The committee that’s reviewing ideas for downtown redevelopment in Basalt received a letter from local businesses last week. The business owners are concerned they’re not being included in the process.
The letter is signed by five property owners with land in the heart of downtown. The group charged with visioning redevelopment, the Downtown Area Advisory Committee, has included the private parcels in their consideration.
Michael McVoy is with the Roaring Fork Community Development Corporation, one of the landowners included in the letter. He wants the committee to consider the economic realities of whatever they come up with.
"What I think the letter was trying to point out was, be careful how this process unfolds and make sure you keep in mind that different property owners have different plans and timetables. And, if developers do come in and acquire these various properties over time, they’re going to have their own perspective, economic reality and bottom lines," he says.
Frank Taverna has owned the former Clark’s Market building for more than three decades. He’s listed on the letter and says he’d like to be more involved in the process. He doesn’t want to get “pigeon-holed” into an idea someone has about what should be on his property.
Paul Anderson who moderates the Downtown Area Advisory Committee says the group’s not choosing specific designs but more of an outline for a developer to follow. The group’s meeting Thursday afternoon will address the private property owners’ concerns.
"The property owners are of course, stakeholders in what happens with downtown redevelopment in Basalt. They’ll be invited to give their comments toward the end of the meeting. The committee will be reviewing certain properties that are privately held. It’s always been the intention to bring those property owners in," he says.
The committee meets at 4 o’clock at Town Hall and their discussion is open to the public. Their review comes after an unconventional planning process where community members from all walks of life contributed ideas on what should be on about 13 acres of land downtown.
