News Jan 28, The second part will run in the Monday, Feb. A proposed combination biodynamic farm and agritourism operation is raising concerns among Canyon Creek residents about its potential impact on the local water supply. Nutrient Farm , a biodynamic and organic farm, ranch and food processor, is seeking county approval for a rezoning request for a new planned unit development along Interstate 70 and south of the Colorado River in New Castle.
To provide water for the planned unit development, Nutrient Farm plans to draw water from Canyon Creek using an irrigation ditch that traverses the property. Canyon Creek residents and water right holders are concerned that the proposed water usage could dry Canyon Creek, disrupt fish spawning and harm its riparian ecosystem.
A public hearing regarding the rezoning request is scheduled for 6 p. Wednesday, Jan. Currently operating on more than 3, acres of land southeast of the town of New Castle and south of the Colorado River, Nutrient Farm developments include a farm store, greenhouse, farm house and a recreational trail system. Nutrient Farm is requesting that Garfield County rezone the existing Coal Ridge planned unit development area and the remaining unsubdivided portions of the Riverbend planned unit development area in New Castle to Nutrient Farm development zoning.
Land use definitions with specific allowances that are unique to the Nutrient Farm development and supersede the Garfield County Land Use and Development Code include outdoor music and entertainment, health and wellness retreat and recording and production studio.
At this time, the Nutrient Farm planned unit development is only a rezoning request, not a preliminary subdivision plan. Additional permitting is required for each of the proposed development uses. The acquisition of the Nutrient Farm property included ownership in the Vulcan Ditch, the Coal Ridge pump and pipeline and Coal Ridge Reservoir, as outlined in the planned unit development narrative, which was uploaded to the county website in The Vulcan Ditch, which locals say has been inactive for decades, diverts water from Canyon Creek at a headgate around 1.
