Brown Ranch Community Solutions Project

Phase 1: Shared Understanding and Direction

Background

The City of Steamboat Springs and the Yampa Valley Housing Authority (YVHA), in partnership with Community Builders and Civic Canopy, are engaging the Steamboat Springs community to chart a workable path for the future of Brown Ranch.

A year ago, the community became divided over the proposal to build substantial amounts of affordable housing at Brown Ranch, a large undeveloped parcel of land owned by the YVHA, located just west of city limits. In March 2024, after years of planning, voters rejected a proposal to annex Brown Ranch into the city by a vote of 58% against and 42% in favor.

A year later, much of the community remains divided on the future of the Brown Ranch property, as well as related questions of how Steamboat Springs should grow, if or how to provide affordable homes for those seeking opportunities to live closer to work and services available in Steamboat Springs, and how to sustain the sense of community in the face of such changes and challenges.

Community Solutions Process

Two Colorado nonprofits, Community Builders and Civic Canopy, are currently leading the city and YVHA through a community solutions process to reconcile critical concerns, bridge divisions, rebuild community trust, and meaningfully engage community members in learning and problem-solving around Brown Ranch.

Through a variety of engagement activities with project stakeholders and the community at-large, the team is asking the community how, and if, they would like to see Brown Ranch utilized to address future challenges, with an emphasis on finding common ground among community members with different perspectives. The process weaves together three layers of concurrent engagement to include wide-ranging and complex opinions and opportunities to work through conflicts to find community-supported solutions - essentially smaller processes within a larger process - as illustrated below.

Project Goals

• A transparent and productive community solutions process
• Meaningful community involvement where everyone feels their voice is heard
• A strengthened partnership between the city and YVHA
• A shared community vision for the future of Brown Ranch

Deliberation & Stewardship Team (DST)

Partners on the Brown Ranch Community Solutions Project have selected an initial group of community members to participate in the Deliberation and Stewardship Team (DST). A total of 81 applications were received from interested community members, Due to the outpouring of interest, a group of 40 final members were selected using a representative lottery. Panelot, a not-for-profit computation tool, selected a group that balances a variety of perspectives and identities from the applicant pool.

The 40-member team was invited to an orientation meeting held on April 9, 2025. During the DST orientation, the larger project team described the project and the role of the DST. The DST will meet at least once a month between May 2025 and August 2025 for 3 to 4 hours each. The DST will engage in rich and challenging discussions and healthy debate, supported by strong informational resources and expert facilitation, that creates shared understanding and elevates good ideas for future exploration.

Structure & Timelines

The perspectives heard throughout the community solutions process will direct the future of Brown Ranch. This process is not predetermined. Different stages of the process provide opportunities to access the direction that is emerging. During the first phase, we will be exploring what we need to solve for when it comes to Brown Ranch. Three elements will guide our exploration on this topic:

• Affordability - How should Brown Ranch contribute to solving the City of Steamboat Springs' current and future housing demand?
• Place - How do we ensure Brown Ranch is a great place? How should the design fit with the larger community? This can include neighborhood design, transportation, natural areas, parks and recreation, and more.
• Feasibility - What will the design need to consider to make sure it's something the City of Steamboat Springs and YVHA can implement?

Using input from the larger community engagement, the Deliberation and Stewardship Team will come to a decision at the end of Phase 1 regarding whether to explore new proposals for Brown Ranch. The transition from the current Phase 1 to Phase 2 is particularly important as the results of the process up to that point will help refine the approach to Phase 2, including whether or not Phase 2 is needed as currently designed.

Phase 1: February 2025 - August 2025

Shared Understanding & Direction

• Needs. What is the problem?
• Opportunities. What is possible?
• Trade-Offs. What do we need to balance?
• Principles. How should we approach solutions?
• Goals. How do we define success?
• Potential Strategies. What are our options?

Phase 2: September 2025 - March 2026

Unified Strategic Framework - Capture Agreement On:

• Needs, Opportunities, Trade-Offs
• Goals & Principles: Affordability, Place, Feasibility
• Strategies: Affordability, Place, Feasibility

To Guide Design & Implementation:

• Planning & Design
• Policy & Programming
• Funding & Finance
• Partnership & Collaboration

How To Get Involved

Over the next several months, we will be hosting small group conversations, larger community events, and online learning activities, inviting the community to share their ideas, hopes, and concerns. Please continue to visit this page to learn about upcoming opportunities. If you are interested in getting involved in a Community Engagement Advisory Group, contact J.J. Folsom at jj@communitybuilders.org.