Developer’s concept a tall order
By Kristi Mohrbacher - Reporter Steamboat Pilot & Today
Saturday, June 28, 2008
Steamboat Springs — A proposed development at Burgess Creek Road and Storm Meadows Drive faced skepticism from the Steamboat Springs Planning Commission and neighbors of the property Thursday.
The 2-acre, 427,039-square-foot Steamboat Highlands development would include 195 resort lodging residential units, about 17,000 square feet of commercial space and an underground parking structure. The Planning Commission reviewed the project’s pre-application at Centennial Hall and raised strong objections to its proposed scope, requested variances and relation to the surrounding neighborhood.
The Steamboat Pilot & Today reported in April that the owner of the development is Gamir/Reilly Development, a real estate development and management company that has built hotels and condominium projects in Mexico. Jeff and Kristi Brown of Steamboat Springs sold the site in November 2007 for $11.5 million to Ski Country, LLC, based out of Nevada.
Brian Bavosi, project manager for Vertical Arts in Steamboat Springs, presented plans that show a portion of Steamboat Highlands would stand about 142 feet tall, which is 79 feet over the current height allowance.
Burgess Creek runs along the western portion of the property. Proposed plans involve daylighting and reconstructing the creek to include waterfalls, pools, vegetation and a raised walkway for pedestrians and cyclists. Developers also proposed a pedestrian overpass on Burgess Creek Road that would connect existing open space trails to the property.
Developers have requested two variances for Steamboat Highlands: the height increase and a setback variance allowing the building to be set back 12 feet from the high-water mark of Burgess Creek, rather than the required 50 feet.
Planning commissioners indicated disapproval of the height proposal for the buildings and were hesitant to allow the reduced setback.
“It’s just too massive and too tall,” Commissioner Sarah Fox said. She mentioned concerns about the potential for extensive shadowing on Burgess Creek Road that could result in safety issues in the winter when the road is covered in snow or ice.
Commissioner Cedar Beauregard worried that such tall buildings at the base area would create a “privacy fence” and prevent others from enjoying the view, possibly resulting in decreased property values outside of the base area.
In response to the Burgess Creek setback, Commissioner Rich Levy felt the building would create a canyon effect and encroach upon the creek.
To compensate for the requested variances, Bavosi highlighted various elements of the development that would increase public benefit.
He proposed purchasing a plot of land between Highway 40 and Walton Creek Pond west of Weiss Drive to be donated to the city and used to construct 76 affordable housing units.
Developers also said Steamboat Highlands will contribute to the vibrancy of the base area through a mix of occupied residential units and condo-hotel units. Bavosi added that they are considering pursuing LEED certification through energy efficiency and sustainable design.
Lastly, he cited planned improvements to Burgess Creek, expansion of the existing pedestrian trail system and the overpass as public benefits.
Planning commissioners did not agree that the public benefits merited the variances requested.
The planning commissioners agreed that the proposed plans were out of context compared to the surrounding area. Commissioner Dick Curtis said “It’s the perfect area for density but not that kind,” adding that the proposed development would increase traffic beyond a level that Burgess Creek Road could safely handle.
END OF STEAMBOAT TODAY AND/OR STEAMBOAT PILOT ARTICLE (STEAMBOAT'S DAILY NEWSPAPER)
To obtain information on any property in Steamboat Springs or the surrounding areas with Buyer Representation, contact
Michelle Diehl, GRI Broker Associate at Century 21Ski Town Associates.
I am happy to help...
WEB: http://www.steamboatdream.com/
E-MAIL: MichelleDiehl@comcast.net
CELL:(970)846-1086
Wednesday, July 2, 2008
Affordable Housing Push from Other County Experts
Outsiders urge housing push
By Blythe Terrell - Reporter Steamboat Pilot & Today
Saturday, June 28, 2008
Steamboat Springs — Friday’s affordable housing forum stretched on an extra hour, until the group was bumped out of the room to make way for a wedding party.
Perhaps it was the topic: “We’re not Alone: Learning from Other Communities.” Perhaps it was because each of the six presenters had a compelling story to share.
One message was universal: Act immediately on affordable housing.
Representatives of housing agencies from Jackson, Wyo.; Aspen and Pitkin County; Summit County; Rio Blanco County and Garfield County spoke at the forum. Another speaker represented the Mountain Regional Housing Corporation, which covers several counties.
They offered advice, predictions and tales of success and failure at the fourth affordable housing forum series event put on by the Steamboat Springs Chamber Resort Association’s Economic Development Council at Rex’s American Grill & Bar.
Tom McCabe, executive director of the Aspen/Pitkin County Housing Authority, said his community has been dealing with the issue for decades. In his 33 months on the job, he’s seen the average home price increase from $3.2 million to more than $5.4 million.
“If the community believes you have a need for affordable housing, get started now,” McCabe said. “It’s only going to get more expensive.”
The ingredients of a successful local campaign are community support, political support and dedicated funding, he said. Although his agency has those things, along with 2,800 deed-restricted units, he said it would never catch up with housing needs.
“Years ago, I was foolish enough to think that we would run out of billionaires. … They’re going to build up every neighborhood you can think of,” he said.
Aspen is on the verge of becoming two neighborhoods: the super wealthy and the work force housing. McCabe said the middle class — and the workers who provide vital services — will be erased.
