I think it will be ridiculous, silly and negligent of this community if we woke up in the year 2025 and Hayden is 5,000 people and OC is 3,000, some of them our own grown-up kids, all of whom drive into SS to work every day on a truly nightmarish US40, and the average house in SS is $1.2 million (a discount from Aspen, but still very very steep) with astronomical property taxes to pay for our new school and fire station and police headquarters (which we are told by city that we need today, in 2009), and there is STILL no supermarket on the west side of town to buy some eggs for breakfast, all because half of the city voters shut off the in-town housing supply way back in 2010 in a misguided sky-has-fallen election. Now that's negligence.
I'm not going to sign any petition and here's why.... Steamboat700 affects not just Steamboat Springs but I think it affects Oak Creek, Hayden, SIlver Spur/SteamboatII/Heritage Park, Stagecoach and everybody who lives in the entire county. The annexation is about housing and transportation, and those 2 things are connected everywhere in the county, and both seriously affect the environment of Routt county. If it is voted on just by city citizens and does not pass, so many people in the entire county (most of whom work IN Steamboat Springs) will be negatively impacted. So I think it should be a vote of the entire county not just Steamboat Springs residents.
LFTO-after that 4-part series in the P&T in August on the collapse of the local real estate market,lots of locals were PO'd and I think it is hardly the case to suggest that the paper is in the bag for 700 because of catering to the dollar signs from real estate ads....most of the time the journalism doesn't really help with any boosterism.
Seriously, is anybody paying attention to this? This is in the same newspaper people: http://www.steamboatpilot.com/news/20... 400 new homes in the county here....400 new homes iover there....200 new homesites in the county over there....it all adds up the same way, I just dont see anywhere in the article that the STagecoach dude has to cough up to deal with US 40.
Community Alliance, Aigner, WHite, Routt County "smart growth", ag and ranching people everywhere....where are you on this?.... Hello? Is anybody paying attention to this?
"That's like saying the Forest Service prepares planning documents because they want forest fires," Engelken said. "We assumed growth was coming, and we thought we ought to plan for it. Nothing more." ....Really odd metaphr. Of course nobody "wants" forest fires, how horrible....but we live with the reality that forest fires are going to happen so it is better to have a gameplan before a little one goes out of control. The same with urban planning....let's accept the reality that the economy is going to come back, growth is going to happen, so we need a gameplan....it's not an exercise just for the sake of doing the exercise and once it is done we just set it aside and pretend like we will never need it....It is not a matter of whether we "want" it or not, but when it does come, how do we control it and keep the whole mountain and countryside from burning down? Anyway, however you feel about growth and development, I think comparing them to a forest fire is just trying to stoke fears and insensitive.
Please tell me which livelihoods and earnings are missing that are needed on council to achieve "balance": tourism? retirement and pension earnings? retail? oil & gas? I agree it is nice to have a wide range of career experience on council, but saying that we need "less folks whos earnings depend on real estate development" sounds like a charge that people in real estate development (including landscapers?....really?) are full-on "pro-development" (whatever that means) and that every decision is only about what's good for real estate. "Balance" is not just about "sticking it" to developers and projects....balance is about being balanced, and seeing things from ALL sides in making a decision. Anyway in reality if you are a citizen who owns a home and real estate property in SS then you ARE in the real estate business.
Cindy: in many ways I was following along with your letter OK....it is a lot to think about the 700 annexation in this economy, it's scary when it feels like the world has stopped cold....but I am not really with you that the the "lifeline of the community" is the base of the ski area. And in your 2nd message that our focus and "limited tax dollars" should be put into the base area, so we can chase the Vails and the Aspens and the narrow focus of a "tourist based economy"....This is a question of priorities, I guess. You ask who will be living in Steamboat 700 (and 360 Village?) in 5,10,20 years? I'd like to think it will be our brothers, sisters, nieces, nephews, sons , daughters, grandsons and grandaughters who grow up here but more and more move out into the county because of the dearth of good housing in town, or leave NW CO altogether because there is no real career options other than in the "Tourist Based Economy." I just disagree that it is an "either-or" situation that you suggest it is....that either we support tourism or we don't. We can and should do both.
As Homer Simpson would say, "D'oh!" But seriously, what exactly is the issue here? Is it an issue that Aigner's work is kind of like protecting Steamboat Springs from outsiders when he, himself, and about 50% of the group's members are second homeowners and live somewhere else? That's not an issue....seems often that nearly everybody in Steamboat is from somewhere else, came for a visit, and decided never to leave. Everybody feels protective of this place. Is it because he has some really poor word choice when he describes what he does, such as cozy, insider, redneck, ignorant, and so on? That's not the issue....happens to all of us, we all say things we regret or would say differently if given another shot. Is it because he claims to get inside information from elected officials? Well, that kind of is an issue....makes me wonder if he would make the same claim about insider access on city council business? I think the issue here is the Community Alliance and if they are being honest or not. Saying they are for "smart growth" but also that they "have fought growth forever" is not about clumsy word choice or ignorance or exagerration or boasting....it is about talking out of both sides of your mouth depending on who youre talking to. Which is a tough place to stand when you are issuing ultimatums to your local elected officials.
Committee collecting signatures to put Steamboat 700 to vote
I think it will be ridiculous, silly and negligent of this community if we woke up in the year 2025 and Hayden is 5,000 people and OC is 3,000, some of them our own grown-up kids, all of whom drive into SS to work every day on a truly nightmarish US40, and the average house in SS is $1.2 million (a discount from Aspen, but still very very steep) with astronomical property taxes to pay for our new school and fire station and police headquarters (which we are told by city that we need today, in 2009), and there is STILL no supermarket on the west side of town to buy some eggs for breakfast, all because half of the city voters shut off the in-town housing supply way back in 2010 in a misguided sky-has-fallen election. Now that's negligence.
