This week, Basalt Town Council convened to discuss potential park and public space projects as well as a potential regulatory fee for short-term rentals which has become a subject of criticism from Basalt residents.
Parks update
Prior to the meeting, Basalt Parks, Open Space and Trails (POST) held a public session to discuss its five-year Capital Improvement Plan.
The most recent POST Master Plan was adopted in 2013 and, since then, many of its milestones have been achieved with projects such as the new Basalt River Park, and its bus stop and bandshell, and the Arbaney Park Playground. In order to update POST’s guiding documents, the Town contracted 110%, a financial firm specializing in parks, to create a report of Basalt’s current park finances to inform POST’s future projects. The POST team is currently reviewing this report and its recommendations in order to draft a five-year Capital Improvement Plan, which is expected to be presented to council by fall.
Representatives from Crown Mountain Park Recreation District presented an update on its current projects. At the moment, Crown Mountain is nearing the end of a two-year process amending its planned unit development (PUD) in order to allow for new facilities and improvements.
One such Improvement is to install a trampoline from Aspen Valley Ski Club meant for athletic training. Crown Mountain received this trampoline two years ago, but due to restrictions in the current PUD, the trampoline has been gathering dust in a garage. Crown Mountain also has money in its budget this year to install artificial turf in order to provide young athletes with field space through the winter.
The team at Crown Mountain is looking for private partners and donors to help fund even more expansive changes in the future, such as more turf, or even indoor facilities, to accommodate rapid growth in the Valley and increase public access to year-round recreation.
Short-term fees
The hottest action item of the night was a public hearing and second reading of Ordinance No. 3 of 2025, which would establish a new $2,532 per bedroom annual regulatory fee for operating short term rentals (STRs). While Basalt already charges a $460 annual cost for STR licensing and inspection, it does not levy additional regulatory fees.
The Town of Basalt is considering levying additional fees to potentially slow the increasing quantity of STRs, help close the housing affordability gap and to help fund affordable housing.
The Town contracted financial planning consultant Economic and Planning Systems (EPS) to conduct an analysis of the financial impact of STRs in order to calculate a potential regulatory fee. The fee, $2,532 per bedroom annually, is 50% of the maximum according to the EPS report.
However, exemptions are available for the regulatory fee. Those applying for an exemption would have to prove that the property being rented is their primary residence and is not rented out for more than 60 days annually.
Many citizens came to the podium to offer comments and criticisms for the potential fee. Multiple people criticized the EPS report for not accounting for potential impacts of the regulatory fee on STR operators, as well as an apparent lack of data concerning the quantity and cost of STRs operating locally.
Citizens also criticized the flat regulatory fee because it might have an inconsistent impact on those who rent more affordable units, arguing fees should be proportional to the cost of a rental. Additionally, some argued that the exemptions should be broadened, as some citizens rely on revenue from STRs in order to be Basalt residents.
While the councilors argued for the implementation of some regulatory measures, they also agreed more data and information needs to be aggregated to create a more effective and equitable regulatory system.
Council unanimously agreed to postpone the ordinance and hold an additional reading and public hearing on April 8.