This week, Basalt Town Council convened to discuss a potential 23-unit development adjacent to the Willits Lane Roundabout, as well as a new 10-year plan to bring public art to all areas of Basalt.
The first action item of the night was a public hearing and second reading for the approval of a series of reviews for the construction of a mixed-use residential/office building in Willits Town Center. The applicant, Sophie CO LLC, intends to construct a three-story building in the vacant lot adjacent to the Bank of Colorado.
The first floor of the building would contain approximately 3,800 square feet of commercial/office space, and the second and third floors would include 23 residential units. In accordance with Basalt’s guidelines, five of the 23 units are to be deed restricted.
The discussion continued this week, focusing primarily on the applicant’s intention to prioritize occupancy in one of its deed-restricted units for on-site employees.
There was some disagreement between council members over the on-site occupancy policy. While acknowledging the appeal for local businesses to have employee housing, Councilor Angèle Duprè-Butchart expressed hesitancy, “If that employee loses their job they also lose their housing, and that’s a tough pill to swallow.”
Duprè-Butchart and Councilor Ryan Slack both suggested increasing the quantity of deed-restricted units prioritized for employees.
Councilor Richard Stevens supported the current plan. “I hear from local businesses all the time that the biggest challenge is employees, and whether you lose your job … depends on whether the business goes out of business,” he said. Summarizing it as a chicken-or-the-egg type of problem, Stevens argued that housing preserves businesses which in this case would preserve housing.
After lengthy discussion, the council unanimously approved the application with the condition of three deed-restricted units being dedicated to on-site housing. The allocation of units to employers will be handled by the developer.
Arts Capital Improvement Plan
Town Council also approved a 10-year Arts Capital Improvement Plan (ACIP), which will guide the acquisition, display and funding of public art beginning in 2025. The document was drafted by Town staff and the Basalt Public Arts Commission (BPAC) to meet the 2020 Master Plan objective to “create a long-range and comprehensive arts and culture plan for Basalt.”
In order to work with BPAC’s budget, the ACIP outlines some of the various ways the Town will acquire public art. Two traditional strategies include art competitions (much like the mural competition held on Midland Avenue in the summer of 2023) and annual grants given by BPAC directly. However, the ACIP also outlines programs such as an art exchange with other Roaring Fork Valley communities, or an art consignment program wherein art will be displayed in public while open to the public for purchase.
The ACIP also highlights priority areas for public art. In East Basalt, BPAC identified Midland Avenue as a prime location for rotating art pieces. In a manner similar to the marble plinths seen on downtown Carbondale’s street corners, BPAC is interested in placing plinths in regularly trafficked areas of Midland Avenue to bring new pieces of art to the area on a regular basis.
Another priority area in East Basalt will be “Art Alley,” adjacent to Two Rivers Road. BPAC suggested permanent public art in the form of murals to create an inviting, exciting alternative entryway to Basalt River Park.
In West Basalt, BPAC identified a wide variety of spaces available in Willits Town Center for different kinds of permanent and rotating art fixtures both along walkways and in parklets. In addition, the Willits roundabout has been highlighted as a site for a permanent sculpture.
BPAC’s first step in 2025 will be to develop its art consignment and art exchange programs, and Midland Avenue will be the first area of Basalt to see a rotating public art plan.