Steamboat Pilot & Today

In the Monday, May 28, Steamboat Today, there was an interview with Susan Dellinger, the president of the Steamboat Springs City Council. Dellinger used me as a source in the article. Let me clarify a number of points.

1. John Eastman is substantially responsible for the creation of the spreadsheet referenced in the article. I offered some suggestions to clarify the spreadsheet so that hopefully anyone would be able to understand the cost of linkage as it related to a specific sized building using three examples of construction cost.

2. I am a member of the Yampa Valley Construction Trades Association; however, I am representing myself in the City Council hearings.

3. Dellinger's reference to me may lead readers to believe that I support the 10 percent mitigation rate, which I vehemently oppose. The purpose of the spreadsheet example was to show the cost of linkage. Anything beyond the 5 percent mitigation rate will cause many projects not to be built and, therefore, the purported goal of providing affordable housing will not be met since there will be no fee collected for building affordable housing. Many believe that the 5 percent mitigation rate is too high.

Inclusionary zoning will be applied against all new construction including single-family residential, but excepting industrial. This fee will impact new homeowners, tenants of new buildings, as well as the construction, real estate and development business in Steamboat. In the end, it will drive real estate prices higher for everyone. It is my hope that many people will come to the City Council's "second reading" of the ordinance today to make their voices heard and have the mitigation rate placed at an affordable level, which is no more than 5 percent. Thank you for the opportunity to clarify Dellinger's interview statements.

Mark Halvorson

Steamboat Springs