Briefs: Crested Butte

By Mark Reaman

CB Community Plan check-in

The council received an update on the development of the Crested Butte Community Plan at the September 3 meeting. Planner Mel Yemma presented a large document containing ideas and feedback received from residents. Ideas like considering increased density and allowing higher building heights in town were touched upon. It was indicated the biggest changes would probably come in the Sixth Street corridor area through town and along Belleview Avenue. Current statistics indicate Crested Butte has a full-time population occupying 66% of its housing units, a good amount for a resort community.

Council expressed interest in investigating the ramifications of things like reducing the number of required parking spaces for houses in town; the idea of encouraging “community-serving businesses” in Crested Butte; including local nonprofits in any incentives and support of the town; looking into allowing residents to subdivide their current lots in town into “micro-lots” or to condominiumise their property to perhaps get more spaces for affordable housing; and allowing some new design variances for residents of the M district.

“We wouldn’t be going from 0 to 100 mph overnight,” Yemma said. “Changes would be made incrementally.”

The plan is getting a deep dive through the so-called community charrettes being held this week at the Crested Butte Center for the Arts. “This is always a work in progress and always getting refined,” said Yemma. “We are looking for guardrails that reflect our community values.”

Stuff:
—Staff asked the public to be patient with the road work taking place on Elk Avenue near the Four-Way Stop.

—Council renewed the lease with Stepping Stones in a 5-1 vote. Councilmember Kent Cowherd voted against it indicating he wasn’t comfortable with the annual rent increases.

—Sales tax and the real estate transfer tax continues to increase in Crested Butte.

—Council appointed Josh Staab to the BOZAR.

—Council dedicated honorary proclamations to long-time resident Trudy Yaklich who recently passed away and to the HCCA for its work on the Red Lady fight that concluded last month after 47 years.

—46 people have signed up for the community composting drop-off program.