Steamboat Pilot & Today

Tim Katers will be in Hayden on Thursday to update the Planning Commission on the progress of several projects he is working on and to discuss providing assistance that may be needed with other planning efforts in town.

Katers, a planning consultant with Katers and Associates in Loveland, was assigned to work with 4S Development and the town of Hayden in the planning efforts of the first phase of the 900-acre Sunburst Ranch subdivision, Sunburst Park North, and he has signed on to help out with other projects as well, such as developer Paul Flood's 30-lot subdivision, The Meadow.

Now that Hayden's chief communicator, Town Manager Rob Straebel, has left Hayden for another job as village administrator of the Village of Taos Ski Valley, N.M., Katers' knowledge of the projects may be more valuable than ever, Planning Commission Chairwoman Donna Hellyer said. In Straebel's absence, Katers' assistance may be needed on some additional projects as well, Hellyer said.

Hellyer said it ultimately was up to the Hayden Town Board to contract Katers to work on additional projects, such as the annexation of the Routt County Fairgrounds and the rental car area annexation at Yampa Valley Regional Airport. She said having the assistance of a planner would greatly help the town, and she would encourage the town to expand Katers' contract.

"I would definitely give the recommendation," Hellyer said. "I would recommend him because it seems he has the confidence of the developers and the confidence of the town. I think that's important. He's still his own person, and he's not going to be pushed around."

Before leaving, Straebel typed a long memo summarizing the status of projects. Katers said he would review Straebel's memo and the Planning Commission's current role in the projects, "basically to bring everybody up to date" and get organized.

Also at Thursday's meeting, a public hearing will be held regarding the preliminary plat of The Meadow. At the request of the Planning Commission, the Flood made some minor modifications to the plans regarding a cul-de-sac and snow storage places, and, with those modifications, the plan looks to be about 90 percent complete, Katers said. Flood is not expected to begin construction of the subdivision until next spring, Katers said.

-- To reach Nick Foster call 871-4204

or e-mail nfoster@steamboatpilot.com