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Mike Lawrence

Call Mike Lawrence at 871-4203 or e-mail mlawrence@steamboatpilot.com.

As Steamboat Ski Area prepares for Scholarship Day on Wednesday, there’s a lot going on around the resort’s base that has nothing to do with skis or snowboards.

Let’s start with a potential zoning change.

A zoning change might not seem like a hot topic, but for those who stuck around for the hour-long discussion Tuesday night, the late item on the City Council’s agenda provided an early glimpse of how growth- and development-related debates could look for the next two years in Centennial Hall.

Ski Country is seeking to develop a 2.1-acre, two-lot parcel at the intersection of Burgess Creek Road and Storm Meadows Drive. Burgess Creek runs through the property, which the Nevada-based Ski Country group purchased for $11.5 million in November 2007 from a group of investors.

City planning staff supports high-density residential on the site, finding that use consistent with the Community Development Code. But Oct. 8, the Steamboat Springs Planning Commission voted, 3-2, against such use.

Commissioners Sarah Fox and Cedar Beauregard cited the property’s steep contours, sole access from Burgess Creek Road and surrounding open space as reasons for voting “no.”

Commissioner Rich Levy also noted that the site is not immediately adjacent to ski area slopes. The CDC states that RR-2, or high-density residential, zoning must be “principally” located immediately adjacent to ski slopes — a word that provides some leeway for developers.

Commissioners in support of the change noted that it down-zones one of the Ski Country lots and up-zones the other. Brian Hanlen called that “a fair balancing act” in October, when commissioner Karen Dixon noted the site’s proximity to similar zoning at the base area and also supported the change.

There are strong, defendable arguments on both sides, and the debate drew a small crowd Tuesday night to talk about where and how to allow density around the base area and its nearby residential neighborhoods.

City Council overturned the Planning Commission by a 4-2 vote, with Jim Engelken and Meg Bentley voting against high-density use of the site. Cari Hermacinski, Scott Myller, Jon Quinn and Walter Magill supported high-density use. Magill said he cast his “yes” vote “reluctantly,” and new council member Kenny Reisman stepped down because he owns a nearby Ski Time Square condominium.

Reisman said Thursday he’ll address whether to step down on future base area decisions on a case-by-base basis.

An ordinance to formalize the zoning change is scheduled to appear before City Council on Dec. 1. If you’re interested in an active community debate about development at the ski base, it promises to be a good conversation to join.

■ Meanwhile, don’t expect any large-scale use of Ski Time Square this winter.

Mark Mathews, of The Atira Group, told City Council this week that his company is increasing trash pick-up at the site and hanging seasonal decorations and lighting. Utilities are disconnected, though, except for those servicing the Tugboat Grill & Pub, meaning temporary uses such as an ice rink and music tent are not options — at least for now.

“We need self-contained units,” Mathews said.

The greatest likelihood for this winter, he said, is some sort of collaboration with Tugboat’s outdoor area. Think sun chairs and snow volleyball. But plans for interim use of the demolished Ski Time Square likely won’t really get rolling until spring.

■ One thing already rolling is the Mountain Village Partnership, a new base area trade association to spur business promotion and event marketing. Andy Wirth, of Steamboat Ski and Resort Corp., said the group — which has a great acronym in “MVP” — is soon to incorporate as a 501(c)(6). The group will complement Mainstreet Steamboat Springs’ efforts, Wirth said, beginning with programming base area events during the holidays.