I am hoping you might be able to help me out.

I am researching cold frames situated on raised beds. Our town council will be voting on whether or not to allow cold frames and greenhouse within the town limits. Right now the Town of Crested Butte's zoning board is recommending to the Town Council a maximum height on the cold frames of 30". I have requested that the zoning board allow 48" (at the highest point) cold frame structures so they can be situated onto of raised garden beds. The director of the zoning board asked me if I had any hard evidence, or science, to back up my request. I am not an expert and can not give them what he requests. I have had great success growing my vegetables in cinder block raised beds and want to cover these beds with a sloped roof with glass/polycarbonate. My intuition tells me this would be a feasible strategy for greatly extending the growing season.

I came up with 48" b/c I am thinking that the if the level of the soil in the bed is about 15" off natural grade that would allow 33" at the highest point of the frame. I am hoping that someone might be able to provide me with an experts opinion which supports my recommendation. I need hard evidence to present to the zoning board that raised beds with cold frames on top are highly effective (with proper venting of course) in our very harsh climate.

Once the rules are passed, it is unlikely we will be able to have the rules revised in the future. Our zoning board is reluctant to make revisions. The town council will be meeting in November to vote on the issue based on the zoning boards recommendations.


Any advice, suggestions, you can offer are greatly appreciated. Articles, photos etc as well.

Thanks in advance for taking the time to read this post.