San Juan County commissioners voted Nov. 8 to approve a special-use permit for a nine-person vacation rental at 473 County Road 14 (Wilcox Road), subject to the planning commission’s recommended conditions.

The applicant represented that the site has an approved septic system designed for a three-bedroom unit, an adequate year‑round water source and a plan to help mitigate parking pressure: the owner said he will push snow to create 2–3 parking spots on the higher side of Red Mountain Pass when conditions permit and maintain a snowcat and Starlink communications to aid rescues and guest support.

Commissioners and members of the public raised long-standing concerns about parking congestion at the top of Red Mountain Pass, the carrying capacity for unguided backcountry users, and whether CDOT or other agencies could create additional safe, managed parking. County planning staff noted this is an annual renewal process and that parking enforcement and CDOT coordination remain areas for ongoing focus.

Why it matters: the permit adds regulated overnight capacity to a high‑use backcountry corridor, prompting the county to weigh recreation, search-and-rescue access, avalanche risk and parking-management strategies.

What comes next: the county will implement the permit conditions, and commissioners said they expect to monitor parking impacts through the annual renewal process. The applicant and county staff will coordinate with CDOT and other stakeholders on longer-term parking and safety solutions.

Source: Public hearing and planning staff report, San Juan County Board of Commissioners meeting transcript, Nov. 8, 2025.