Briefs Crested Butte

Sixth Street is Station is back… almost
The Sixth Street Station is coming back around. Crested Butte building and zoning official Bob Gillie told the Town Council last week that the proponents want to again come before the Board of Zoning and Architectural Review (BOZAR) to discuss the project. Currently, it is officially tabled. That action took place after the BOZAR turned down the “massing” portion of one of the buildings in the proposal. Gillie said BOZAR would likely meet formally with the developers again in September.

Councilperson Jim Schmidt asked Gillie why, after years of process, the project had gotten as far as it had with a major stumbling block. “Did the proponents not get the message or was it not delivered?” he asked.
“Whether you want to view it as either a failure to communicate the problem or a failure to hear the problem is probably in the eye of the beholder,” responded Gillie, at which point town attorney John Belkin stopped the conversation since it could be possible the council will hear an appeal on the project. Sixth Street Station is a mixed use development proposed for the north side of Crested Butte that includes retail, restaurant and hotel uses.

What’s in the deed-restricted house?
Gillie said the town is conducting the affordable housing survey so the town can keep track of how deed restricted units are being utilized. The town sent out survey letters this week. The survey is conducted every two years.

Banner karma
In some sort of karmic irony, town manager Susan Parker reported to the council that the Restaurant Week banner could not be taken down. Apparently the pole mechanism used to put up and take down banners at Second and Elk was damaged when a truck hit the pole over the weekend. So the banner Parker didn’t want erected remained flying at least a few days longer than planned. Chamber of Commerce executive director Richard Bond reported that the week was a success and there is already talk of putting on another such event in the fall.
To further the karmic irony, the banner that was set to replace the Restaurant Week banner was the Mountain Theatre’s banner promoting the play, Guys and Dolls. The Mountain Theatre executive director is Bond’s wife, Elizabeth. “She isn’t happy about this at the moment,” he reported to the council, “but I’d like to thank you for supporting our banner.”

Butte Bucks rolling
Bond also requested and received from the council an additional $1,500 for a September edition of the Butte Bucks promotion. The council had already committed $2,250 for the fall promotion that funds a 20 percent discount at participating local businesses. “June Butte Bucks has been a great success,” Bond said. “We sold out in five business days and have had $14,000 of the $25,000 redeemed already. We will promote the September offering along with a December promotion.”

Here comes da judge
The council reappointed Ben Eden as the municipal judge. Eden came before the council and reported that he has actually been less busy with town court than in years past. He projects court could be down as much as 40 percent this year compared to 2009. Through the month of May, only 35 cases had gone before the magistrate. He had no real explanation for the decrease. He was reappointed to a two-year term, while Carolyn Blanchard was appointed the alternate judge.

Fuel up
The council set for public hearing a change to the town ordinance that will allow gas stations to have eight fueling stations. The change comes in part because of the loss of the key-card facility that will closed at the end of June.

Mine meeting
Mayor Williams reported she met with local project executives of Thompson Creek, the mining company hoping to dig for molybdenum in Mount Emmons. She said she received a general update on the project and everyone was very nice.

Oooohh, aaaahh, a fireworks subcommittee
Williams, along with councilperson Jim Schmidt will make up the Crested Butte Fourth of July subcommittee that will meet with Mt. Crested Butte counter-parts mayor William Buck and councilperson Dave Clayton. The four will meet sometime in July to hash out the general Fourth of July festivities and their location. Fireworks will be included as a topic.