Red Feather Lakes amphitheater application in abeyance

By Linda Bell
Red Feather Lakes Correspondent

No date will be set for a hearing on a proposed amphitheater in Red Feather Lakes, at least not this year, according to Steve Kolle, owner of the Pot Belly Restaurant.

Kolle said he intends to work with the county board of adjustment to comply with regulations for a one-time event permit for a concert on June 26, which doesn't require a public hearing.

Casey Stewart, who is handling Kolle's application for the Larimer County Board of Adjustment, said Kolle needs to address several issues for either a permanent variance or for a special event permit. They include a preliminary traffic impact study, information on noise mitigation at the venue, clarification on the site plan for emergency vehicle access and parking stalls, a dust mitigation plan and written permission from the neighboring landowner to use that property for parking.

Stewart said if Kolle eventually decides to build a permanent venue adjacent to the Pot Belly Restaurant, regulations would require him to pave the approximate eight-acre parking area because it is served by a paved road. He will also have to build about 40 permanent flush toilets at the site, items not addressed in Kolle's application.

Kolle said he has hired a lawyer to help him through the special event permit stage. "It's a trial," Kolle said. "Maybe after I have one event I might not want to do it again. But if it's fun and everyone seems to enjoy and behave themselves, then maybe I'll go for a permanent zoning variance in the future."

Kolle said he intends to work with the county but admitted he has issues with a paved parking lot of that size in Red Feather Lakes.

County Commissioner Kathay Rennels said at a recent meeting in Red Feather Lakes that the county commissioners are in the process of putting together special event guidelines because there are no codified regulations. She said these guidelines would probably not be ready in time to apply to the Pot Belly's application, but the county will be looking closely at the way this works or doesn't work, should the Pot Belly concert get the go-ahead.

Rennels noted that at least Kolle is working within the system such as it is, rather than going around it.