Routt County neighbors near the Chuck Lewis State Wildlife Area are concerned about a potential plan to move a state transportation maintenance facility and add employee housing to the wildlife area along the Yampa River south of Steamboat Springs.

Colorado Department of Transportation officials said they are looking for a new location for the maintenance facility, currently located near Rabbit Ears Pass, and had been in discussion with Colorado Parks and Wildlife officials to possibly move the facility and add housing at the wildlife area located on River Road/Routt County Road 14.

Members of nearby homeowners’ associations sent letters to the two state agencies and local elected officials this week in opposition to the idea. Multiple residents also reached out to Routt County Commissioners voicing strong concerns.

The County Commissioners now have suggested CDOT find a different location for the facility move, said Commissioner Sonja Macys, during a Routt Recreation and Conservation Roundtable meeting on Thursday.

Spokespeople for both CPW and CDOT said consideration of construction at the wildlife area was early in discussions and would include opportunities for public input and feedback if it moves forward.

“Nothing has been officially proposed or finalized regarding this,” said Rachael Gonzales, public information officer for the Northwest Region of Colorado Parks and Wildlife, on Wednesday. “Like many state agencies and local businesses, finding affordable housing for employees has been a challenge. Colorado Parks and Wildlife, along with other state agencies, has been tasked with exploring potential solutions. This idea to do something at the SWA is still in its early stages.”

Chuck Marsh, regional communications manager at CDOT, said Thursday: “We are exploring a range of options to modernize operations in the Steamboat area, but those options are well in advance of any decisions at this point.”

“As we continually review our operations and needs for CDOT facilities to support our work across the state, we regularly look for opportunities to make improvements,” Marsh said. “These are important for being able to provide the levels of service that residents and visitors expect, especially during the winter months.”

Although county leaders have no authority regarding state agency decisions on state lands — and understand the challenges of essential employees finding housing — Macys said county officials have “encouraged CDOT to consider an alternate location that is more suitable.”

Stephanie Munro, deputy director of land management for the city of Steamboat Springs, said at the roundtable meeting that city officials also are recommending CDOT look at other locations.

Opponents of possible construction of housing and maintenance facilities at the wildlife area say the land was always intended to remain in conservation use and voiced such concerns as impacts to wildlife migration corridors, possible environmental risks from industrial contamination or runoff to the watershed, negative impacts to public uses and increased truck traffic.

“We recognize CDOT’s operational need to maintain safe winter travel and support its workforce,” noted Jason Quinn, HOA board president for the nearby Country Green neighborhood. “However, placing an industrial maintenance facility and housing within a State Wildlife Area is inconsistent with the purpose of these lands and poses unacceptable risks to wildlife habitat, water resources and public trust … A maintenance facility and residence would increase year-round human presence, noise, lighting and disturbance, especially during winter when animals are most vulnerable.”

Country Green resident Steven Murray noted that it was “hard to believe that the CPW would actually think about converting pristine Yampa River-front public land to modular housings and a truck yard.”

Neighbor Ed Trousil wrote: “Since our protection of this wildlife corridor, we have seen a dramatic increase in the migration numbers of elk and moose. Within 1,000 feet of the proposed CDOT plant, there is a creek that has spawning rainbow trout, a Columbia sharp-tailed grouse lek and an osprey nest.”

In addition to the neighbors in opposition, nonprofit Keep Routt Wild outlined concerns about the potential development in the group’s February online newsletter. Keep Routt Wild President Larry Desjardin told roundtable attendees that the nonprofit group opposed any changing of the charter of the state wildlife area away from conservation.

Kris Middledorf, Colorado Parks and Wildlife area manager in Steamboat Springs, said the agency has been working for multiple years with partners to “spitball ideas” to find employee housing opportunities to help staff members to live and work in the community. During the roundtable meeting, Middledorf said the Chuck Lewis State Wildlife Area has been considered and negated as a possible CPW staff housing location several times in the past during agency discussions.