EAGLE — Good things come to those who wait, and after 19 public hearings over 14 years, the Haymeadow development project has finally gotten the go-ahead from the town of Eagle to start building on the first phase of the subdivision.
Brandon Cohen and Abrika Properties bought the land in 2005. Supporters and opponents have weighed in on everything from wildlife, to traffic, to quality of life for residents of the development, which would bring up to 837 dwelling units, a school parcel and a fire station parcel. While first approved in 2014, the Haymeadow subdivision has been under review by the Eagle Planning and Zoning Commission.
As is the case with many projects like this, Eagle’s Town Board was actually quick with its final decision. The board heard some final details, made the motion to approve the first phase — which encompasses 146 housing units on 47.7 acres, a fire station site and 32 acres for a park and school — and voted unanimously for the developers to start building infrastructure.
Time well spent
The time was well spent, said Cohen, of Abrika Properties, Haymeadow’s owner.
“This moment has been many years in the making. Taking into account valuable public input and working with the town of Eagle and organizations like Colorado Parks and Wildlife, we were able to present and get approval on a well thought-out plan that takes Eagle’s character and values into account,” Cohen said.
Developers expect to start turning dirt before the town board’s next meeting in two weeks.
First phase
Tuesday’s approval was the initial round of final approvals for the first phase. There will be several more phases.
“This application has been going on for many years,” Eagle Mayor Pro Tem Kevin Brubeck said. “I would like to thank the applicant. I appreciate your patience.”
“This took a ton of work on everyone’s part,” Brubeck said, adding that it made it a better project.
History of the land
The Haymeadow development is so named because it has been a hay meadow for almost a century and a half. It was one of the featured stops on the 2017 Eagle Valley Land Trust ranch tour.
The Haymaker bike trial runs through it.
Scott Schlosser is the Haymeadow ranch manager. He’s a Boston-bred guy who followed Horace Greeley’s best advice, “Go west, young man.” Schlosser managed the Colorado River Ranch for 10 years before managing the Haymeadow Ranch south of Eagle.
Take a quiet ride out Brush Creek Road south of Eagle, but do it soon to see it as John Love, George Wilkinson and Webb Frost saw it in 1880. They drove 400 head of cattle into the Brush Creek Valley from Park County during a snowstorm.
Wilkinson and Frost spent the winter in a cabin on Brush Creek. Wilkinson was quite the cattleman and filed the first homestead patent in 1890.
It will soon be the site of 800 homes as part of the Haymeadow development.