Viridis Eolia asks about land lease

Wind energy company sends representative to CCSD2 Board of Trustees to ask about property in Medicine Bow

A full year since an initial presentation to the Carbon County School District No. 2 (CCSD2) Board of Trustees, Dean Byrne, representing Viridis Eolia, appeared in person at the February 19 meeting to inquire about property owned by the school district in Medicine Bow. 

As was reported previously (see “CCSD2 asked about land lease” in the March 6, 2019 edition of the Saratoga Sun), Byrne attended via phone to ask about leasing property surrounding the old Medicine Bow High School which had been purchased by Viridis Eolia in April 2017. At that time, Byrne stated that Viridis Eolia’s interest in the property pertained to access to the building.

The motion had been made by the Board of Trustees in 2019 to allow CCSD2 Superintendent Jim Copeland to coordinate with Byrne for a more complete presentation. There had been no developments on the part of Viridis Eolia since then. Property near the building is currently being leased to MedBow Lodging, LLC, which is owned by Total Development Corporation out of Castle Rock, Colorado.

At the most recent meeting, Byrne reiterated his connection with Viridis Eolia and their various operating branches.

“I’m a construction consultant to Viridis Eolia Master Plan Wind Farm, which is proposed in the Shirley Basin area and separately, also, as a consultant to Veridis Real Estate who is the current owner of the old high school building in Medicine Bow,” said Byrne. 

Byrne stated that, in his three-and-a-half years working with Viridis Eolia, he had helped the Venezuela-based company explore different opportunities in the Medicine Bow area.

“The one opportunity that is etched in stone for us is development, enhancement, of the old high school building and the 19 acres that you own that borders the property on the north and the east is a very key part of our long term investment plans in Medicine Bow,” Byrne said. 

According to Byrne, it was his belief that any plans on the part of Viridis Eolia would not interfere with the current use of the property by MedBow Lodging. He added that plans from Viridis Eolia were “a much more long term investment” in the property but that he couldn’t disclose those plans in a public setting.

“We’ve had a lot of our plans disclosed publicly and then challenges dealing with that. What I can tell you is, our investment plans are several million dollars, they’re job creating. A lot of long term investment in Medicine Bow,” said Byrne.

Echoing the offer made via phone in February 2019, Byrne requested that the Board of Trustees consider a lease purchase agreement or an outright sale of the property.

When asked by Boardmember Michael Boardman why he couldn’t disclose plans by Viridis Eolia, Byrne replied that it was “a very, very competitive environment.” Byrne referenced a Conditional Use Permit that Viridis Eolia had applied for through Carbon County Planning and Zoning, only for the first phase of the project to be “wiped out” due to a structure on the property boundary.

“We’re just trying not to make the same mistake twice,” said Byrne.

Before ending his presentation, Byrne stated that he had originally submitted a proposal to the school district with an offer he said was in excess of the property’s fair market value. He added that Viridis Eolia was still willing to make that offer.

The next meeting of the CCSD2 Board of Trustees will be at 4 p.m. on March 16 at Saratoga Middle High School.

 

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