On Tuesday, the Basalt Town Hall was again filled with discussion of the future Pan & Fork riverside parcel. The decision of the evening was a 5-2 vote on Resolution 43 "Approving a Pre-Development Agreement with the Roaring Fork Community Development Corporation (CDC) and Lowe Enterprises."

It is important for the community to understand what this means. Setting aside the agreement's unfortunate name which has caused considerable consternation and confusion, this document neither assures development nor is binding on any party. It is a process tool that establishes a framework in which a property owner (in this case the CDC), prospective developer (Lowe Enterprises) and the Town of Basalt can gather and communicate information to mutually evaluate the compatibility and feasibility of each party's vision for a potential building site - specifically the the privately-owned portion of the Pan and Fork property - as well as opening opportunities for addressing other considerations such as affordable housing, park development options and paths to commercial community vitality.

The PDA infers no performance obligation on the Town, developer or property owner and establishes no binding specifications related to size, design or location. What it does is allow our Town's planners to conduct due diligence related to the developer's ability to complete a proposed project and to better evaluate the various development scenarios under consideration. Town Manager Mike Scanlon pointed out that of the nearly two dozen "Pre-Development Agreements" since 2013 only two have led to further agreements: Rocky Mountain Institute's Innovation Center and the Roaring Fork Conservancy's River Center, though all have provided important information for future considerations.

The Basalt Chamber has taken no formal position on either the type or degree of development that might occur on the Pan & Fork site. We believe that it is in the best interest of our membership and community to watchdog the process, thoroughly vet all opportunities and communicate to the best of our ability the facts and considerations. As always, we invite your comment and when we reach a cross roads with sufficient information available, we'll survey for member opinion.

• The Tree Farm Project proposal for a new 71.71 acre PUD with 450,916 sf of residential space (capped at 400 units) and 134,558 sf of commercial across from Willits Town Center in unincorporated Eagle County
• The Fields Development on Valley Road and Hwy 82 west of El Jebel also in Eagle County. This proposal is for a new 19.39-acre subdivision with 98 residential units
• In Southside Basalt, a 180-unit residential project called Stott's Mill (110 units approved back in 2009) resurfaced after a recent decision not to renew the Continuing Care Retirement Community pre-development agreement in that location
• At Willits Town Center in Basalt, the owners have requested an additional 59,000 sf of commercial area and 32,000 sf in residential to complete its 12-block core
• The Rocky Mountain Institute's Innovation Center at the edge of the Pan & Fork site is on schedule for an end-of-year completion and prospects for the Roaring Fork Conservancy's River Center took a leap forward with a creative buy-back/ long-term land lease plan structured by the Town.

Robin