October 21, 2009 at 4:04 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Referendum procedure set for Steamboat 700
I'm not going to sign any petition and here's why.... Steamboat700 affects not just Steamboat Springs but I think it affects Oak Creek, Hayden, SIlver Spur/SteamboatII/Heritage Park, Stagecoach and everybody who lives in the entire county. The annexation is about housing and transportation, and those 2 things are connected everywhere in the county, and both seriously affect the environment of Routt county. If it is voted on just by city citizens and does not pass, so many people in the entire county (most of whom work IN Steamboat Springs) will be negatively impacted. So I think it should be a vote of the entire county not just Steamboat Springs residents.
October 15, 2009 at 8:28 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Our View: Council should approve Steamboat 700
LFTO-after that 4-part series in the P&T in August on the collapse of the local real estate market,lots of locals were PO'd and I think it is hardly the case to suggest that the paper is in the bag for 700 because of catering to the dollar signs from real estate ads....most of the time the journalism doesn't really help with any boosterism.
October 7, 2009 at 6:30 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Developer seeks approval for 432 units near Stagecoach Reservoir
.....Omar Campbell....paging Mr. Omar Campbell....
August 26, 2009 at 1:16 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Council candidate Pietras supports annexation, business
Seriously, is anybody paying attention to this? This is in the same newspaper people: http://www.steamboatpilot.com/news/20...
400 new homes in the county here....400 new homes iover there....200 new homesites in the county over there....it all adds up the same way, I just dont see anywhere in the article that the STagecoach dude has to cough up to deal with US 40.
August 26, 2009 at 11:14 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Developer seeks approval for 432 units near Stagecoach Reservoir
Community Alliance, Aigner, WHite, Routt County "smart growth", ag and ranching people everywhere....where are you on this?.... Hello? Is anybody paying attention to this?
August 26, 2009 at 9:31 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Jim Engelken confirms council candidacy
"That's like saying the Forest Service prepares planning documents because they want forest fires," Engelken said. "We assumed growth was coming, and we thought we ought to plan for it. Nothing more."
....Really odd metaphr. Of course nobody "wants" forest fires, how horrible....but we live with the reality that forest fires are going to happen so it is better to have a gameplan before a little one goes out of control. The same with urban planning....let's accept the reality that the economy is going to come back, growth is going to happen, so we need a gameplan....it's not an exercise just for the sake of doing the exercise and once it is done we just set it aside and pretend like we will never need it....It is not a matter of whether we "want" it or not, but when it does come, how do we control it and keep the whole mountain and countryside from burning down? Anyway, however you feel about growth and development, I think comparing them to a forest fire is just trying to stoke fears and insensitive.
August 21, 2009 at 12:06 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Pietras to run for City Council
Please tell me which livelihoods and earnings are missing that are needed on council to achieve "balance": tourism? retirement and pension earnings? retail? oil & gas? I agree it is nice to have a wide range of career experience on council, but saying that we need "less folks whos earnings depend on real estate development" sounds like a charge that people in real estate development (including landscapers?....really?) are full-on "pro-development" (whatever that means) and that every decision is only about what's good for real estate. "Balance" is not just about "sticking it" to developers and projects....balance is about being balanced, and seeing things from ALL sides in making a decision. Anyway in reality if you are a citizen who owns a home and real estate property in SS then you ARE in the real estate business.
August 12, 2009 at 10:15 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Letter to the editor: Steamboat 700 vote
Cindy: in many ways I was following along with your letter OK....it is a lot to think about the 700 annexation in this economy, it's scary when it feels like the world has stopped cold....but I am not really with you that the the "lifeline of the community" is the base of the ski area. And in your 2nd message that our focus and "limited tax dollars" should be put into the base area, so we can chase the Vails and the Aspens and the narrow focus of a "tourist based economy"....This is a question of priorities, I guess. You ask who will be living in Steamboat 700 (and 360 Village?) in 5,10,20 years? I'd like to think it will be our brothers, sisters, nieces, nephews, sons , daughters, grandsons and grandaughters who grow up here but more and more move out into the county because of the dearth of good housing in town, or leave NW CO altogether because there is no real career options other than in the "Tourist Based Economy." I just disagree that it is an "either-or" situation that you suggest it is....that either we support tourism or we don't. We can and should do both.
July 29, 2009 at 3:55 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Local officials discuss Aigner lecture video
As Homer Simpson would say, "D'oh!" But seriously, what exactly is the issue here? Is it an issue that Aigner's work is kind of like protecting Steamboat Springs from outsiders when he, himself, and about 50% of the group's members are second homeowners and live somewhere else? That's not an issue....seems often that nearly everybody in Steamboat is from somewhere else, came for a visit, and decided never to leave. Everybody feels protective of this place. Is it because he has some really poor word choice when he describes what he does, such as cozy, insider, redneck, ignorant, and so on? That's not the issue....happens to all of us, we all say things we regret or would say differently if given another shot. Is it because he claims to get inside information from elected officials? Well, that kind of is an issue....makes me wonder if he would make the same claim about insider access on city council business? I think the issue here is the Community Alliance and if they are being honest or not. Saying they are for "smart growth" but also that they "have fought growth forever" is not about clumsy word choice or ignorance or exagerration or boasting....it is about talking out of both sides of your mouth depending on who youre talking to. Which is a tough place to stand when you are issuing ultimatums to your local elected officials.
July 24, 2009 at 9:03 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )