Steamboat Pilot & Today

Steamboat Springs — City and county officials made progress Tuesday night with plans for construction and future development west of Steamboat Springs.

In a joint meeting at Centennial Hall, the Steamboat Springs City Council and Routt County commissioners discussed the West of Steamboat Springs Area Plan, which outlines infrastructure, land use and housing needs for increased development of the area that currently includes the Silver Spur, Heritage Park and Steamboat II subdivisions.

City attorney Tony Lettunich said construction of a new sewer line and roadway in the area could begin in the spring. The new road would extend Downhill Drive north of U.S. Highway 40.

"I'm happy that the city and county at least now have consensus that the road should be built," Commissioner Nancy Stahoviak said after the meeting. "To me, that's a huge step."

Commissioner Doug Monger said not only that new roads west of Steamboat should have a greater scope, such as a connector from U.S. 40 to Routt County Road 129, but also that progress on the area plan is long overdue.

"We've been working on this for five years," Monger said. "Sooner or later, we have to get off our duffs here and start moving ahead."

Tom Leeson, director of city planning services, said he disagreed "wholeheartedly" with Monger's sentiment, citing hours of meetings with west of Steamboat property owners to discuss development plans.

"I think we already are moving forward," Leeson said.

Council member Towny Anderson suggested a point person be established to provide frequent updates on west of Steamboat development, similar to the project coordinator hired to direct redevelopment at the base of the Steamboat Ski Area.

Commissioners and council members agreed to develop a collaborative funding plan for west of Steamboat projects. The groups could approve the funding plan in January, at their next joint meeting.

Commissioners and council members Tuesday did not discuss whether to increase county funding for Steamboat's new community center. City Council President Ken Brenner has requested more funding from the county for the $2.9 million project adjacent to the Stock Bridge Transit Center west of downtown Steamboat, but the item was not on last night's agenda.

- To reach Mike Lawrence, call 871-4203

or e-mail mlawrence@steamboatpilot.com