A Denver developer claiming to own a half-acre parcel in Edwards and now facing an eminent domain seizure of that property by Eagle County on Thursday questioned the competency of local government officials in the wake of Tuesday’s resolution and vowed not to sell and to keep fighting for more affordable housing for local residents.
“Watching Eagle County’s elected commissioners vote to condemn land intended for much-needed housing was like seeing three people dying of thirst intentionally kick over a bucket of water being offered to them,” Larson wrote in an email statement after press time on Wednesday.
“Even if the county had a genuine willingness and institutional competency to address the county’s massive shortage of affordable housing, the resources required are far too significant for government to solve alone,” Larson added. “Yet, (Tuesday’s) message to every private developer willing to undergo the regulatory gauntlet to be part of the solution was loud and clear: ‘pound sand.’”
The commissioners on Tuesday unanimously approved a resolution authorizing negotiations with Larson and last-resort eminent domain seizure of the property, which, along with its own land, it wants to preserve as parkland, open space and access to the Eagle River for nearby residents who — through surveys, site visits and other public input opportunities — overwhelmingly expressed an interest in keeping the combined parcels free of more housing development…