Steamboat Pilot & Today

The Steamboat Springs City Council will get an update on the base area redevelopment plan at tonight's council meeting.

In 2004, the city budgeted $50,000 to prepare a plan for redevelopment at the base of the ski area. The plan is intended to look at what areas need to be fixed first in the mountain base area and the ways to finance those improvements.

City staff prepared a request for a proposal for consultants to work on the plan and received proposals from three planning firms, City Planning Director Steve Stamey said.

The plan would look at where road improvements, pedestrian access, streetscapes and signage were most needed at the base area, Stamey said. The base area encompasses the Clock Towers, Ski Time Square, Gondola Square and Village Square.

Council members have expressed concerns about the deterioration of the base area and listed upgrading it as one of their highest priorities in the Steamboat Springs Area Community Plan.

The city's five-year capital improvement plan calls for more than $2 million worth of public works projects to be done in the mountain area.

For 2006, the city has scheduled a $625,000 project for reconstruction of Ski Time Square, including the mid-block turn-around area, and $515,000 worth of improvements at the Mount Werner Circle and AprÃs Ski Way intersection.

For 2007, the city has scheduled a $625,000 project for a Ski Time Square and Christie Base turn-around. The city also scheduled $310,000 for improvements to mountain area roads.

Stamey said companies are to return to the council with a proposed contract for the plan and the scope of the work. He estimates it would take six to eight months to get the plan in place and noted a number of meetings have been held with stakeholders of the base area, such as representatives from the Mountain Business Association, Steamboat Ski Corp and surrounding property owners.

City Manager Paul Hughes said tonight's presentation could produce questions from the council about the urban renewal authority.

In September, the Base Area Reinvestment Coalition came before the council with a proposal to form an urban renewal authority, which would use tax money to make improvements to the base area.

The council, which is the only body that can approve the urban renewal authority, its plans and boundaries, is set to have the first reading on an ordinance on the authority Nov. 16.

In other business, the city council will discuss the noise complaints residents on 13th Street have about semitrailors idling at a nearby beer and alcohol distributor.