Gunnison Country Times, December 7, 2023

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NEWS: First ‘SmartPad’ arrives in the valley, A10

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VOL. 142. NO. 49 | THURSDAY, DECEMBER 7, 2023 | $1.00

Home prices hit new highs in 2023 Expensive is the new normal, realtors say Bella Biondini Times Editor

THE MAIN EVENT: Gunnison Middle School students Marina Cerda, McKenzie Singer, Dakota Bennett and Geneva Estrada watch Santa Claus light the giant Christmas tree on Friday, Dec. 1 at the annual Night of Lights celebration. For more, see A13. (Photo by Abby Harrison)

INSIDE

TODAY

NEWS: GHS students study wildfire solutions, A8

COMMUNITY: Hartman Castle makeover plan, B1

SPORTS: Cowboy grapplers start strong, B6

OPINION A4 CLASSIFIEDS A15-A18 SPORTS B6 ONLINE GUNNISONTIMES.COM

Housing A6

Lawsuit spurs Dilly Deli to carry county to update on Firebrand’s land use rules tradition Barriers removed for mobile and manufactured homes Abby Harrison Times Staff Writer

OBITUARIES A2

It’s been almost three years since the pandemic rattled the Gunnison Valley’s real estate market. Although the bidding

Following a court order, Gunnison County will update its Land Use Resolution (LUR) — a document that governs h ow a n d w h e re d e v e l o p ment takes place in Gunnison County. Combined, the updates change who has final say in the land use appeals process all over the county and also “clean

up” language in the LUR while keeping it compliant with state law, said County Attorney Matt Hoyt. Following a court case out of Crested Butte South that was appealed all the way to the state level, a Colorado Court of Appeals judge ruled that the Gunnison County Board of Adjustments, rather than the Board of County Commissioners (BOCC), must be the ultimate appellate body for land use decisions. Commissioners will dissolve the current board and reconstitute it of the three county commissioners and two at-large members. While crafting amendments in the LUR, staff took the

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LUR A3

Local couple will open sandwich shop in 2024 Abby Harrison Times Staff Writer Bella Biondini Times Editor

Enjoying a morning shift meal was steadfast for Heidi Magnus. Before the rush of Firebrand customers flooded the small sandwich shop on Main Street each day, she sat down in the front and employee Jefe Branham would bring her a warm meal. It was hard to remember what

each meal actually was, Magnus said, but all that mattered was that it was Jefe serving it — flavorful, nourishing and, for Magnus, gluten-free. In October, long-time community deli Firebrand closed after nearly 30 years of business. Now, the steady tradition of nourishing neighbors will persist because Jefe, and wife Rachel Branham plan to open a sandwich shop, named “The Dilly Deli,” in the former Firebrand space. The Dilly Deli will offer classic deli food that relies on local ingredients and contributes to local food security, Rachel said. The couple has signed a lease set to start on the first of the year, and they hope to open the deli in the spring of Deli A6


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