Proposed Amendments to Telluride Municipal Code to Implement the Home Rule Amendment
Home Rule Charters act essentially like a constitution for a Town. As with any constitution, the provisions are typically general concepts that the Municipal Code later interprets for implementation. If the voters approve this Home Rule Charter Amendment, such Municipal Code additions will be necessary. The Town Council is responsible for determining the best way to carry out the intent of these provisions, but we have developed what will be a suggested starting point to give more clarity to the measure.
CHAPTER 2 ADMINISTRATION
Article 11 Major Projects Requiring Voter Approval
2-11-10 Established
On November 4, 2025, the voters of Telluride added Telluride Home Charter § 14.9. The following sections provide the procedural guidance for implementation
2-11-20 Determination of a Town-financed “Threshold Project”
(a) For any Town-financed project, as defined under THRC § 14.9, that will reasonably exceed $10,000,000, the following method shall be used to determine if the project meets the “Threshold” cost.
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(b) The current cost of building in Telluride is $1,000 per usable square foot (i.e., livable or commercial space, not including parking or mechanical) [this section can be updated every few years to track actual costs]
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(c) A $10,000,000 building is deemed to be 10,000 square feet of usable space or more. Any Town-financed project equal to or above this size is presumed to be a “Threshold Project.” This rebuttable presumption may be overcome with evidence presented to the Town Council that the total cost of the project (as defined by THRC § 14.9 will be below the $10,000,000 cost.
(d) If two or more Town Council members vote that the Town-financed project reasonably exceeds the Threshold cost in this section, such project shall be referred for placement on the next regular election ballot for voter approval.
(e) The Town may also set a special election for the measure with a majority vote of the council members approving such an election, according to THRC § 6.7
2-11-30 Determination of a Commercial “Threshold” Project
(a) Where the Town Council approves a commercial rezoning that includes a component of new commercial construction or adopts an amendment to a prior PUD, the following method may be used to determine whether the project presumptively meets the Threshold cost.
(b) The current cost of building is $1,000 per usable square foot (i.e., commercial space, not including parking or mechanical) [this section can be updated every few years to track actual costs]
(c) If such new commercial development granted under this section is greater than 20,000 usable commercial square feet or more, such rezoning or amendment is presumed to be a “Threshold” Project.
(d) If a majority of the Town Council votes that the rezoning or PUD amendment exceeds the 20,000 usable commercial square feet, such rezoning or amendment shall be referred by the Town Council for placement on the next regular election ballot for voter approval
(e) The Town may also set a special election for the measure with a majority vote of the council members approving such an election, according to THRC § 6.7
2-11-40 Provision of Town Water to unannexed property
(a) Where the Town Council approves providing municipal water to a development of ten or more new residential units or one new commercial tap, such approval requires the vote of the electorate.
(b) Following the approval by the Town Council, the matter shall be referred as a ballot issue for the next regular election.
(c) The Town may also set a special election for the measure if the applicant for the municipal water pays for a special election.
(d) This provision requiring voter approval does not apply to Town municipal water supplies that have already been approved by the Town Council, where the main water line is already installed in the street, and the main line is either already connected to service lines or ready for such connection.