On Tuesday afternoon, Eagle County Commissioners gave the Tree Farm development in El Jebel the green light to build. This came with plenty of push-back from the public.
Woody Ventures, LLC can start building 340 residential units and over 134,000 square feet of commercial space across Highway 82 from Whole Foods.
Most of the public comment on Tuesday opposed the project.
Save the Midvalley, a group of concerned Basalt citizens, is suing Eagle County for its approval of the Tree Farm in 2017.
Earlier this year, a district court judge upheld the county’s approval of the the Tree Farm. Save the Midvalley is appealing that decision. Ken Ransford, a member of the group, says the case will be given a second look by the Colorado Court of Appeals.
“They’re going to give much more attention to our appeal than we believe the District Court gave it,” Ransford said.
At the meeting, the group asked the Eagle County Commissioners to pause before signing the development’s final plat. Save the Midvalley says if the project starts, it could influence whether or not the court of appeals hears the case.
The commissioners declined to halt the project.
