By Shannon Lukens.
A nonprofit called Community Builders is coming in to listen and understand everything about Brown Ranch, why some in the community were for it and others were against it. A city-wide vote in March resulted in the plan that was offered for Brown Ranch by Yampa Valley Housing Authority to be voted down.
Clark Anderson (on the right) is the Executive Director with Community Builders, shown in the picture with Principal Planner Brad Calvert with the City of Steamboat Springs. Anderson grew up in the Vail Valley and now lives in Glenwood Springs. He says Brown Ranch and the affordable housing issue is challenging and Steamboat Springs isn’t alone as a mountain community wrestling with them.
“It’s not only OK that we disagree, we probably should because these are questions of how we’re going to grow as a community and what that looks like in the future. And those are important things that we have opinions about. The problem is when we aren’t disagreeing with each other in ways that are productive. What we’re going to work on in this project and in this process is creating opportunities for people to roll up their sleeves and problem solve together and work through the disagreement. Not work around it. Let’s work through it and let’s try to find a workable solution and see if that’s out there.”
The plan is to engage the community to determine a “workable path forward” for the Brown Ranch property. Steamboat Springs City Manager Gary Suiter says the effort will involve community residents and stakeholders. Yampa Valley Housing Authority will also be involved as the group owns the Brown Ranch property.
Anderson says Community Builders will go on a journey of exploration. “We don’t show up with the answers. We’ll bring in the tools and information for the community to solve its problems.” He added that they will go in with an appreciation for everyone’s perspectives, on all sides of Brown Ranch.
“The work that we are going to do is going to ask of people to come in with open minds, to learn from each other. Ultimately, this project, while I know the past was frustrating and there was a lot of hurt feelings and it was difficult, Steamboat can come out strong, and that’s what the goal is going to be. Because there is a component of this which is a very practical outcome which is, ‘Is there a workable path forward for the Brown Ranch property? How do we get there? What does that look like? What are the key components of a successful proposal that can engender significant community support and move forward.’ The other component of this project is how do we try to repair some of those divisions, rebuild some trust and be able to work together stronger moving forward, because this is just one part of a broader set of community issues that Steamboat as a community and the larger Yampa Valley are going to need to navigate together and we can’t navigate them well when we’re really divided.”
Anderson met with Steamboat Radio News and used words like collaboration, partnership, and respect. He said that all will be allowed to disagree, and listen and understand where each person is coming from with their opinion on Brown Ranch.
Community Builders is a nonprofit. The website for Community Builders says, “We help local leaders build healthy, equitable, and prosperous communities to improve people’s lives today and ensure a sustainable tomorrow.” Projects Community Builders has done
Anderson is in Steamboat Springs Thursday and Friday to learn more about the Brown Ranch project. The City of Steamboat Springs is working on finalizing a contract with Community Builders and expects to have that ready in the next few weeks.
More on the Story — July 17, 2024 — NONPROFIT BEING HIRED TO WORK ON A PLAN FOR BROWN RANCH
Press release from the City of Steamboat Springs; July 16, 2024.
Investigating A Workable Path Forward For Brown Ranch
Nonprofit Organization Assists Community On Vision & Problem Solving For Project
STEAMBOAT SPRINGS, COLORADO-July 16, 2024-The City of Steamboat Springs is partnering with Community Builders, a nonprofit organization based in Glenwood Springs, to engage the community to determine a workable path forward for the Brown Ranch property. The effort aims to develop a shared understanding of how the land could be developed for community benefit, as well as helping bridge divisions and build the trust necessary to take advantage of this community asset.
“Community Builders has a track record of bringing communities together, often across lines of division, to solve local problems,” said City Manager Gary Suiter. “We think their approach, which emphasizes engaging people in informed dialogue and community problem solving, is what we need.”
Community Builders’ team includes additional expertise from Del Corazón Consulting, based in Salida, which specializes in collaboration, conflict resolution, and community engagement, as well as Cascadia Partners, with offices around the west, which brings technical expertise in community planning, scenario analysis, real estate finance, and community engagement.
Suiter says the upcoming effort will utilize the skills, talents, and passions of community residents and stakeholders. “We look forward to helping the community find a path forward. These are challenging circumstances without easy answers. This effort will give people a chance to roll up their sleeves and do some problem-solving, but it requires folks to come in with an open mind and a willingness to learn, discuss, and create solutions together.”
The first step, a Situation Assessment, aims to develop a shared understanding of the current context, including where perspectives diverge around the Brown Ranch property in West Steamboat and affordable housing needed in the community. The initial assessment will use a variety of facilitation and research methods, including interviews and a Brown Ranch project review, to understand the diverse perspectives about the barriers and opportunities to housing solutions and Brown Ranch. The first phase will inform subsequent phases and create a roadmap to follow for additional community deliberation. The Yampa Valley Housing Authority (YVHA), which owns the Brown Ranch property, will be involved in the project team.
“We look forward to working with Community Builders and the city to develop solutions for our community’s affordable housing crisis. We believe that using YVHA’s and the city’s combined assets of land and the Short-Term Rental Tax, can lead to a development that supports our locals and their ability to thrive,” said Jason Peasley, Executive Director, YVHA.
Clark Anderson, co-founder and Executive Director of Community Builders, says the first steps are crucial to a successful project. “This initial stage is about getting everything out on the table. It will help us understand community interests and positions, what questions people think need to be asked, what information is needed, and all of that will inform how we design the next stages of the community dialogue.”
Suiter further notes the project will learn from the past Brown Ranch Community Development Plan and Annexation Process, but that it is not a retread of that proposal. “It’s a fresh start. We’ll look at the details of the recent process – at what happened, at what we’ve learned, and how best to move forward.”
Anderson says that throughout the process community members will engage in learning and problem solving. “Our approach is about finding solutions with the community. We don’t show up with answers. We have tools we can use to gain new insights, discuss choices and tradeoffs, and seek answers together.”
Steamboat Springs City Council directed staff to develop an approach to identify and secure a consultant partner to assist with community and stakeholder engagement activities in light of the results of the Brown Ranch Special Election. “We saw our community become divided on this issue”, said City Council President Gail Garey. “Most people agree that we have a housing crisis that is impacting our community culture and at the same time agree that we need to find a path forward that addresses housing our locals in a manner that aligns with our community objectives and values. I am excited about this new process that will help us work through the issues and come together to find a solution that best fits the needs of our community. A priority to which Council is committed.”
-WeServeTheCity-