My vision for a first phase and annexation of Brown Ranch, a YVHA property. To be approved by voters on a Ballot question. All subsequent phases of BR would need to have voter approval as well.

 

The first phase of the Brown Ranch property should/would have a commercial center dedicated 12-15 acres for a full size 45,000-65,000 sq ft national chain grocery store anchoring, a commercial center of 60-80,000 ft of additional commercial retail to support the grocery store. Think Liquor, ups store, sandwich and coffee shops, Possible post office, auto related ETC.Included in this would be a gas station supported by the grocery for gas rewards points, also included would be charging stations for EV’s for shoppers as well. Traffic impacts ***

 

This would be located in the lower meadow closest to the entrance across from Sleepy Bear. This intersection would have a traffic light, with turning and acceleration lanes. The commercial center would be screened appropriately from Highway 40. The housing component I envision would be located in Neighborhood A, and designated 100% affordable, and include 100 slab on grade single family home sites, with an additional mix of 100-200, town homes, triplex’s and quadplex’s. A total count of 200-300 homes over 5 years.

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We would lean on smart financial opinions and proven models for financing and deed restrictions, and or combinations of both. With the slab on grade modular home pads, these could have homes set on them according to targeted demand and meeting work and AMI demands as needed. Rather than delivering at a preset rate and then having to rent them out. We must provide a way for folks to build equity over time. The land would be leased and the homes could be unrestricted allowing owners to have all the upside. This would also incentivize people to have pride of ownership and their own space. People would be pre-approved and on a waiting list and units would be built as demand was identified.

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We would build out at least 2-4 homes to accommodate in-home day care centers according to existing home day care models. These could also be subsidized from grants, STR dollars and private donations.​ These homes would have natural gas as a primary heating source, and we would/could explore the ability to provide solar panel systems with grants and subsidies from any and all entities. *

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Included In this first phase would be the beginning of a light industrial and commercial park, located and abutting the gun club property. It would be screened from highway 40 using berms and landscaping.**

 

There would also be work live units identified and built out as demand was identified. We have an opportunity to shape the look and feel of not only BR but of 13th street and highway 40 west of downtown.

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We desperately need a new/additional location for a post office, we can help incentivize businesses to relocate industrial/commercial uses to BR and utilize those properties for high density housing solutions that won’t have nearly the traffic impact, stigma of high density apartments out at BR.

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These properties are in close proximity to transit, bike paths and many within walking distance to downtown. Think about the new apartments built at Weiss Lane for UC Health. They have individual entrances and have a much higher quality of living vs Sunlight Crossing, Anglers and the Walgreens apartments.

 

*** Traffic Impacts (these are my estimated numbers and not a documented traffic study) These are trips through town and would be eliminated:

• Riverside subdivision 70 homes

• Sunlight 96 Homes

• North Routt approx 575 housing units

• Silver Spur 129 Homes

• Heritage Park 81 homes

• Steamboat 2-204 Homes​

Total:1,155 x 3= 3,465 through town currently a week x 4 = 13,860/month or 166,320 annual trips.

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After Build out of Overlook and Brown ranch Phase 1

• Overlook 220 lots (under construction)

• Brown Ranch Phase 1- 300 homes (to be built)

• Total of 1,675 x 3 trips though town/week = 5,025 x 4= 20,100/month or 241,200 annual trips.

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Also add in the current 1,500-2,000 cars a day commuting to and from Hayden and Craig and it leads to a viable auto count for a commercial center, and it’s only going to get busier.​ We must all be willing to compromise on Brown Ranch. We have decided what is most important to the current situation in Steamboat and for Steamboats future, affordable housing.

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The current sitting council leadership and their all or nothing leadership has only served to divide the community further all the while providing zero solutions for affordable housing on the BR property. They ran on Brown Ranch or bust.

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It has hurt the climate agenda by leading people to believe that everything electric, especially snowmelt, was clean energy. In actuality we are exporting our carbon to the less fortunate communities where the electricity is produced, like our neighbors in Hayden and Craig. With coal still producing electricity it has twice the carbon footprint as Natural Gas.​ Being willing to compromise and use the cleanest form of energy at our disposal now and for the foreseeable future helps immensely with affordability, and is the way to get these housing solutions moving.

 

*Geo Thermal would not be considered for this first phase and not mandatory for any subsequent phases. The soils conditions (shale beds) makes it extremely hard if not impossible to have a geo Thermal system on the property.

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**This area would be reserved for possible relocation of commercial businesses that would want to relocate to give up their existing property to the city for in town affordable housing land properties. Land Banking as it is sometimes called.