Band-Aid for large problem on Home Services

Dec

Band-Aid for large problem

posted by admin in Home Depot

FRISCO - Frisco is ready to talk about the potential for affordable housing on some of the last available space owned by the town.A unanimous vote by the Town Council last week authorized Mayor Ernie Zurbriggen to sign a contract with a consulting and development firm to begin a public process for the land that runs adjacent to the rec path between the Mountainside condos and Second Avenue. The town acquired the triangular plot in a 1998 trade with the U.S. Forest Service, and plans to have a mixed-income, multiple-use development on the 12.68 acres at the town’s west end.The goal is to start the public planning process within a month, and to have a master plan done by the end of the year. The town plans to add a special link on its website to update citizens on the Peak One process.The council vote followed a series of “low-level” talks with area residents and neighbors, said community development director Mark Gage. “We’re looking for ideas that are sensitive to the site and sensitive to neighbors,” Gage said.”It’s time to sit down and have a conversation about what’s going to happen out there,” said Councilmember Dan Fallon, voicing his support for the resolution. The lack of affordable housing in town is reaching crisis proportions and compromising small businesses, Fallon said.”It’s hard for us to say we’re a family oriented community without housing and jobs,” said Councilmember Tom Looby, referring to a recent study showing there is a need for more than 1,000 affordable housing units in the Tenmile Basin.According to the council discussion, the general idea for the Peak One parcel seems to be a “mixed-income” neighborhood that retains some of its existing recreational values. The land is a mix of forested uplands and a complex of willow wetlands. Parts of the property are used intensively by nearby residents. Council members and staff emphasized the decision to hire a consultant starts a process that will enable the community to be part of developing a site plan for the land. The town has vowed to follow a different planning path than it did with the Home Depot proposal that was ultimately voted down. Home Depot was offered to residents as a development on one of the last major areas in Frisco zoned for retail, the 9.4 acres behind Wal-Mart.Despite the assurances, four citizens who showed up to offer public comment on the Peak One resolution seemed to suggest that the town is once again headed down a path toward confrontation.”I don’t think your annexation procedure is being followed,” said Mark Richmond, who lives a block away and uses the property on a daily basis. Richmond said the town is reaching a conclusion about potential uses for the property without having all the pertinent data.”This resolution only talks about one use,” Richmond said, suggesting that the council has already made up its mind that the land will be intensively developed for affordable housing.Richmond suggested that the town should begin annexation proceedings before developing a site plan, but acknowledged that it’s a “Chicken-or-the-egg” question.Another resident suggested that the town establish a standing citizen committee to offer input on Peak One plans.Other nearby residents think the town’s aim of developing some affordable housing on the parcel is commendable.”I think maybe the people who don’t want this in their backyard are already established here,” said long-time A-Basin ski patroller Tony Cammarata. A mixed neighborhood, with some deed-restricted units and some market-rate units - similar to the South End Village - would work well on the Peak One parcel, said Cammarata, whose was able to gain a foothold in the high-priced Summit County real estate market by initially buying a deed-restricted unit.”It’s a small effort or Band-Aid for a big problem,” said local Scott Miles.