Routt County Speaks!
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On the Ground
Routt County Speaks!
by Tammie Delaney
Routt County, Colorado, home to the renowned Steamboat Ski Resort, is experiencing unprecedented growth. In fact, it is one of the top ten counties in the nation for median home price increases between 1990 and 2000 due to its abundance of amenities and quality of life appeal. In early November, more than 300 residents from across Routt County gathered to consider what they value most about living in the Yampa River Valley and what might be done to improve the region in the future. These gatherings were organized by Routt County Vision 2030.
Vision 2030 is a collaborative citizens' effort to define the future of the Yampa River Valley, gathering the wisdom of valley residents, updating the 1994 Vision 2020 Report, and creating collective stewardship of a community vision that retains and sustains our “heart & soul” assets for generations to come. In the midst of rapid growth, it is easy to feel overwhelmed by the many changes occurring throughout the valley. Vision 2030 gives Routt County residents a chance to join together and share hopes and dreams for the future of their county, then determine ways to make these dreams come true. In 1994, Vision 2020 hosted community discussions about topics including education, transportation, economy, city planning and government. The discussions generated recommendations that, through seemingly intangible ideas, yielded very tangible results, the majority of which were citizen-led efforts including:
- First Impressions of Routt County, which supports early childhood education;
- Purchase of Development Rights program, which helps landowners use conservation easements to protect their land from future development;
- Routt County Open Lands Plan, which furthers open space needs addressed in Vision 2020 discussions;
- Yampa Valley Recycles, a County-wide recycling effort.
In addition, the Community Agriculture Alliance, Yampa Valley Partners, and Yampa Valley Land Trust all, at least in part, originated in the Vision 2020 process. Vision 2030 will update these 1994 recommendations and discover and describe the core values that define a town or region’s “heart & soul” attributes, those unique features, resources, special places, and characteristics that, if lost, would fundamentally diminish the quality of community and sense of well being that brought citizens here in the first place.
Slideshow
Five Vision 2030 Community Gatherings, held during the first two weeks of November, 2007, brought together diverse groups of residents from throughout the region. Starting on November 1st a gathering was held in North Routt at the new Fire Station Two, followed by two gatherings in Steamboat Springs, then another to the north at the Hayden Fairgrounds, followed on November 13th by the final meeting, at South Routt. County residents shared their hopes, dreams and concerns at facilitated meetings designed to insure that all voices were heard, even those of folks usually unwilling to speak at public meetings. The format of the gatherings elevated the ideas of attendees who typically keep fairly quiet to equal the typically dominant, yet often minority, voices of those that happen to feel comfortable speaking in public.
Discussion groups of 8 to 10 people gathered at tables hosted by trained volunteer facilitators who centered discussion first on what residents most value about living in the area; those characteristics and qualities that make their community special that, if lost, would be deeply missed and would fundamentally change the town's character. After lively conversations and stories, participants identified which of these values are most at risk of being lost in the face of current change. Neighbors shared favorite Yampa Valley memories and saw a slideshow of poignant images and thoughts from local school kids. They then delved into a second round table conversation. This time discussion centered around how to enhance living in this area, including strategies over the course of the next 20 years to enable both public, private and individual efforts to bring ideas into action.
One of the clearest outcomes of the community gatherings was that it is possible to share your voice and concerns, and, when combined with those of others, effect positive change in our community. Resident Mary Melius commented that the gathering reinvigorated her hope, “I’d become overwhelmed by all the changes happening around me, sometimes wondering if it’s just easier to leave. I was too apathetic to even come to the meeting, thinking what would it matter and why should I even get involved. For some reason I was compelled to go. When I left I was infused with new energy. To realize what I love about my community is shared with so many others has sparked hope in our community’s future and the realization that by working together we can ensure the things we love most can be here for our children.”
The Vision 2030 Citizens Committee hopes that more voices throughout Routt County can join together to create a strong vision for our future. The five Community Gatherings in November are only a beginning in this process. An online survey enables those who did not attend the gatherings to share their values, ideas and concerns for the future. The Committee encourages all residents to complete the survey by early 2008, after which the group will share and validate the findings. In Fall of 2008 the Committee intends to have another series of gatherings with initial recommendations outlined, and desired future scenarios explored. The outcomes from these gatherings will be refined and compiled into the Vision 2030 Report of Recommendations in early 2009.
Visit Routt County 2030 at www.vision2030routt.org.