COMMUNITY BENEFITS

Preschool teacher with children playing with colorful wooden didactic toys at kindergarten

Early Childcare Facility

While the initial PUD only required a 2,500-square-foot day care center, the fact is this size will not suffice and can only benefit a handful of kids.

The updated project will include a 10,000-square-foot space, plus 2,500-square-feet of outdoor space, dedicated to relocating a longstanding early childcare facility, the Family Learning Center, providing enhanced access to childcare services in the region.

Onsite Attainable Housing with Rent Restrictions: Edwards River Park will provide much-needed housing for a range of income levels, significantly exceeding Eagle County’s affordable housing requirements. This project addresses a pressing community need by offering long-term housing solutions.

Sustainable Housing Funding in Perpetuity: A unique funding source through a 1% real estate transfer fee on all home sales will create a continuous revenue stream to support attainable housing for future generations.

Wildlife Habitat Fund: A 0.2% voluntary real estate transfer fee will be established to support educational opportunities and enhance wildlife habitats and wetlands in and around the site.

Conservation Easement and Wildlife Protection: A total of 35 acres will be preserved as open space under a conservation easement, with seasonal closures to protect wildlife migration corridors and ensure safe passage for local species.

Public Trail System Extension: The non-gated community will feature a new community path with access to year-round boardwalk piers for views of the wetlands, and public trails for connection to Eagle River, the seasonal event center, and the Eagle River Preserve.

Diverse Housing Inventory: Edwards River Park will introduce a wide range of housing options, catering to seasonal workers, local residents looking to downsize, and those seeking attainable housing.

Extensive Landscape Buffers: The development will implement more robust landscaping both onsite, along Highway 6, and within the Eagle River Preserve, minimizing the visual impact of the buildings and preserving the area’s natural beauty.

Reclaiming an Abandoned Industrial Site: Previously used as pastureland before the 1970s, the site later became the B&B gravel pit and a concrete batch plant. It was never fully reclaimed, but the Edwards River Park project will transform this neglected area into a thriving residential community.

New Public Transit Facilities: Designed to serve the entire Edwards community, the project will introduce new transit infrastructure, including shelters, bike racks, and other commuter-friendly facilities.

Traffic Improvements Benefitting the Entire Community: In addition to paying over $2 million in traffic impact fees, Edwards River Park will fully fund a new roundabout at the intersection of Lake Creek Road and Highway 6, estimated to cost more than $5 million. This improvement will significantly enhance traffic flow for the broader community. Additionally, the project will redevelop 35% of the Highway 6 segment between Lake Creek and Edwards Spur Road, despite contributing less than 15% of the total traffic.

From the original PUD 8/16/2021 Traffic Impact Study:

  • The Edwards River Park project’s access plan is consistent with the US 6 and I-70G Corridor Feasibility Study.
  • The proposed Edwards River Park project is anticipated to be successfully accommodated into the greater roadway system.
  • Per the roundabout technical memo, “The results show that a flared two-lane roundabout for US 6 and single-lane entries for Lake Creek Road will adequately accommodate the long-range Year 2040 traffic volumes.  A roundabout will provide a good LOS for the life of the project.
  • McDowell Engineering re-evaluated the PUD Amendment changes and conveyed in an October 2024 traffic memo to Eagle County Engineering that there will be 10% less traffic volume from the original approved PUD, and with all recommended infrastructure improvements staying the same.