Steamboat Springs — Steamboat Springs Planning Commissioners agreed with residents that a proposed project is high in density, but they said that density is needed.

Commissioners on Thursday reviewed a proposed project called Steamboat Barn Village, a residential subdivision with 70 building lots allowing 115 residential units on about 46 acres. The units would include single-family residences, duplexes and townhome units.

The project, which would be northeast of Pine Grove Road and northwest of the Yampa Valley Medical Center campus, incorporates the historic More Barn. The barn would be moved 100 feet to the west to provide buffer from the single-family houses to the east.

To accomplish the project, the city would have to allow the developer to re-zone the area to increase density. This raised the ire of nearby residents.

Paul Stettner was among those residents who were concerned with the northernmost aspect of the development. He said its density was too high.

Bill Hibbard, another neighbor of the proposed development, called the density “chaotic.”

“It’s nothing like we ever envisioned,” Hibbard said.

Commissioner Dick Curtis said he understands neighbors’ concerns, and he said more view corridors may be added within the development.

“We do need some density within the city limits, otherwise we’d get urban sprawl. And we do not want urban sprawl.”

Commissioner Tracy Barnett said she did not like the northernmost element of the development — an area that many residents said was too high in density.

“I would like to see it just go away,” she said.

Barnett was one of several commissioners who did not want to see the barn moved.

“Please don’t move that barn,” she said.

–o reach Dana Strongin call 871-4229 or e-mail dstrongin@steamboatpilot.com.