I have lived near El Rancho for over 24 years. Prior to that the Historic building at El Rancho housed our neighborhood's post office. Our neighborhood has a community water district and used to hold meetings at El Rancho as it was also a meeting space. The building housed offices upstairs, a restaurant, bar, and gift shop on the main level, and banquet space (and post office) down stairs. It was marketed as 'Historic El Rancho' as it was an important stop along Hwy 40 before I-70 was developed and a frequent stop for travelers after I-70 came through. It housed numerous pictures, signs, and artifacts from the surrounding area collected since 1948. El Rancho's 'Colorado Deck' was also THE place to go for Mother's Day brunch; and Sunday's all through the summer.
When the area across Hwy 74 was developed (Home Depot, restaurants, car wash, etc) our view of the night sky to the east was washed out. Since then, traffic noise has also substantially increased in the area. There are at least 6 gas stations in Evergreen and it seems like a dozen gas stations in Idaho Springs (only 12 minutes away). It seems like the town is mostly convenience stores for I70. The LAST thing residents of this area want is to be another Idaho Springs. With many people switching to EV's, we do not need yet another place that sells fuel. Neither do I70 travelers. We have our own Mountain Character with numerous old tall pine trees on every lot, native grasses and wildflowers, abundant wildlife grazing, and dirt trails connecting neighbors. Those are the reasons everyone moves here, not concrete, bright lights, and more asphalt!
IF a convenience store is to be built, it should be on the site of the old Park N Ride and/or Observatory and limited in size (No Larger than Jenny's Market is needed). This is a convenient location where Westbound I70 and Southbound Hwy 74 traffic can turn right and right again into the store. Then they can exit the parking lot right to I70 Westbound or merge onto 74 Southbound without waiting at a light. It is unlikely as many I70 Eastbound travelers will exit for it due to the separation of the ramps. The proposed QT on the other side would create long lines to wait at the current light to get back onto I70 Eastbound, and necessitate stopping more traffic that is traveling on/off thru Hwy 74. This is an up hill slope, which would make it difficult for semis to take off quickly, causing few vehicles to get through per light change.
I have lived near El Rancho for over 24 years. Prior to that the Historic building at El Rancho housed our neighborhood's post office. Our neighborhood has a community water district and used to hold meetings at El Rancho as it was also a meeting space. The building housed offices upstairs, a restaurant, bar, and gift shop on the main level, and banquet space (and post office) down stairs. It was marketed as 'Historic El Rancho' as it was an important stop along Hwy 40 before I-70 was developed and a frequent stop for travelers after I-70 came through. It housed numerous pictures, signs, and artifacts from the surrounding area collected since 1948. El Rancho's 'Colorado Deck' was also THE place to go for Mother's Day brunch; and Sunday's all through the summer.
When the area across Hwy 74 was developed (Home Depot, restaurants, car wash, etc) our view of the night sky to the east was washed out. Since then, traffic noise has also substantially increased in the area. There are at least 6 gas stations in Evergreen and it seems like a dozen gas stations in Idaho Springs (only 12 minutes away). It seems like the town is mostly convenience stores for I70. The LAST thing residents of this area want is to be another Idaho Springs. With many people switching to EV's, we do not need yet another place that sells fuel. Neither do I70 travelers. We have our own Mountain Character with numerous old tall pine trees on every lot, native grasses and wildflowers, abundant wildlife grazing, and dirt trails connecting neighbors. Those are the reasons everyone moves here, not concrete, bright lights, and more asphalt!
IF a convenience store is to be built, it should be on the site of the old Park N Ride and/or Observatory and limited in size (No Larger than Jenny's Market is needed). This is a convenient location where Westbound I70 and Southbound Hwy 74 traffic can turn right and right again into the store. Then they can exit the parking lot right to I70 Westbound or merge onto 74 Southbound without waiting at a light. It is unlikely as many I70 Eastbound travelers will exit for it due to the separation of the ramps. The proposed QT on the other side would create long lines to wait at the current light to get back onto I70 Eastbound, and necessitate stopping more traffic that is traveling on/off thru Hwy 74. This is an up hill slope, which would make it difficult for semis to take off quickly, causing few vehicles to get through per light change.