Ideas From Keith Baker On Running For Buena Vista Town Trustee

Posted by John A in March 17th, 2008

Posted in: Press Release

Keith Baker
Occupation: Buena Vista retail business owner

1. Why are you running for this office?

Vision, knowledge and judgment should guide decision-making for Buena Vista’s future. Many recent arrivals seem to want to transform Buena Vista into the place they left . . . But I’d like to help our community avoid mistakes I’ve seen in other places I’ve lived, including the failure to anticipate emerging conditions and the failure to act with proactive planning and strategies to preserve what we care about while welcoming positive economic growth.

A totally anti-growth stance fails to provide a hopeful future for our children. I’m for smart, managed growth! Growth should be managed by smart growth principles. I’ve lived in numerous places that either fought growth or closed their eyes and did nothing to anticipate and manage growth. Both of these scenarios failed to protect cherished local values, the very things that built local property values. Smart growth principles are simply something municipal leaders owe citizens to support quality of life and government services.

There are other metrics to measure growth that are often overlooked. To me, growth means enhancements and improvements to our quality of life as much as anything. I want to ensure that Buena Vista has a bright future that is town-centered, is transit- and pedestrian-oriented with a greater mix of housing, commercial, and retail options. I want to make sure we preserve open space and other environmental amenities, while growing the local economy and tax revenues.

I will follow our Town’s Comprehensive Plan, Buena Vista’s codes, the Chaffee County comprehensive plan, and Colorado state law when voting on issues. I am a pragmatist and will vote based on the real world, not personal bias or politics.

2. What goals would you like to accomplish as trustee?

These are some of my goals, and not in priority order – they’re all very important to Buena Vista’s future!

Adopting Home Rule
Passing a Recreation District for our area
Implementing a “Safe Routes to School” program
Building our town Trails Master Plan
Achieving “Bicycle Friendly Community” certification
Helping the Colorado Center and similar business/economic magnets to thrive.

3. What do you see as the biggest challenges facing our town? How would you prioritize?

Managing and shaping inevitable growth to maintain our small mountain town character and traditions.

Public safety, including road safety for people-powered transportation and quality of life.
Principled, predictable, fair and cost-effective development decisions.

4. What are your priorities?

Safety for pedestrians and bicycles, including sidewalks, crosswalks and safe routes to school for our children.
Traffic calming and beautification along Highway 24, which will protect our citizens while enhancing visitors’ experience.
Beautifying downtown, which will also improve our daily life while enhancing visitors’ experience and building the economy.
Managing traffic flow: Highway 24 is already filled to capacity and CDOT’s Regional Transportation Plan 2035 does nothing to solve our problems. Congestion will significantly worsen if our county population grows at the predicted 30% in the next 15-20 years.

5. What skills, contributions and talents would you bring to the Town of Buena Vista government?

I’m a retired U.S. Navy Commander with 23 years of service in a variety of leadership, management, and planning roles around the world.
I have a Master’s Degree in International Relations, and graduated from three U.S. military staff colleges – two of which are MA equivalents – and one NATO staff-planning course.
I have served on numerous boards and committees since moving here four years ago, including:

- Chaffee County Visitors Bureau, Board of Directors Chairman
- Chaffee County Citizens’ Land Use Roundtable, Sustainable Growth Focus Group CoChairman
- Buena Vista Comprehensive Plan Rewrite Committee
- Grace Church, Senior Warden and Church Council Chairman
- Ark Valley Velo Board of Directors

I have managed big budgets and small budgets, and I’ve had to make tough calls on them. I’ve coordinated policy on some very contentious issues and achieved consensus among some very tough customers. I’ve managed my own private-sector businesses for 12 years. I’m a quick learner with excellent research skills and a good listener. I won’t promise to make everyone happy, but I will promise to explain my points of view and reasons for voting. I’ve gotten on well with people during a long and varied career.
I will focus on long-range planning, budget control and smart growth, especially regarding town livability, and pedestrian and bicyclist safety.

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14 responses so far ↓

1 Peter // Mar 18, 2008 at 12:52 pm

A thoughtful, involved citizen with real vision for our town. You’ll have my vote.
2 Sarah // Mar 19, 2008 at 5:40 pm

Sounds like he’s trying to promote his business interests - isn’t he in Cogswell’s pocket?
3 Keith // Mar 20, 2008 at 7:42 am

Perhaps I am promoting my business interests. But I do not promote walking and cycling because I’m in that business - I’m in that business because those are among the things I believe in. Gas is almost $4 a gallon and obesity rates are soaring. I don’t want to force anyone to do anything, just make the choice to walk or bike safer.

Could you provide some facts - heck, even rumors - to substantiate the implication that I’m in some way beholden to John Cogswell? I’d like to be able to respond on a rational, intellectual, adult level.

