FRISCO — Frisco's desire to create an affordable neighborhood for its local workforce has been in the works for years. Now the town is one step closer — developers recently delivered their Peak One Parcel sketch plan to Frisco after spending months defining the look and feel of the new neighborhood. The proposal will be on display for the planning commission on Jan. 7 at a public meeting in Frisco Town Hall. It will start at 5 p.m.

“We've been working really hard to dial in this project for the town,” said Breckenridge architect Matt Stais. “It needs to fit in with Frisco.”

Ten Mile Partners — including Breckenridge Wellington Neighborhood developer David O'Neil and Wolff/Lyon architects of Boulder, Stais and Frisco builder Dan McCrerey — won the bid for development design of the 12.68 acre parcel earlier this year, and the plan will include 72 units in a mix of duplexes and single-family homes. The units will range from small cabins (around 800-square-feet) to single family homes up to about 2,000-square-feet. The homes will be available to people making between 80 percent and 160 percent of the area median income, or income ranging between $68,000-$136,000 for a family of four.

The sketch presentation in January won't result in a vote — it's merely a public process where opinions and suggestions can be voiced to the developer.

According to Frisco's senior planner Jocelyn Mills, the town could break ground on the parcel as soon as spring if all development plans are approved this winter. The affordable housing community will be a multi-year project with its completion dependent on things like the economy and demand.

Though plans for the affordable housing project are moving forward as planned, last spring a neighborhood group — Friends of Frisco Open Space — fought to force a vote on development of the town-owned Peak One Parcel on the south side of Main Street. Concerns about views, land use and wildlife were given as reasons why the parcel shouldn't be developed. The parcel has been used as informal open space for the adjacent neighborhoods.

The creative process

To come up with a vision for the new neighborhood, Ten Mile Partners used Frisco's Peak One Master Plan as a point of departure.

A master plan for the parcel was created in 2007 with town and community input, and it's being used as the over-arching guidelines for how the town envisions the affordable housing development. A strong component of the master plan is design diversity, and having the community fit in with the overall character of the town. Other important aspects include ensuring trail connections to county recpaths and the national forest, sustainability, open space, recreation, and even a community garden.

“We tried to pull the best parts out of the existing town,” Stais said. “We think we have a good result.”

Stais said he, along with other members of the design team, drove around Frisco numerous times and analyzed what “the Frisco look” really means. He noted that Frisco has its own feeling — an historical context (like the older portions closer to Main Street), simple forms, wood sidings, different colors, funky outbuildings, and other unique details.

The sketch plan reflects Frisco's look, Stais added. It must look like Frisco, like it's always been there.

“We're looking forward to community feedback,” he said.

O'Neill told the town earlier that he had no plans to make Peak One “another Wellington.” The Breckenridge affordable housing neighborhood, while successful, is known for its homogenous look of similarly sized and colored homes.

Caitlin Row can be reached at (970) 668-4633 or at crow@summitdaily.com.

Peak One sketch plan

Frisco Peak One Sketch Plan