The Crested Butte News Serving the Gunnison Valley since 1999
Want these units to “feel like home…”
[ By Mark Reaman ]
In an effort to figure out the best possible configuration of workforce housing units to put on the property in the Slate River subdivision across from the Gas Cafe, Crested Butte officials are engaging with residents to gather their input. The land located at the corner of Sixth and Butte was given to the town as part of the deal with the Aperture annexation and is expected to accommodate 60-80 deed-restricted affordable housing units.
“We want to make this development feel like home,” emphasized town planner Mel Yemma during a work session with the town council on June 21. “It will take out-of-the-box ideas to solve this current housing crisis that is impacting the entire community.”
The town staff used an online app to gather input to questions at the work session much like they did at two previous meetings with local citizens. For example, to the question about what people value about Crested Butte, those at the work session mentioned “culture,” “community,” “home” and “character.” Crested Butte planner Patrick Church said similar responses were garnered at the onsite meeting that drew 27 people.
To get the units built, the town will have to clean up sections of the property that used to be the old dump so that will take some time and money. In a memo to the council, the staff said they plan to continue gathering public input this summer and then develop a so-called master plan for the site. The hope is to present a final plan to the town council in September. A request for proposals from interested developers could be opened in October and building of the project would then take place in a so-called “phased implementation” between 2022 and 2024.
Yemma said a town goal is to have 75 percent of the houses in Crested Butte occupied by year-round residents. It is currently at 65 percent. She said the 60 to 80 additional units that could go at Sixth and Butte will get them close to the 75 percent threshold.
Church said the public feedback so far indicates people initially want a “variety” of housing types on the parcel, from single-family homes to dormitory type units. But when the question focused on what is needed, people agree some density is important.
“A consistent theme is that the people say amenities like adequate storage space, laundry opportunities and being pet-friendly are important,” said Church. “Other amenities brought up include the need for good Wi-Fi, perhaps a co-working space, community gardens and solar and sustainability opportunities. People don’t want a cheaply built project but something that will last.”
Mayor Jim Schmidt said the county swears by the use of geo-thermal to make a project more sustainable and it should be explored. He also said having a pathway to some home ownership opportunities would be a good addition to the plan. That could come through some townhome or condo units being included.
As far as receiving more public input, a community meeting is scheduled for July 14 at 6 p.m. and on the same day an open house will be held from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. to allow people to stop in and review the preliminary plans. Another council work session on the project is scheduled for July 19. A website specific to the project has been created and ideas and questions can be submitted by people. That website link (crestedbutte.mysocialpinpoint.com – Note there is no www) can be found on the town of Crested Butte webpage. Physical “idea walls” will also be placed throughout town this summer for people to write down their ideas.
“We are seeking robust community engagement to make this project feel like home,” said Yemma. “We are trying to make it easy with people that have different schedules to participate.”
