Dear HCN,
This letter is to correct
misinformation conveyed by Mark Williams in a letter regarding San
Miguel County, Colo.’s proposed “high alpine zone” land-use code
changes (HCN, 3/4/02: Allen Best flunks the snow test). It is too
bad that Mr. Williams, in an otherwise informative letter,
succumbed to the ever-popular mud-slinging at high-profile
celebrities that so often accompanies articles about Telluride and
San Miguel County. Mr. Williams asserts that San Miguel County is
considering changes to its land-use code in response to building by
celebrities in high-alpine zones.
Unfortunately,
he obviously hasn’t spent enough time here. Neither Oliver Stone
(who no longer owns his ranch here) nor Tom Cruise built in the
proposed high-alpine zone district. Mr. Stone’s ranch is on a mesa
top in a traditional ranching area that has been developed for
years and Mr. Cruise’s house is smack in the midst of what passes
for high-end suburbia around here at about the same elevation as
the Telluride Regional Airport and many other homes. Neither
structure is anywhere near the areas being considered for revised
land-use codes and both were built nearly 10 years
ago.
Further, the land-use code changes are being
prompted by proposed building, not building that has already
occurred. I hope that in the future Mr. Williams can stick to
science and leave the celebrity mud-slinging to the tabloids where
it belongs.
Greg
Craig
Telluride,
Colorado
This article appeared in the print edition of the magazine with the headline Leave mud slinging to experts.
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