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Flowing stream in the mountains of Colorado.

County approves Glenwood mobile home park improvements

Floodplain development permit includes bridge replacement, water system upgrades

PRESS RELEASE
April 24, 2025

Garfield County has approved a floodplain development permit for the Three Mile Mobile Home Park near Glenwood Springs that includes bridge replacement and upgrades to its water system and sewer lines. All improvements are designed to enhance safety in the mobile home park following past high-water and flooding events in the area.

The 20-unit mobile home park, which has been acquired by the Roaring Fork Community Development Corporation (RFCDC), is located within unincorporated Garfield County off County Road 127. Three Mile Creek flows through the middle of the small community, creating challenges during runoff or when heavy rains fall.

An analysis of the 100-year floodplain for Three Mile Creek found that flooding events and erosion have necessitated the replacement of a failing vehicle access bridge and an existing pedestrian bridge; redrilling of the domestic water well that serves the mobile home park; upgrades for the neighborhood’s water tank and treatment system; and connecting the park’s sewer line to the City of Glenwood’s sewer system.

RFCDC’s goal for the mobile home community is to provide affordable housing options and opportunities for home ownership. RFCDC Executive Director Kelly McNicholas Kury told the Board of County Commissioners that it purchased the mobile home park from the Krueger family in 2023.

“Our mission as a nonprofit is to help support and retain mobile home parks in the Roaring Fork Valley and Colorado River Valley region,” she said. “There are about 100 residents who are living at the park, from children to retirees and veterans. Our goal is to create a bridge to ownership for the residents. We have a sequenced plan that will result in a resident-owned community. They’ll own it as a cooperative and manage it similar to a homeowners’ association.”

She added that upgrading the infrastructure helps pave a path for the residents to attain financing to purchase the property and “keep it a safe, healthy, and affordable Garfield County community.”

“Upgrading the infrastructure, which has not seen major repair or replacement over its 40-year life, is essential for them to be able to (qualify for) a loan,” Kury said. “Lenders are going to want to see that their infrastructure is of good quality and that they’re starting to save money for future ongoing repair and maintenance.

“So, we are trying to help, as the owners, to enact all of that work, so ultimately when we do sell the park to them, they have a modernized community where the infrastructure has been replaced and brought up to our current standards for health and safety,” she added.

Garfield County Community Development staff recommended approval of the floodplain development permit with conditions but noted that the county does not issue building permits or conduct inspections within mobile home parks in unincorporated areas.

“All structures and improvements shall be constructed in accordance with submitted engineered plans designed to resist any hydrologic or hydrostatic forces resulting from flood waters, including the watertight designs for water and sewer infrastructure improvements,” the staff recommendation states. “At the time of construction, the applicant shall install anchors for those pre-existing mobile homes noted in the submittals that are located within the 100-year floodplain …”

“Anchoring those few mobile homes is a significant health and life safety improvement,” added Garfield County Community Development Director Glenn Hartmann.

He also noted that a floodplain report by Roaring Fork Engineering includes a “zero rise” analysis reflecting that proposed improvements will not increase 100-year flood elevations.

“With the bridge and infrastructure improvements that are proposed, there will be no increase in the 100-year flood elevation on Three Mile Creek,” Hartmann said. “The existing maps remain applicable and there is no change in elevation and no upstream or downstream impacts.”

Maggie McHugh, vice president, owner, and principal at Roaring Fork Engineering, told the board that flood-resistant measures are being installed at the mobile home park.

“It will include an anchoring system, everything will have anti-buoyant system for the tank and chlorination equipment, all the piping, we’re preparing for a worst-case scenario to mitigate against any potential flooding event that could happen on site,” she said.

On a recommendation from Colorado Parks and Wildlife, staff conditions also include that the existing dumpster be replaced with a bear-proof receptacle.

The Board of County Commissioners approved the flood plain development permit unanimously, 3-0.