Be Sure to Read the important facts on our home page first!

See below to learn more about the Brown Ranch and the annexation agreement.

Brown Ranch is talked about as affordable and attainable housing, but what does that mean?

“The annexation agreement includes a section specifically focused on ensuring units will be affordable and attainable now and into the future.” - Yampa Valley Bugle

There are parks at Brown Ranch. What do they look like and when may they be built?

“Brown Ranch Annexation Agreement includes 63 acres of parkland, 125 acres of open space, eight miles of trails and the long-talked-about Steamboat Sports Barn.” - Yampa Valley Bugle

Why does the Brown Ranch annexation agreement allow for 2,264 housing units?

“A housing demand study conducted in 2021 by the Yampa Valley Housing Authority estimated a need of 1,400 units to meet current workforce demands, 1,961 units by 2030, and 2,400 units by 2040.” - Yampa Valley Bugle

The Yampa Valley Housing Authority has agreed to pay $1,203 per unit per year to offset additional operating costs for city services.

“The annual operating contribution will close the operating cost gap for six different categories of services at Brown Ranch: general government, streets, transportation, police, fire and parks and recreation.” - Yampa Valley Bugle

Steamboat has enough water for Brown Ranch

“Steamboat Springs has access to enough raw water for the full build-out of the Brown Ranch and the city’s current water capacity can accommodate roughly half the project’s units without significant upgrades.” - Yampa Valley Bugle

How will YVHA use the money from the short term rental tax?

The STR tax provides the YVHA with a predictable funding source that doesn’t raise taxes. The annexation agreement negotiated between the City and YVHA clarifies how these STR funds will be used.

10 Important facts about the Brown Ranch

In an environment where disinformation and misinformation are rampant, the Yampa Valley Housing Authority Board compiled these facts to educate the community about the Brown Ranch.

  1. Steamboat Springs is in a housing crisis. We know we need 1,400 housing units now for existing workers. Businesses, schools, the hospital and nonprofits cannot hire the staff they need because there is no housing workers can afford.

  2. Brown Ranch is phased, responsible growth that has been contemplated for years. In anticipation of the future needs of the Steamboat Springs, the West Steamboat Springs Area Plan identified the west side of town for growth. That is why they created the Urban Growth Boundary in 1999. The first phase of Brown Ranch is envisioned to deliver 1,100 units in the next 10 years.

  3. There are no new taxes or tax increases contemplated to pay for Brown Ranch. The existing short-term rental tax, if dedicated to the Brown Ranch, will allow YVHA to leverage local funds to gain federal, state and private grants. In Colorado, any new tax needs to be approved by voters.

  4. The Annexation Agreement protects taxpayers and the city of Steamboat Springs. The agreement includes the ability for Steamboat Springs to deny building permits at Brown Ranch if the city cannot fund its share of offsite infrastructure expenses, primarily U.S. Highway 40 improvements. According to City Attorney Dan Foote, “… There is absolutely 0% chance that the annexation agreement will cause the city to become insolvent or bankrupt …”

  5. The Annexation Agreement was negotiated by the city of Steamboat Springs and YVHA. The agreement has strict guidelines to ensure that YVHA meets its obligations to build affordable housing, construct parks, trails and community spaces, and contribute significant funding to city-wide infrastructure.

  6. Brown Ranch will increase funding opportunities for existing community challenges. For example, during peak commuting hours, traffic on U.S. 40 west of downtown is a challenge that needs to be solved now, with or without Brown Ranch. YVHA will contribute $20 million through short-term rental tax revenue to the city to pay for the share of impacts Brown Ranch will have to traffic on U.S. 40.

  7. Brown Ranch is designed — and zoned — to be a vibrant community with a mix of housing types in each neighborhood. This diversity of housing types available to all types of local workers — teachers, nurses, cooks, construction workers and more — will create housing choices and encourage housing mobility through life changes. The current plan based on a third-party, independent demand study is: 60% rental units and 40% ownership units with the following types: 65% apartments and condos. 22% single-family townhomes. 13% single-family homes. More than 40% of the annexed land area is dedicated to parks and open space, including an extension of the Yampa River Core Trail from Sleepy Bear Mobile Home Park to Silver Spur. There will be no short-term rentals or second homes at Brown Ranch.

  8. Brown Ranch will be affordable to locals. Rental units will have restrictions on annual rent increases tied to Area Median Income, which means they will not pay more than 30% of their income. Ownership units will be deed restricted to limit appreciation while accounting for capital improvements and sweat equity owners put into their homes. YVHA already manages deed-restricted homes in Steamboat.

  9. The Brown Ranch plan is a result of the community’s vision. The master plan for Brown Ranch was developed after input from more than 3,500 individuals at 230 meetings as well as with other community stakeholders over 15 months. YVHA created the Brown Ranch plan with the community, long before seeking development partners for public-private partnerships to build infrastructure and housing at Brown Ranch.

  10. There is enough water for Brown Ranch! The city’s existing water rights are sufficient to serve Brown Ranch. After the first phase of Brown Ranch is completed in approximately 10 years, the community will need a new water treatment plant. This plant will benefit the entire community by providing redundancy for the city’s water supply in case of wildfire in the Fish Creek basin. YVHA will provide most of the funding for this facility, in addition to paying tap fees like all development in Steamboat Springs.