgiXvVVdGN64J7eZ91TrVOAQpmOE-d6z9Tk4TeI1b5mdChec3RydLUfgBnTOAH253XntH4JFw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","During the July 28 meeting San Miguel County Open Space commissioners and volunteers discussed whether to adopt regenerative land-stewardship methods for pollinator gardens across county open spaces and to pilot those methods at Mill Creek Park.

Jacqueline “Jack” Hudson, a volunteer who helps manage the Down Valley Pollinator Garden, described mechanical weed removal practiced at that site and the garden’s weekly care. “I control my weeds mechanically... I pull them, and I get as much root system as I possibly can,” Hudson said. Participants said the Down Valley Garden currently covers roughly 7,500 square feet and that volunteer seed-harvests are used to reseed other local trails: staff reported seed collected at Down Valley was used to reseed the Idarado Legacy Trail.

The commission reviewed a proposal and informational letter from Katrina Blair of Be Happy Lands, which practices what participants called regenerative methods including biochar, mulching and selective seed collection. Blair was described as offering consulting at a modest fee — “maybe, like, a two-hour consultant job would be, like, $250” — and larger crew work for towns at higher cost; commissioners asked staff to request a formal proposal and to consider a pilot program.

County staff and volunteers discussed the limits of nonchemical management. Julie (county staff member) described an integrated-pest-management approach in which some noxious weeds still require herbicide in certain scenarios but emphasized care around pollinator areas. “I do put out signs when I'm applying herbicides at the park,” Julie said. She noted that signage and even roping are used but that members of the public sometimes ignore posted warnings.

Volunteers and staff outlined practical composting rules and weed disposal precautions discussed at the meeting: plant material that has gone to seed (for example, mature whitetop/hoary cress seed heads) should be placed in trash rather than compost; immature leafy material can be composted. Participants discussed opportunities for education — labeling species in the garden and opening structured site visits — so residents can replicate native-plant techniques at home.

The commission asked staff to solicit a written proposal from Be Happy Lands for either consulting time or a workday, and discussed a staged pilot for Mill Creek Park if the county chooses to test regenerative methods in a small area before broader adoption.

Ending: Staff will request a formal proposal from Be Happy Lands and return recommendations to the commission; volunteers will continue seed-harvest and mechanical-control work at Down Valley while the county considers a pilot program.","Open Space commissioners and volunteers discussed expanding regenerative land stewardship in county pollinator gardens, seed harvesting and mechanical weed control at Down Valley; a local consultant, Katrina Blair of Be Happy Lands, offered a low-cost consulting option and the group discussed piloting her methods at Mill Creek Park.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Idarado HOA signals litigation over Southside Perimeter Trail; county attorney to research historic-trail designation

San Miguel County rereleases Mill Creek Park survey, discusses pollinator plan and grading RFP after no bids

Open Space Commission to consider formal memorial policy after family request for Bridal Veil Trail

Commission considers regenerative practices for pollinator gardens; volunteers and staff support pilot with Be Happy Lands