STEAMBOAT SPRINGS — Steamboat Springs just got 191 acres larger.

Preliminary results show that city voters passed the West Steamboat Neighborhoods annexation with 2,353 people — 59.7% — in favor of the annexation, and 1,587 — 40.3% — against it.

City Clerk Julie Franklin said the election results would be finalized when the election is certified on July 5. 

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In the coming days, the city clerk’s office will reach out to about 102 voters who returned ballots without a signature, who had a signature that doesn’t match what’s on file with the state or had another ballot issue that can be cured. Those ballot issues must be cured by July 3. Some absentee ballots from voters living out of the country and active duty members of the military could still come in.

Steamboat Springs City Council narrowly approved an ordinance annexing the land on Feb. 5. The annexation election came about after the Let’s Vote Steamboat committee gathered enough signatures on a referendum petition to send the ordinance to the ballot.

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The annexation incorporates an additional 191 acres west of current city limits into the city. On that land, Brynn Grey Partners plans to build three neighborhoods with a total of 450 homes built over the next 16 to 20 years.

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11:30 p.m.: With nearly 60% of the vote, Steamboat voters approved the annexation, according to unofficial results from the city clerk’s office. There were 2,326 votes to approve the measure, while 1,571 disapproved. The office still has 43 ballots to count and 103 to verify, though those would not impact the majority vote.

11:15 p.m.: About 150 ballots remain to be counted.

10:30 p.m. Tuesday: With about 300 ballots left to count, the city clerk’s office estimates about an hour until results will be in.

9 p.m. Tuesday: Ballot counting continues as the city clerk’s office expects results to possibly be ready by 11 p.m.

7 p.m. Tuesday: Voting has now closed. Currently there are “a little under 4,000 ballots,” according to an election consultant at city hall. It is predicted there will be just over 4,000 total ballots. Results could come as late as 11:30 p.m., according to the city clerk’s office.

Original story:
STEAMBOAT SPRINGS — Initial ballot counting got underway at 6 p.m. Tuesday for the West Steamboat Neighborhoods annexation election, according to Steamboat Springs City Clerk Julie Franklin.

Election ballots were required to be turned into the secure ballot drop box at the Steamboat Springs City Hall or Routt County Courthouse by 7 p.m. Tuesday.

Franklin said her office had received 2,387 ballots as of Friday, with about 9,200 ballots mailed to city voters.

If passed by voters, the annexation would incorporate an additional 191 acres west of current city limits into the city. On that land, Brynn Grey Partners plans to build three neighborhoods for a total of 450 homes built over 16 to 20 years. At least 108 of those would be deed-restricted, placing a cap on how much the homes can appreciate annually and limiting ownership to people who work at least 30 hours a week in Routt County. 

A successful petition effort sent the annexation to the ballot in a referendum election after the Steamboat Springs City Council approved an annexation ordinance in a 4-to-3 vote. The council members who voted against the ordinance expressed a desire to see a finalized U.S. Highway 40 access agreement or a desire to put the annexation to a ballot question.  

Colorado residents can register to vote or update their registration even on Election Day. To do so, visit the Clerk and Recorder’s Office in the Routt County Courthouse in downtown Steamboat. County staff will provide a certificate of registration, which can then be taken to the City Clerk’s Office to obtain a ballot.

To reach Eleanor Hasenbeck, call 970-871-4210, email ehasenbeck@SteamboatPilot.com or follow her on Twitter @elHasenbeck.

To reach Bryce Martin, call 970-871-4206 or email bmartin@SteamboatPilot.com.