“If you have a dirty toilet, you might be able to live with that,” he said. “If you have a heart attack and you’re lying there, dialing 911, and there’s no doctor, or even no operator and no ambulance driver, you have a community that’s out of whack. … Our community is out of whack. The reason I put this onto the table is to tell you what’s coming.”
Anne Hayden leads the Jackson Hole Community Housing Trust in Wyoming. The private non-profit group has worked with developers and the Teton County housing agency to add lower-cost, deed-restricted homes.
The median home price in the area has gone from about $200,000 in 1992 to $1.95 million now and is rising steadily, Hayden said. The issue has gotten so wild that government officials put a moratorium on some types of development, she said.
“Things in Jackson have reached a tipping point,” Hayden said. “Don’t get there. That would be my advice.”
Several of the speakers stressed the need for public-private partnerships, and Hayden encouraged Steamboat Springs officials to bring developers to the table. Her organization is funded almost entirely by private donations.
As they told their stories and pushed Steamboat officials to move quickly, the speakers noted one advantage here: space.
“I drove into Steamboat, looked at that nice, wide median and said, ‘I could build affordable housing on that median,’” McCabe joked.
But he got serious, speaking with urgency.
“We have the money; we just don’t have the dirt,” McCabe said. “You have dirt. Go capture it, and find the money.”
END OF STEAMBOAT TODAY AND/OR STEAMBOAT PILOT ARTICLE (STEAMBOAT'S DAILY NEWSPAPER)
To obtain information on any property in Steamboat Springs or the surrounding areas with Buyer Representation, contact
Michelle Diehl, GRI Broker Associate at Century 21Ski Town Associates.
I am happy to help...
WEB: http://www.steamboatdream.com/
E-MAIL: MichelleDiehl@comcast.net
CELL:(970)846-1086
By Blythe Terrell - Reporter Steamboat Pilot & Today
Saturday, June 28, 2008
Steamboat Springs — Friday’s affordable housing forum stretched on an extra hour, until the group was bumped out of the room to make way for a wedding party.
Perhaps it was the topic: “We’re not Alone: Learning from Other Communities.” Perhaps it was because each of the six presenters had a compelling story to share.
One message was universal: Act immediately on affordable housing.
Representatives of housing agencies from Jackson, Wyo.; Aspen and Pitkin County; Summit County; Rio Blanco County and Garfield County spoke at the forum. Another speaker represented the Mountain Regional Housing Corporation, which covers several counties.
They offered advice, predictions and tales of success and failure at the fourth affordable housing forum series event put on by the Steamboat Springs Chamber Resort Association’s Economic Development Council at Rex’s American Grill & Bar.
Tom McCabe, executive director of the Aspen/Pitkin County Housing Authority, said his community has been dealing with the issue for decades. In his 33 months on the job, he’s seen the average home price increase from $3.2 million to more than $5.4 million.
“If the community believes you have a need for affordable housing, get started now,” McCabe said. “It’s only going to get more expensive.”
The ingredients of a successful local campaign are community support, political support and dedicated funding, he said. Although his agency has those things, along with 2,800 deed-restricted units, he said it would never catch up with housing needs.
“Years ago, I was foolish enough to think that we would run out of billionaires. … They’re going to build up every neighborhood you can think of,” he said.
Aspen is on the verge of becoming two neighborhoods: the super wealthy and the work force housing. McCabe said the middle class — and the workers who provide vital services — will be erased.
“If you have a dirty toilet, you might be able to live with that,” he said. “If you have a heart attack and you’re lying there, dialing 911, and there’s no doctor, or even no operator and no ambulance driver, you have a community that’s out of whack. … Our community is out of whack. The reason I put this onto the table is to tell you what’s coming.”
Anne Hayden leads the Jackson Hole Community Housing Trust in Wyoming. The private non-profit group has worked with developers and the Teton County housing agency to add lower-cost, deed-restricted homes.
The median home price in the area has gone from about $200,000 in 1992 to $1.95 million now and is rising steadily, Hayden said. The issue has gotten so wild that government officials put a moratorium on some types of development, she said.
“Things in Jackson have reached a tipping point,” Hayden said. “Don’t get there. That would be my advice.”
Several of the speakers stressed the need for public-private partnerships, and Hayden encouraged Steamboat Springs officials to bring developers to the table. Her organization is funded almost entirely by private donations.
As they told their stories and pushed Steamboat officials to move quickly, the speakers noted one advantage here: space.
“I drove into Steamboat, looked at that nice, wide median and said, ‘I could build affordable housing on that median,’” McCabe joked.
But he got serious, speaking with urgency.
“We have the money; we just don’t have the dirt,” McCabe said. “You have dirt. Go capture it, and find the money.”
END OF STEAMBOAT TODAY AND/OR STEAMBOAT PILOT ARTICLE (STEAMBOAT'S DAILY NEWSPAPER)
To obtain information on any property in Steamboat Springs or the surrounding areas with Buyer Representation, contact
Michelle Diehl, GRI Broker Associate at Century 21Ski Town Associates.
I am happy to help...
WEB: http://www.steamboatdream.com/
E-MAIL: MichelleDiehl@comcast.net
CELL:(970)846-1086
