Winter Park “State of the Town” covers gondola, rail, housing, climate and more

On April 8, community members met with Winter Park town council members and the mayor for the State of the Town event.

More laidback than a typical council meeting, it featured a short video on the town’s recent projects, followed by presentations and a Q&A session as the community learned about a variety of topics.

Workforce housing

Council member Rebecca Kaufman spoke about the town’s three workforce housing projects – Hideaway Junction homes, Hideaway Place Apartments and Fireside Creek Apartments. All together, they provide 197 units. Assistant town manager Alisha Janes has spearheaded these projects as the town works to assess housing needs and keep pace with high demand.

“The work is far from over, but together, we’re building a stronger, more inclusive Winter Park,” Kaufman said. “Our goal is simple as a council – build high quality housing that people are proud to call home. We believe if you’re willing to work for this community, this community should work for you.”

The town is updating its affordable housing impact fee code, “to ensure that new development contributes meaningfully to workforce housing goals,” she said.

A community member asked if senior housing is being developed; currently it is not, but a needs assessment will determine if this housing is needed in the future.

Transportation and parking

The LIFT bus system connects Winter Park to surrounding communities. The town received grants for two additional electric buses, bringing the total up to four. Staff will also expand its micro transit system for smaller buses on the local lines.

Kaufman invited community members to attend the town’s transportation advisory committee which meets monthly. Meeting dates are posted on thetown website.

In regard to U.S. Highway 40, the Colorado Department of Transportation has repaved an area near the entrance of Winter Park Resort. CDOT will extend this paving project into town this summer season.

With CDOT’s Colorado Mountain Rail project moving forward, the town hopes to potentially have multiple trains arrive daily in Winter Park and Fraser.

One unique mode of transportation that the community also looks forward to is the Winter Park Gondola, as part of Winter Park Resort’s Winter Park Unlocked initiative. The gondola will connect the center of town directly to the resort. The council is currently in negotiations with the resort and its parent company, Alterra Mountain Company, on the details of the timing, funding and other construction details.

The construction of the gondola is expected to take at least five years, although the timeline is still being finalized. Though the project has been discussed for years in the community, it’s beginning to look like it could become a reality.

A community member asked if the town plans to create more parking spaces. Aside from parking built within developments and at the resort, the town doesn’t plan to pursue more parking. Instead, staff will concentrate on improving public transit and pushing for the resort’s gondola. In the future, people can ideally live in and visit the town without reliance on personal vehicles.

Outdoor recreation and environment

Winter Park has a vast trail system, including the popular Fraser River Trail. Staff are planning to expand and improve this trail. Restoration and improvements are also planned for the Fraser River near Hideaway Park.

The town is also right next door to Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests. Mayor Nick Kutrumbos stated that town staff are partners with state and federal agencies, such as the U.S. Forest Service. In the wake of federal staffing cuts to the forest service, Kutrumbos said the town stands ready to pitch in with trail maintenance, cleanup or other potential needs in the forests.

A new parks and head gardener employee has joined the team. A new playground is also planned for Hideaway Park near the event stage.

The staff also discussed its ambitious goals to protect the environment. The town plans to have net zero emissions by 2050, council member Art Ferrari said.

Several initiatives are aimed at reaching this objective including geothermal heating to melt snow off sidewalks. This will reduce greenhouse gas emissions which result from current snow removal systems.

Ferrari added that staff plan to build out a solar microgrid at town shops.

A recently launched Climate Action Program is working to make the town more environmentally sustainable. Attendees at the State of the Town could fill out a climate action survey to receive a free shirt. This survey is still available online at WPGov.com/Take-Our-Climate-Action-Survey.

The town’s Climate Action Program also organizes events like clean up days and farmer’s markets which will return this summer.

The state of the council

Mike Periolat is the town council’s longest serving member.

“Today, the council is in the best place I’ve ever seen it,” he said. “The diversity of the people who work on the board, and the fact they’re on the street every day. It’s a quality group of people that care about the town.”

Periolat added that departments such as the Fraser Winter Park Police have improved over the years which helps the council better serve the citizens.

Winter Park is a home rule community, meaning that the mayor is appointed by the town, rather than voted in which Periolat believes is a benefit for the citizens.

“In my experience, watching this for the last 20 years, the mayor has to be in synch with the rest of the council,” he said. … “Then we all move stuff forward.”

He encouraged citizens to run for a seat on the council in upcoming elections, if they are passionate about improving their community.

“It takes our small village to run this big village here,” he said.

Kutrumbos added that the council actively collaborates with other municipalities and organizations, like the Colorado Association of Ski Towns and Mountain Towns 2030.

Members in the audience thanked the council for their work. Kutrumbos responded that when he started as mayor, community-oriented events such as this State of the Town didn’t happen. He is glad to see this is now part of the council’s priorities.

“This event truly embodied the values and priorities that make Winter Park such a special place: transparency, community engagement, and a commitment to growth and improvement,” the town of Winter Park stated on Facebook. “Thank you to everyone who attended and contributed to the success of the night. Together, we are building a stronger, more connected Winter Park.”

To learn more about the town of Winter Park or any of the topics discussed in the State of the Town, visit WPGov.com.