Steamboat Pilot & Today

The city of Steamboat Springs is experiencing more turnover at the top of its planning department, but City Manager Paul Hughes announced a key hire Friday.

Hughes announced the resignation of Planning Director Steve Stamey to the City Council on Aug. 16. His last day on the job is Sept. 9.

Former Assistant Planning Director Tim McHarg resigned in June to take a position with the city of Durango.

Tom Leeson was hired from within the staff to replace McHarg. Hughes said he will take the lead on key planning initiatives, including making changes to the city's development code needed to adopt the new base-area redevelopment plan.

"Tom will move these forward with whatever additional help he needs," Hughes said.

Leeson is likely to get help in the form of his own replacement on the planning staff. Hughes said Suzanne Bott, a senior planner with the private consulting firm Clauson and Associates of Aspen, has been hired to fill Leeson's former position on the staff.

Clauson has been retained by the city and has been working throughout 2005 on the evolution of the ski base redevelopment plan.

"(Bott) could hand that off to herself, in a sense," Hughes said.

Stamey, who was out of town this week, has accepted a job in the private sector with a planning firm that helps take developments through the process in Front Range cities, Hughes said.

"Steve will be a huge find for that company," Hughes said.

He joined the city of Steam--boat as planning director in January 2003.

Hughes said Stamey's position is being advertised in two national trade magazines and throughout the state.

"I'm certainly looking for someone with Colorado experience, if possible, because we found out that is important," Hughes said. "I'd like to find someone with resort-planning experience, if possible."

Bott's academic credentials include a degree in geography from the University of Colorado at Boulder, a master's degree in planning from CU-Denver and a doctorate degree in resource management from Colorado State University. She previously was a land planner for Park City, Utah. Her resume reflects an interest in sustainable development and preserving a "sense of place."

-- To reach Tom Ross call 871-4205

or e-mail tross@steamboatpilot.com