The Oct. 10 Granby Board of Trustees meeting approved a number of items on the agenda including financing two new routes on The Lift bus system, an annual bedroom fee and more.

New bedroom and studio fees coming 2024

The board approved a fee on short-term rentals which will go into a pool of money for workforce housing projects. Beginning in 2024, a fee of $728 shall be annually paid for each bedroom in short-term rental units.

Some owners of short-term rental properties came out to the meeting to express their disagreements with the fee. One individual at the meeting called the fee “arbitrary.” Others brought up the idea of this ordinance inviting litigation to the Town of Granby. Many of the short-term rental owners expressed frustration with the new fees.

Short-term rental permits will not be issued to homeowners until the annual fee has been paid.

This fee amount came from a Short Term Rental Conditions and Regulatory Fee Study conducted by Economic and Planning Systems, a company that offers expertise on real estate development and lane use issues.

This new fee is projected to generate almost $800,000 in fees to be dedicated towards affordable housing.

Granby Ranch exempt from impact fees

The board also approved an agreement between Granby Ranch and the town. This exempts Granby Ranch from paying impact fees. Developers in Granby do not currently have to pay impact fees. In this agreement it states that if the town were to pass an impact fee, Granby Ranch developers would not have to pay the fee for 10 years.

Town Manager Ted Cherry explained that when Granby Ranch was annexed, they donated a parcel of land to the town. In exchange for donating this parcel of land, they requested to be exempt from impact fees equivalent to the value of the donated land.

Two new bus routes and more

The board also approved to help finance two more routes for Winter Park Transit (The Lift). The town will be paying approximately $1,500 per month for these new routes or $18,000 per year. The total cost for these two new routes is $36,000 per year and the remaining $18,000 will be paid for by Grand County.

These two new routes would take place in the mid-morning and in the mid-afternoon. These new routes will increase the availability of the bus system and spread current ridership out. Cherry also said in a memo that he hopes these new routes will also increase ridership.

The board approved a pre-procurement contract for the new north service area water treatment plant. In order to design the water treatment plant, its necessary to obtain designs for specialized equipment first. By agreeing to purchase the designs for this equipment, they can keep moving forward with the design process.

A reciprocal easement was also approved during the meeting. The Granby Community Housing Development, Silver Sage, needed an entryway for construction access. Two property owners agreed to the easement and signed the reciprocal easement agreement, now allowing construction access.

The board also approved an intergovernmental agreement between the town and East Grand School District. This agreement shares the cost of the school resource officer services by the Granby Police Department and the district. The two entities have previously shared the cost of a resource officer, but this puts language to the agreement.

Brad Ray, superintendent of East Grand School District, took to the podium and shared words on how Dave Shaffer, chief of Granby Police, has been supportive of the schools since Ray became superintendent.

“That guy has been nothing by supportive and great to our schools and can’t be complimentary enough to the chief,” said Ray during the meeting.

Other business:

• Jason Wilson was appointed to the Board of Zoning Adjustment to Aug. 2025