Sandersons Set the Record Straight on Proposed
Special Use Permit

To Custer County Citizens;
As newcomers to the valley, hoping to semi-retire, we find ourselves facing a substantial amount of unprecedented backlash. I am taking a moment to address some of the misconceptions that have been circulated on various public venues regarding the special use permit application for our 35-acre property (located at 115 CR 324) that is now in the final phase of the zoning special use permit application process.
My name is Scott Sanderson. My wife Kelly and I have an auto repair business (Pit Row Performance) that we have owned and operated in Littleton, Colorado, for over 20 years. Like many residents of the valley, we are ready to enjoy a quieter life away from the hustle and bustle of the city. We are planning to build a residence and small trailer repair shop to create a comfortable year-round residence and low-impact income stream for ourselves.
Our land was purchased at fair market value. Our realtor was Bob Senderhauf. We were told he was a pillar of the community for over 40 years—his reputation and staff speak for itself. During the process of our sale, Bob Senderhauf specifically stated the procedure of requesting a special use permit for our parcel. He told us that it would require us to take the next steps with Planning and Zoning. We obtained a copy of the Custer County Planning and Zoning Master Plan and met with Jackie Hobby to get a full understanding of what we needed to do to move forward.
In the application, we clearly stated that no automobile or motorhome repairs consisting of oil changes, transmission or engine services would be conducted. The shop would not produce toxic hazards to humans, animals, or the environment. It would not service ATVs or motor homes at all.
The pictures of the RV and boat storage lot that were circulated as our current business are not accurate. The images are of the adjacent business to our Littleton location. This was a grossly misleading distortion of fact. The information, comments and pictures in [a] local newspaper, Custer County Community Facebook Pages, posts, etc. do not in any way represent our current business or what we are asking to be allowed to do.
We are continuing to follow the proper venue to obtain a special use permit for a small-scale trailer repair shop. In consideration of the initial resistance to our plans during the first public meeting, we have scaled-down the design of the shop to accommodate/address the neighbor’s concerns. The Planning and Zoning Office has helped us ensure that our proposed use is, indeed, within the County’s Zoning Mater Plan. Unlike many existing commercial operations south of Westcliffe town limits, our property is on the east side of Highway 69, and services both hospitality – and agricultural-based commerce.
I hope that this brief letter will clear up some of the misunderstandings that have arisen and possibly garnish some support within the community. While we are newer to the valley, we are not seeking to do anything that has not previously been approved for current residents on numerous instances. We appreciate your consideration and look forward to meeting you personally and serving your trailer-repair needs.

Scott & Kelly Sanderson

Editor’s Note: The top photo is their current business Littleton, CO.
Below is a set of photos posted on FB which are not the Sanderson Business but rather a neighboring business.