STEAMBOAT SPRINGS – — The town of Hayden will consider shrinking its historic downtown district to make it easier for new businesses to move into the area.
The town’s Economic Development Commission has asked the Town Council and the Hayden Planning Commission to limit the historic district, which currently is five blocks long and two to three blocks wide, to a four-block area immediately around Walnut Street. Some parts of the existing historic district could be relabeled commercial and industrial zones to make it easier for businesses to renovate and move into existing structures, Economic Development Commission co-chairman Rodney McGowen said.
“The historic district is too big right now,” he said Monday. “If you read its zoning (guidelines), it’s very limiting as to what you can do, especially with the renovation of a new building. If you were wanting to come into Hayden and set up a new business, it would be really difficult for you to develop it according to the historic guidelines.”
McGowen said in the historic district, setback and renovation rules are stricter than in commercial and industrial zones, and the regulations ultimately can deter new businesses from moving in.
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