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SILVERTHORNE — To help change its image from traffic-heavy to pedestrian-friendly, Silverthorne Town Council is working to create a new vision for a more walkable town core. Council and staff hope this will attract developers interested in created buildings with inviting storefronts and attractive landscaping.
Silverthorne's town core is considered to be the largely undefined location in and around its pavilion building from Wildernest Road to Sixth Street, and between Adams Avenue and Rainbow Drive. A new town plan seeks to turn the area into “a village-like setting” with “quality mixed-use development.”
It's a vision the town has pursued off and on for many years. Council and town staff discussed ways to create a vibrant and pedestrian-oriented town core through redevelopment at Monday night's town work session.
“Any vacant properties or those with vacant buildings are great opportunities for development or redevelopment in the town core,” said Silverthorne's assistant to the town manager Ryan Hyland. “The former Old Dillon Inn and Eddie Bears properties are good examples of key locations in the town core that have great redevelopment potential.”
When the economy recovers and development interest begins to return, Hyland said Silverthorne will finish plans for specifics, like sidewalks and landscaping ideas. Silverthorne's staff is also looking into the possibility of creating a new pedestrian trail and a small park east of the Blue River Parkway from Rainbow Drive to the town center development.
“The area is a gateway to the town core, and there are opportunities to improve the view corridors to the river, access to the river, and also to create more pedestrian circulation in that area,” Hyland said. “The area might also be a good location for signage that welcomes visitors to Silverthorne.”
The town's economic development advisory committee presented the concept of an “entrance park” to council Monday, and Hyland said council members were interested in exploring the idea. Yet, town staff must review wetland, flood plain and Colorado Department of Transportation right-of-way details before moving forward with the concept.
New sign options for the Silverthorne Pavilion are also being considered to create better visibility, Hyland said.
“We've put all the pieces in place to foster the type of pedestrian-oriented development the town desires, and now it's up to the private sector to take advantage of those opportunities,” Hyland said. “There are a number of properties that are ripe for redevelopment.”
Silverthorne's town core is considered to be the largely undefined location in and around its pavilion building from Wildernest Road to Sixth Street, and between Adams Avenue and Rainbow Drive. A new town plan seeks to turn the area into “a village-like setting” with “quality mixed-use development.”
It's a vision the town has pursued off and on for many years. Council and town staff discussed ways to create a vibrant and pedestrian-oriented town core through redevelopment at Monday night's town work session.
“Any vacant properties or those with vacant buildings are great opportunities for development or redevelopment in the town core,” said Silverthorne's assistant to the town manager Ryan Hyland. “The former Old Dillon Inn and Eddie Bears properties are good examples of key locations in the town core that have great redevelopment potential.”
When the economy recovers and development interest begins to return, Hyland said Silverthorne will finish plans for specifics, like sidewalks and landscaping ideas. Silverthorne's staff is also looking into the possibility of creating a new pedestrian trail and a small park east of the Blue River Parkway from Rainbow Drive to the town center development.
“The area is a gateway to the town core, and there are opportunities to improve the view corridors to the river, access to the river, and also to create more pedestrian circulation in that area,” Hyland said. “The area might also be a good location for signage that welcomes visitors to Silverthorne.”
The town's economic development advisory committee presented the concept of an “entrance park” to council Monday, and Hyland said council members were interested in exploring the idea. Yet, town staff must review wetland, flood plain and Colorado Department of Transportation right-of-way details before moving forward with the concept.
New sign options for the Silverthorne Pavilion are also being considered to create better visibility, Hyland said.
“We've put all the pieces in place to foster the type of pedestrian-oriented development the town desires, and now it's up to the private sector to take advantage of those opportunities,” Hyland said. “There are a number of properties that are ripe for redevelopment.”
Town codes used to create a new look for Silverthorne
According to Hyland, a new comprehensive plan, new district design standards (including additional building heights), parking code revisions, landscaping code revisions and, most recently, a streamlined development review process, have been OK'd by council and staff. “We've accomplished an awful lot from the town's perspective to set things up for when it can happen,” said community development director Mark Leidal.
Silverthorne's redevelopment plan also calls for focusing on the Blue River as a way to enhance the community.
“There's no timeline for development on the community,” said Leidal. “We're seeking proposals.”
Caitlin Row can be reached
at (970) 668-4633 or at crow@summitdaily.com.
