By Shannon Lukens.
The Meeting Summary for the final meeting of Phase One for the Brown Ranch Community Solutions Deliberation and Stewardship Team was released this week by Bill Fulton, Executive Director of The Civic Canopy. It’s a group that was hired to facilitate public processes through collaboration.
The DST Group of community members met for five months to discuss community solutions on whether Brown Ranch should be continued on to Phase Two. The vote in the room was 34 to one, in favor of moving to Phase 2 and the discussion of the development of Brown Ranch.
Fulton wrote to the DST group, “It was a powerful dialogue—one that reflected both the depth of engagement in this group and the seriousness of the choices your community faces. A near-unanimous majority supported moving into Phase 2, while also lifting up thoughtful reflections on what still needs to be addressed if the community is to embrace a future ballot measure. Your work to establish shared understandings around values, problems, opportunities, and potential solutions will provide a solid foundation for the next phase.”
Fulton added, “We want to acknowledge that even with the progress this group has made to build shared understanding, some of you may have left with mixed feelings or lingering concerns—and that criticism of the process will continue on social media and in community circles. That is the nature of civic work, and we of course will take all feedback to heart going forward. What struck us in the room, though, was the shared commitment to wrestle with hard issues together rather than shy away from them, and to show such clear respect for those with whom people disagreed. Let us hope that spirit of embracing difference and working toward effective solutions finds its way to other forums as well.”
The Phase 1 Report is being drafted. It will be presented to Steamboat Springs City Council on Sept. 9. The decision will ultimately rest with Steamboat Springs voters.
- Meeting Summary: Includes links to the slides and the video of the meeting.
- Survey Results: Copies of the posters viewed in small groups.
Here is the Meeting Summary from The Civic Canopy, that was sent to the DST group:
Meeting Goals:
- Review and refine the summary of priorities for making Brown Ranch succeed from last meeting
- Understand the remaining issues which might appear insurmountable and address questions and concerns
- Decide as a group whether to move on to Phase 2 and answer how Brown Ranch can balance affordability, feasibility and place in a way the community will support
Meeting Slides, Survey Results, Video
- Clarifying Shared Understanding and Direction: DST members rotated through small groups to review survey results drawn from earlier DST and community meeting summaries on shared values, defining the problem, levels of housing need, tradeoffs, financing options, site feasibility, and potential solutions. Of the 36 statements tested, 29 reached over 70% agreement. No member disagreed with more than 30% of the statements, and 75% of the group disagreed with at least one statement. This suggests the group is marked more by disagreements than deep divisions, with more common ground than is often apparent.
- Bringing it All Together: DST members engaged in a “fishbowl” dialogue to reflect on areas of agreement and lingering concerns. Key lessons included: recognizing the difficulty of the process, the importance of rebuilding community trust, and the urgency of taking action without letting the perfect become the enemy of the good. Several emphasized that because voters will ultimately decide, Phase 2 must focus on understanding and addressing voter concerns. Others countered that if the DST can unite around a solid plan, the community will be more likely to support it. Underlying the discussion was a shared recognition that growth is inevitable; the question is how to grow in a way that sustains the economy, addresses inequality, and preserves what people love about Steamboat.
- Closing Out Phase 1, Moving to Phase 2: DST members were asked to indicate their stance on moving forward—thumbs up (yes), thumbs to the side (yes with concerns), or thumbs down (no). The final tally was 27 in support, six with concerns, and one opposed. Many cited the unique gift of land, the urgency of the housing crisis, and the opportunity to preserve Steamboat as a real community where working families can live. Several voiced caution, stressing the need to learn from past efforts, address misinformation, and engage directly with voters who opposed the last plan. Overall, the prevailing sentiment was that doing nothing is not an option. Phase 2 should draw on more technical expertise, help the community weigh the tradeoffs of growth, and develop a plan that addresses the housing crisis while preserving what people love about the community.
Next Steps: The CB/CC team will draft a Phase 1 Report and present to City Council on 9/9/25.
