Wealthy residents of glitzy mountain town rage that 14 new PARKING spaces have ruined its 'vibe'

Daily Mail​

3 days ago

An ultra-exclusive mountain town has been left bitterly divided after officials developed a row of new parking spaces.
Telluride, nestled in Colorado 's San Juan Mountains, is a famed summer getaway for billionaires, celebrities, and Silicon Valley moguls.
In April the town added 14 new paid diagonal parking spaces on a section near its main street as part of a pilot program.
It was hoped that the extra spaces would alleviate an increase in demand in the historic downtown area, creating more spaces in the high-traffic area.
The spaces have been slammed by those who own or occupy homes along the road, citing safety concerns, congestion and negative effects on the town's aesthetic.
Rosie Cusack, a resident of 29 years, told The Denver Post: 'The diagonal parking creates a negative visual impact as you arrive into town. It's like this terrible vibe.'
Her main issue is the lack of transparency around the new spaces and the installation of the parking meters.
She believes the town used the pilot program as an excuse to bring in new things without actually consulting residents.
An anonymous local has also taken to placing yellow signs near the spaces, implying there is a wealth gap between those against the spaces, and those in favor.
One sign reads: 'Sorry your generational wealth can't protect you from angled Toyotas'.
Another said: 'Diagonal parking isn't a bad idea, but letting wealth dictate urban planning is.'
It isn't all anger over the new spaces however, with Currie Parnell, who works nearby at a music store, saying they've helped bring in customers to the store.
Parnell said: 'We see a huge influx of business around festivals and July 4th. Foot traffic and car traffic picks up this time of year, so it really satisfies that demand.'
The town had installed a parking garage only a few years ago, but in Parnell's view the angled spaces over a quicker 'more straightforward' solution.
At a town hotel meeting on, fierce critics expressed their disdain for the parking spaces to officials.
According to the Post, one local suggested that council members had a 'premanufactured positive bias' of the pilot and they were forcing through the spaces.
Resident Erik Dalton added: 'Ninety percent of my residential neighborhood – which is two blocks, it's small – is against this. I don't know what more we can do to show you guys this.'
Council member Geneva Shaunette was also accused of ethical misconduct for submitting her own positive feedback on the spaces.
Shaunette lives nears the spaces, writing: 'I love the diagonal parking because I have only had to park on a side street once this entire summer.
'Otherwise, I'm able to park within 5 spaces of my front door. As a G permit holder, I have really felt the increase in space.'
The town attorney made it clear that Shaunette was not breaching any code of conduct by giving her own opinion.
Deputy town manager Hayden Brodowsky told the meeting that he would continue to collect data throughout the summer over the new spaces.
According to Brodowsky, despite what some locals said, there have been no safety issues observed by authorities due to the new spaces.
The town has changed in recent years into a playground for the one percent, with $20 million ranches, private hiking trails and a paparazzi free summer for celebs.
With limited commercial flights, Telluride is perfect for private jets, which isn't a problem for its residents, including Oprah Winfrey, who owns four properties there.
The upcoming arrival of a Four Seasons — the first five-star hotel and luxe condo development in over 15 years — is a sign of what's to come.