Steamboat Pilot & Today

The Steamboat Springs City Council will have its first round of discussions today on the adopted draft of the Steamboat Springs Area Community Plan Update.

On March 15, the council, Routt County commissioners and city and county planning commissions are scheduled to have a final adoption hearing, but tonight the council will give its first round of input on the draft.

Changes have been made to the plan since the city and county last reviewed the first draft of the document in November. City Planner Tom Leeson said that at tonight's meeting, a presentation would be given on the changes and some of the more significant policy recommendations in the plan.

"Council will hear what (the policies) mean in terms of implementation and the kind of ordinances that will be coming back and what essentially they will be charged with adopting in some form over the next several years," Leeson said.

The City Planning Commission held work sessions Jan. 26 and Feb. 2 to discuss the adopted draft plan.

The two major topics of discussion the planning commission will bring up tonight are policies in the plan dealing with a jobs-to-housing ratio and the future land use map.

The plan recommends new commercial and lodging developments build a certain amount of housing to offset new jobs they create.

The planning commission also wants to discuss the future land use map, which calls for a mix of commercial and residential development along U.S. Highway 40 and commercial activity nodes near major intersections.

Planning commissioners "don't really have any concerns with (the land use map). It was actually their idea, they are excited about it," Leeson said. "They want to talk to City Council about it to make sure city council is fully aware of the ramifications of these changes."

Other recommended policies in the plan are to implement paid parking in the Old Town area to encourage employees to use public transportation and to set a maximum size for new structures or remodels in residential areas.

Infill is recommended at key intersections along U.S. 40, the Old Town commercial area and the base of the ski area.

Some of the changes in the plan since the last council review included softening language that would allow Yampa Street to be extended to 13th Street and the creation of a Growth Management Advisory Group.

The adopted draft has gotten a fair amount of public input, Leeson said. Public comment will be taken at tonight's meeting.

For more than two years, public officials, staff, consultants and community working groups have worked on the area plan update, which revises a plan approved in 1995.

-- To reach Christine Metz call 871-4229

or e-mail cmetz@steamboatpilot.com