It's one step down and one big step to go for a group of developers proposing to build a 205-unit subdivision south of Hayden.

The Hayden Planning Commission on Thursday approved West Routt Properties' revised sketch plan for the Lake Villages project, proposed for a 103-acre parcel of land west of Routt County Road 53 and south of the Sagewood subdivision.

Developers will proceed with the preliminary plat process, which will delve further into details involving roads, water, parks and other parts of the project.

Lake Village, the first phase of The Villages at Hayden plan, calls for 145 single-family homes and 60 multifamily units as well as a large lake and concrete trail system.

Developers are aiming for more affordable housing and plan to construct walls and trusses on site while also offering financing services on the premises.

A key aspect of the plat process will be a traffic study funded by West Routt Properties to gauge the project's effects on nearby roads and the timing and costs of needed improvements.

The study will focus specifically on Poplar Street and a bypass connecting the development to C.R. 53. Both roads will provide main access points to the project.

Developers moved the bypass or boulevard north, significantly changing the project's layout since the commission reviewed the first sketch plan last month. The change is meant to detract some subdivision traffic from Harvest Drive and Poplar Street.

The bypass likely will involve the annexation of Eric Johnson's property between the subdivision and C.R. 53. That proposal should come before the Planning Commission in the coming months.

The boulevard or bypass eventually could provide a link between C.R. 53 and C.R. 37 to the east.

Another difference from the original sketch plan was the spreading out of multifamily units throughout the development instead of focusing the buildings in one area.

The commission was satisfied with the overall changes but emphasized the importance of establishing a phasing plan for the project.

"I like the concept here -- I think there is a need for affordable housing, and I hope you guys pull it off," commission member Karl Koehler said. "At the same time, biting off 200 homes seems like a big chunk to me."

Commission member Tom Rogalski also was concerned about a light industrial park planned in the south portion of the development.

Tom Heuer, who is part of West Routt Properties, said the group plans to build a fabrication facility in the park, but Rogalski questioned whether that would fit with what developers have indicated would be limited uses.

"I'm curious about the guidelines and criteria for the park," said Rogalski, who also recommended developers consider building noise barriers between the industrial park and planned residential areas in the project.

Also Thursday, the Planning Commission approved motions recommending that the Town Board annex the Routt County Fairgrounds, Dry Creek Park, the skatepark and three private properties on Poplar Street into the town.

The recommendation is the result of a long effort to bring the fairgrounds and Dry Creek Park into Hayden. The smaller parcels, which include the Bertram, Kistler and Jazwick properties, were included in the process to help "clean up" boundary issues in that part of town.

The Town Board will consider the annexations Feb. 17.

In other business, Town Manager Russ Martin encouraged residents to review the latest version of the town's new comprehensive plan, which should be available at Town Hall and the Hayden Public Library next week.

The Town Board and Planning Commission will discuss the draft in a work session Feb. 24 before beginning the adoption process. Residents may share their feedback at that meeting.

-- To reach Tamera Manzanares call 871-4204 or e-mail tmanzanares@steamboatpilot.com