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2009: Biz Bits Biz Bits 2009/10 Saving Rural Space
Routt County preps for a new Transfer of Development Rights program
By Jennie Lay
Routt County is adding a new tool to its arsenal for conserving open space and agricultural lands in the Yampa Valley. The county’s first test case in a Transfer of Development Rights program was successfully completed in early 2009, opening the door for a final set of rules and regulations for TDR transactions to be approved for future projects. | | In Routt County's first Transfer of Development Rights, Alpine Mountain Ranch gained 20 home sites and 900+ acres on Thorpe Mountain were conserved. Photo Courtesy Alpine Mountain Ranch |
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In Routt County’s first TDR deal, the owners of Flying Diamond Ranch south of Steamboat Springs transferred development rights for 20 home sites off their Thorpe Mountain ranch and onto the Alpine Mountain Ranch development, effectively increasing density on a subdivision next to the city limits and limiting sprawl in a rural area. The county approved Alpine Mountain Ranch’s increased density – and the deal protects more than 900 acres of hay meadows and wildlife habitat on Flying Diamond Ranch.
“We’re really excited about it because we’ve been talking about TDR since the early ‘90s. But now we’ve got people interested in using it,” says Routt County assistant planning director Ellen Hoj. “We’re trying to keep the process simple and easy to understand. It will just offer one more tool that goes with land preservation subdivisions and the purchase of development rights. In certain circumstances, LPS or PDR won’t work for somebody, but TDR might.”
In November 1996, Routt County voters approved the creation of a Purchase of Development Rights program to help conserve open agricultural land in the Yampa Valley – and keep those working landscapes wide-open forever. Funded by a taxpayer-approved one-mill property tax, at the close of 2008 PDR had helped purchase conservation easements from willing owners on almost 11,800 Routt County acres at a cost of $5.4 million – with another 3,500 acres approved for funding and pending completion in mid-2009.
Ellen says TDR zoning and subdivision regulations will apply to only to transfers between ag/forestry zoned properties in unincorporated Routt County. The receiving area has to meet the criteria of Routt County’s master plan. Routt County registers each TDR with permanent development agreements that have no sunset date.
Local Recovery and Reinvestment
Stimulus money goes to work in Routt County
- By Deborah Olsen
Energy, transportation, healthcare, forestry and sustainability are specific areas for which Northwest Colorado is applying and has received federal stimulus funding.
Routt County Commissioner Diane Mitsch Bush, who represents the five-county Northwest Colorado region at the Colorado Department of Transportation, has been working since January 2009 on stimulus funding. “I’m making certain that our region gets it fair share of these funds, particularly for road and bridge, but also for transit,” Diane explains.
“In addition to ARRA, (American Recovery and Reinvestment Act), there are a whole set of related grants that aren’t technically ARRA, but are part of the larger stimulus package, and the county is going for some of these,” Diane added. These include a grant application for improvements to County Road 14 from Colorado 131 to Stagecoach Reservoir and two cooperative grant applications with the city of Steamboat Springs for improvements to 911 communications and energy efficiency projects.
The Rocky Mountain Youth Corps received more than $238,000 in stimulus funding from ARRA. This funding is designated for saw crews to assist in mitigation efforts resulting from the pine beetle infestation in national forests.
Meanwhile, Northwest Colorado Visiting Nurse Association received $130,378 in stimulus funds, which it is using to fund a new nurse practitioner, a new medical assistant position and extra hours for Spanish interpreters. VNA also received nearly $300,000 in ARRA funds to improve its facilities.
The Northwest Colorado Council of Governments was one of five regional agencies to share in $1.7 million in ARRA funding to reduce energy costs for local households through weatherization.
These are a few of the local projects that have received early stimulus money. The status of ARRA and related funding changes rapidly, and Northwest Colorado officials remain hopeful that significant additional funding will become available in the future.
Traveling By Less Carbon
Steamboat starts transforming to a more sustainable bus fleet
- By Deborah Olsen
Steamboat Springs Transit is going green, but not merely because it’s trendy these days. With one hybrid bus already in its fleet, SST has two more on order. “There are a couple reasons we’ve gone with the hybrid buses,” says SST’s operations manager Jonathan Flint. “First is fuel economy – they get 25-27 percent better mileage than the other buses. Secondly is mechanical reliability.”  | | Free ride: Three hybrid buses will be transporting passengers around Steamboat Springs by 2010. Photo by Ken Wright |
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The hybrid drive slows the bus down, which saves wear and tear on the brakes, Jonathan explains. The electrical drive system also offers a smooth ride because there is no shifting as the bus speeds up or slows down.
As a result, the bus is quieter inside and outside. “It’s done a really good job for us,” Jonathan says. The buses, which cost about $560,000 apiece, are so popular nationally that it will be the end of 2010 before Steamboat Springs takes delivery on the two new buses. “Its called ‘the cool’ bus for multiple reasons,” Jonathan says.
Colorado’s Senate Shuffle
A presidential appointment and a fresh face
- By Jennie Lay
It didn’t take long after President Barack Obama took office for him to appoint Colorado’s U.S. Sen. Ken Salazar as his Interior secretary. Mr. Salazar, a Democrat from the San Luis Valley, had been a frequent visitor in Steamboat Springs while serving as senator and the director of the Colorado Department of Natural Resources. Among the array of issues he discussed over the years, Mr. Salazar often addressed the impacts of Northwest Colorado’s oil and gas development, caution for oil shale speculation and high praise for the regional efforts to conserve open agricultural lands. In the Senate, he served on committees for finance, agriculture, energy and natural resources. | | Senator Michael Bennet visits Steamboat Springs. Photo By Jennie Lay |
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Faced with Mr. Salazar’s vacant Senate seat, Gov. Bill Ritter appointed Denver Public Schools Superintendent Michael Bennet, a Democrat. The 44-year-old father of three became the youngest member of the Senate. Despite his admittedly urban background and lack of expertise in issues like energy development, water and public lands, Sen. Bennet addressed a community gathering in Steamboat soon after his appointment and declared that appointment to the Senate Agriculture Committee was his No. 1 priority.
Sen. Bennet now represents Colorado on the committees for agriculture; banking, housing and urban affairs; homeland security and government affairs; and aging. His Senate seat is up for reelection in 2010.
Code Green
Routt County takes the first steps toward greening local construction
By Deborah Olsen
Steamboat Springs and Routt County adopted a voluntary green building code in January 2009. The only mandatory requirement is that project managers must attach the green building checklist to their plans, so clients realize they have sustainable options.  | | Living roofs are one possible component of a sustainable home. Photo by Deborah Olsen. |
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Single-family homes, duplexes and townhomes are currently included in the green building code. Commercial and multi-family homes are not yet covered. The code was the result of a pilot program funded partially by the Department of Local Affairs, which provided $50,000 in matching funds to get the program off the ground.
City planner Bob Keenan helped to spearhead the code’s development, convening meetings of stakeholders, including architects, engineers, realtors, builders and planners. “The result is a custom program that has become a model for other cities,” Bob explains.
The code’s checklist is similar to that of other sustainability programs like LEED, HERS and Built Green Colorado.After the code has been in place for a while, officials have the option of revisiting its voluntary nature.
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