Thank you,
kb
4 Kay // Mar 20, 2008 at 9:06 am

I find it interesting that Mr Baker is being accused of promoting his and Mr Cogswell’s interests, esp after last night’s Forum where all candidates except Mr Baker openly supported Cottonwood Meadows. In addition, the vote on annexation of Cottonwood Meadows is scheduled for next Tuesday - BEFORE the election.
5 Lee Hart // Mar 20, 2008 at 12:22 pm

Keith’s personal and professional integrity is beyond reproach. In his many years as county tourism board Chair, Keith never once made a self-serving decision. He studied the issues and made reasoned, informed decisions. His willingness to contribute once again to his community, sacrificing time he could otherwise spend on his business and family for the betterment of the town of Buena Vista is in itself a testimony to his dedication to the greater good.
6 Rod Schofield // Mar 20, 2008 at 12:49 pm

I have met with Keith several times and believe that his primary motivation for running for office is to better our community. His goals for Buena Vista are ones that I think the entire community can get behind and support.
7 Rod Schofield // Mar 20, 2008 at 12:51 pm

I have met with Keith several times and believe his only motivation for running for office is to better our community. I think his goals are ones the entire community can get behind and support. I certainly can.
8 Peter // Mar 20, 2008 at 3:50 pm

Please address your stand on the glut of houses on the market in BV and empty buildings all over town. Shouldn’t we be trying to entice businesses to BV instead of promoting yet ANOTHER subdivision?
9 Keith Baker // Mar 20, 2008 at 9:58 pm

Hi Peter,

Thanks for asking. I don’t see these as “insteads.” We should be vigorously pursuing new businesses, and we should encourage responsible housing development. The two go hand in hand.

I’ll have to do some research before accepting your premise that there is a glut of houses on the market in BV. On a quick ride around town the number of for sale signs didn’t see extraordinary, and I know there aren’t many quality rental houses here in town. I will ask a few realtors tomorrow what they think, but I know several and that has never been mentioned. Further, in all the town P&Z and trustee meetings I’ve attended where South Main, the Meadows, or any other subdivision was discussed, no one - for or against - ever mentioned a housing glut.

Indeed there are some vacant commercial properties (Ben Franklin, highway dept - and for gosh sakes something needs to be done about the vacant service station on the corner!) that would be nice to see occupied. However, they are vacant now and have been for some time or have a history of failed businesses, so I see no logical connection between that and any subdivision. Several other commercial properties are quietly under development all around town.

I agree we should be working very hard to attract businesses to Buena Vista. I specifically say that in my position piece above. One of my priorities is to get the Colorado Center underway before we lose this great opportunity. But businesses want good housing, and a variety of housing choices, for their people. A key way to attract businesses is to have good housing choices. Speaking as a potential home buyer, we do not have that here - even if, as you propose, there is a glut of houses.

Another aspect of the vacant commercial buildings is their actual suitability for new businesses and their location. It gets to a point where the costs of renovation and build-out exceed what the business can pay. It becomes more economical to seek a new space. A nice older building (such as Mother’s Bistro) has potential and charm, but many others simply do not. Believe me - I’ve looked at them from a business buyer’s standpoint.

The county housing needs assessment concluded that our county needs almost 2,000 new housing units in the next 15 or so years. If present trends continue, Buena Vista and North County will receive the bulk of that growth. All the projects on the books, north and south, do not fill that total need. And one of our current town trustees, a long-time resident, thinks growth will outstrip the predictions.

Current trends are showing more and more homebuyers want to live close-in, nearer to services and amenities. This was even before $4/gallon gasoline. They do not want to spend their precious time and money driving to and fro or tending a large yard. They want walkable, bike-able. close-knot communities. A recent Atlantic Monthly article has background: http://www.theatlantic.com/doc/200803/subprime.

The South Main and Meadows projects were vetted by several different line-ups of P&Z, Town trustees, planners, administrators, engineers, and lawyers. I have to trust their collective judgment.

Both the South Main and Meadows teams are developing their properties in responsible and visionary ways. Indeed we should encourage and applaud such responsible development.

Over the past couple of years, when asked, I have quietly told people that yes, I support these developments. I participated in the charettes and have followed them closely - because they sound like the kind of place I’d like to live. The processes were very open and opponents were heard at the meetings. Every current town trustee candidate (including two realtors and old-timers and life-long citizens) supports the Meadows as a positive for our Town and the greater community. Though I did not specifically say so at the LWV forum, I will unequivocally go on the record here - that includes me.

Thank you again for the opportunity to share my views.

Cheers!

kb
10 Keith Baker // Mar 21, 2008 at 4:54 am

Obviously I missed a couple of typos in my reply. More people want “bike-able (comma), close-KNIT communities” for example. Apologies. kb
11 Sig Jaastad // Mar 21, 2008 at 7:29 am

Keith Baker is an honest, energetic and knowledgeable person who I believe has only the best interests of the citizens of Buena Vista at heart. He has no hidden agendas and will approach the job of Trustee with an open mind ready to consider the multitude of options that come to the board. He was judged by a County Commissioner as the best President of the CCVB ever. I believe he’ll put the same energy into the job of trustee and the citizens of Buena Vista will be the better for it.
12 Mike Allen // Mar 21, 2008 at 8:46 am

On behalf of Cottonwood Meadows, I would like to state that neither Keith Baker nor any of the Trustee candidates are affiliated with our project. We believe that our Town is fortunate to have so many good candidates willing to serve in public office. The guiding principles of the Cottonwood Meadows project were generated from community involvement resulting in a plan that will accommodate future growth of the region in a way that minimizes the impact to our environment and preserves our keen sense of community. We encourage support of candidates who promote smart growth and sustainable ideologies. We invite anyone to contact us directly to ask questions and learn more about Cottonwood Meadows at 395.3626.
13 Keith Baker // Mar 21, 2008 at 4:37 pm

Okay, this looks like a good time to shift this conversation over to the Trustees Forum on the BV Talks Forum. Here’s your link: http://forums.channelbv.net/viewtopic.php?f=11&t=38
14 Cristina // Oct 10, 2008 at 3:55 pm

I believe a person’s integrity can be judged by his/her willingness to maintain a dialog - to continue to debate issues with a willingness to change his or her perspective if pursuaded on the merits of each argument. I applaud Keith for replying to his critics’ comments, and ask simply: who is actively involved in this dialog, replying to even the most unsubstantiated accusations?