Steamboat Pilot & Today

Steamboat Springs — Timmy Meagher has been trying to sell his mobile home for months. But a plan that would force him to relocate the trailer house to make way for new buildings has hindered his efforts to sell the property.

D-Bar-K Enterprises is asking the county for permission to build a ministorage facility in place of several mobile homes and an old motel on U.S. 40 a half-mile south of Steamboat Springs.

But the Routt County Planning Commission has recommended the proposal not go through.

County planning commissioners Thursday evening were split on giving D-Bar-K a favorable nod to clear existing structures on the five-acre parcel of land.

In a 4-4 decision, planning commissioners voted against giving D-Bar-K Enterprises a special-use permit to construct the self-storage buildings.

Their recommendation goes to the County Board of Commissioners. A hearing has been set for Nov. 12.

Meagher, one of two mobile home owners who attended the meeting, told commissioners he was concerned about losing all the equity he had built up in his mobile home if he was forced to move his property elsewhere.

County planning commissioners recognized that clearing the four mobile homes, 11-unit motel and single residence off the land would take away some affordable housing options.

The South Steamboat Area Plan recommends that new development not create housing shortages.

The County Planning Commission encouraged D-Bar-K Enterprises to seek some sort of compromise with the people who live on their property.

There were also some concerns about building away from the city limits.

Jake Henry, who represented D-Bar-K, said the plan would only redevelop what was already developed.

"We don't feel we are increasing sprawl by having commercial use on this property," he said.