Snowmass candidate Q&A: challenger Art Burrows

On Nov 5. Snowmass residents will choose between Debbie Alcorta, Cecily DeAngelo, Art Burrows, and incumbent Tom Fridstein to serve in the two vacant Town Council positions. The Aspen Times asked the candidates about some of the most discussed topics in Snowmass. 

An author, photographer, and designer, Burrows runs for his first term on town council. 

The Aspen Times: Why have you chosen to serve the Snowmass community in the past, and why do you seek to serve the community in the future?

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Art Burrows: As Joe Walsh might say, “My life in Snowmass and Aspen over the last 45 years has been good to me,” and it is time for me to pay it forward. I will focus on four important goals:

1. Slow down growth while creating sound economic housing opportunities for TOSV workers while balancing environmental and economic resiliency.  
2. Create more efficient transportation solutions throughout the village which will reduce car use . 
3. Improve sustainability and safety for residents within Snowmass Village paths and trails.
4. Continue to Improve recreation opportunities for families and full time residents.

AT: Are you in favor of or opposed to Snowmass ballot question 2D, which would determine funding for the proposed 79-unit, $86 million employee housing project at the Draw Site adjacent to Town Hall? Why?

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AB: I support 2D. When I moved to Aspen and Snowmass 45 years ago, rent and home prices were relatively affordable for those willing to work hard. In 1990, a two-bedroom employee apartment was around $65,000, and a small free-market unit was about $350,000. Today, they are more than 10 times the cost and are not affordable by working professionals. Our community now faces the impact of empty second homes, often owned by corporate investors and shell corporations. This trend is harming local businesses as essential full-time employees are forced to leave the valley, threatening the viability of our most valued restaurants, services, and retail stores. Affordable housing for full-time employees is more important than ever. Snowmass has limited available land, making the Draw Site the best location, as it would reduce car dependency, lower CO2 emissions, and support local businesses. Importantly, this vote is only about funding, and the design will be adapted with input from the community to find the best solution. 

AT: Are you in favor of or opposed to Pitkin County ballot questions 1A, which would raise county property taxes by 1.5 mills over 25 years, providing an estimated $8.5 million in additional funding per year for affordable housing, but creating an estimated property tax increase of $121 for private properties valued at $1 million and $435 for commercial properties valued at $1 million? Why?

AB: Affordable housing is an issue affecting all three counties in the Roaring Fork Valley, and for the reasons mentioned above, I support Question 1A. To truly address the housing challenges we face, we must improve the affordability of every town in the valley for full time workers and professionals.

AT: Are you in favor of moving the Aspen/Pitkin County Airport runway 80 feet to the west and widening it from 100 to 150 feet? Why? Are you in favor of Pitkin County ballot question 200, which would allow residents to vote on the expansion or movement of the runway, or Pitkin County ballot question 1C, which would reaffirm county officials’ ability to approve and implement changes to the physical layout of the airport on behalf of the community?

AB: The airport issue is complex and difficult to parse out for the voter, but I support it for three important reasons:

1. Safety: Updating the runway allows airlines to operate safer, quieter, and more fuel-efficient aircraft. Without these upgrades, flight options and reliability will soon decline, potentially increasing traffic on Highway 82 as more people rely on Eagle Airport.
   
2. Cost: The county cannot afford to bond for the necessary terminal and runway improvements without FAA funding. This funding will help bring the airport up to long-overdue safety standards.
   
3. Future aircraft: Soon, all CRJ aircraft will be retired. A wider runway would allow the Airbus 220 to service Aspen. The A220 has slightly higher capacity, which could reduce the number of flights, uses less fuel, has an excellent safety record in mountains, and is quieter than the planes currently in use.

I recommend voting “no” on Question 200. The BOCC can make good decisions without a public vote. They can decide and will make a decision that benefits the community. A “yes” vote means less options for residents, more congestion on 82, more cost to the county, and most importantly, an airport that depends on aging planes less safe in the mountains.

AT: Are you in favor of or opposed to the construction of more available parking and RFTA transit options at the Snowmass Mall? If so, how should the project be designed?

AB: Increasing parking in Snowmass is not a viable option, as we have limited valuable open space remaining. A better approach is to enhance transit options, making them more efficient and frequent to reduce traffic. This would allow residents and visitors to access events at Town Park, Base Village, and the Upper Mall more easily, improving convenience and preserving our open spaces.

Skyler Stark-Ragsdale can be reached at 970-429-9152 or email him at sstark-ragsdale@aspentimes.com.