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Silverton sled shop told to stop work
Owners debate zoning with town officials
Herald Staff Writer
Photo by JERRY MCBRIDE/Herald file photo
The town of Silverton has issued a “stop work” order against Mountain Boy Sledworks that prohibits owner Brice Hoskin, shown in December 2004, from making sleds at the business’ downtown location.
Click image to enlarge
Photo by JERRY MCBRIDE/Herald file photo
Hoskin shows one of Mountain Boy’s handmade sleds.
The town of Silverton has prohibited Mountain Boy Sledworks from making sleds at the business’s downtown location, setting off a fight about building codes, zoning and the future of the business.
Town officials issued a “stop work” order Oct. 1 and posted another notice determining Mountain Boy’s sled making was a “change of use” that requires an architect’s evaluation.
Brice Hoskin, owner of Mountain Boy, and building owner Paul Zimmerman said they plan to contest the town’s actions.
Hoskin has until Nov. 5 to file an appeal with the Board of Adjustments, a step he vowed to take. The local board is made up of two Town Board members, two planning commissioners and a San Juan County commissioner.
For now, the disagreement has halted production at Mountain Boy just as it prepares for its busiest period of the year.
The zoning issue stems from a disagreement about how Mountain Boy uses the property. Although the vast majority of Mountain Boy’s sleds are made in China, the company builds about 200 high-end sleds a year at a shop at 1314 Greene St. in downtown Silverton.
The business is in the town’s business-pedestrian zone, where zoning regulations prohibit fabrication, manufacturing and assembly.
Hoskin argues Mountain Boy’s production falls under an exemption for arts and crafts.
“We can demonstrate that that’s exactly what we’re doing,” Hoskin said. “This is not mass production. It’s not a factory.”
Town Planner Adam Sickmiller said Mountain Boy’s operations appear to be more involved than mere arts and crafts.
“We decided it was a little higher impact than that,” he said.
Sickmiller said Mountain Boy neighbors are a hotel and a restaurant.
“It’s a multiuse downtown building,” he said.
Mountain Boy is about to enter its busiest time of year, the pre-Christmas shopping period.
“We’re just ramping up now, and about February we’ll ramp back down,” Hoskin said.
Mountain Boy employs seven workers at its peak in the winter, when the town’s economy slows.
“We’re basically a counter-cyclical job for Silverton,” Hoskin said.
All of Mountain Boy’s employees have separate summer jobs, he said.
The other issue stems from changes to the building itself.
Town officials decided Mountain Boy’s production constitutes a change of use under the town’s building codes, and ordered Hoskin to obtain an architect’s evaluation for safety purposes.
Hoskin has refused, saying legal advice he has received indicates it is not a change of use.
“They’re not just a little bit wrong on that, they’re completely wrong,” he said.
Hoskin and building owner Paul Zimmerman said the building most recently hosted an old-fashioned print shop that used industrial chemicals.
The building is “concrete, steel and drywall,” Zimmerman said.
Silverton’s building codes were adopted in 1984 and reflect the International Building Code, Sickmiller said.
The dispute about the building code could result in a citation, which Zimmerman could contest in court.
“It’ll probably come down to the attorneys,” Zimmerman said.
chuck@durangoherald.com
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Durango Herald Calendar of Events
Thursday, November 12, 2009
at 7:46:02 PM
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Eric Roberts says...
Adam Sickmiller - Do the right thing! It's not too late for you my friend!!
Friday, October 30, 2009
at 1:52:59 PM
Suggest removal
ord23cb says...
I should mention, I bet there are folks in Silverton that actually believe that climate change is happening (LOL). Wait, maybe all the folks leaving Crested Butte that care about the environment are landing in Silverton (too bad for you). Wheres Ronny Reagan when you need him. Thank goodness theres finally a new movie, Capitalism; A Love Story, that addresses this topic. Your town managers should all go see it. It might help shed some like on the problems these non-capitalist can create.
Thursday, October 29, 2009
at 7:26:14 PM
Suggest removal
Amy Funkhouser says...
If an ceramist made 200 mugs no one would be arguing. If a jeweler made 500 pairs of earrings no one would be shutting them down. If a glass blower made 600 christmas tree ormaments no one would be discussing this issue. This reeks of elected officials in payback mode: let the small business thrive and fight legitimate crime in your town! And town hall- I certainly hope you are held accountable for the loss of business you caused!
Thursday, October 29, 2009
at 2:15:33 PM
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Sam Arnold says...
I think the town officials are just looking for a way to keep busy, and justify keeping THEIR jobs.
Thursday, October 29, 2009
at 12:40:52 PM
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Michael says...
Silverton - way to rough up some of the town entrepreneurs during their busy work season (during the countries worst financial recession! At that...) YES! GO SILVERTON TOWN HALL... WAY TO ENFORCE! Good timing... good use of authority... and way to keep a solid hold on your town codes and concrete justification for your actions... ... feels good doesn't it.
Silverton has to elect town hall officials who support hard work and entrepreneurship instead of killing it. The community needs to come together and rediscover the soul of their town before it becomes a real ghost town... or better yet a summer 'resort' community with resort laws and prices. Oh how exciting that would be :) ... better not loose that train...
Thursday, October 29, 2009
at 11:52:07 AM
Suggest removal
Irate Entrepreneur says...
If you would like to tell Mr. Adam Sickmiller the Town and County Planning Director how you feel about his actions he can be reached at:
asickmiller@silverton.co.us
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
at 10:34:29 PM
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cheryl says...
Hey Nicholas. It is "their".
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
at 5:45:42 PM
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Dave Kelley says...
Support the low income housing project, pass amendment 3A to the benefit of the school and support local business owners. Sounds simple right. The Hoskin's family has developed two successful and revenue stimulating businesses within the town. Why not work with them to promote, stimulate and maintain this beautiful community? If your old ways of strong-arming community members does not change, then the community will not survive and you will not have a job. Or maybe if you did not have a job, the community would thrive and these backward political ways would end.
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
at 5:20:37 PM
Suggest removal
Janet says...
Guess Silverton's winter unemployment rate or tax revenues do not concern the "town officials", but maybe it should. How do these people get into those offices? Hopefully, they can be removed as easily! Maybe they should think of supporting the efforts of Sled Boy, so perhaps more sleds would come out of Silverton and fewer would come from CHINA! I live in a small mountain town too and I'm sure there is room for Sled Boy here!
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
at 3:35:39 PM
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Nicholas says...
Holymoly! I'm really impressed with the number of comments on this issue. I can't help but wonder why Sled Boy is making the majority of they're sleds in China? Only high end sleds built here?
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
at 2:19:47 PM
Suggest removal
Irwin Steuer says...
As the proud owner of two Mountain Boy sleds at my place in Vermont,
when they are not in use on the white stuff, they hang on the wall as
works of art!! Leave the guy alone and fight real crime!!!!
A message from King Ferret.
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
at 2:13:18 PM
Suggest removal
Fred Yeaw says...
Throughout history man has lived under tyranny. We are only surprised at such stories as the one in Silverton having the last 200 years of the U.S.A. as our reference. We are only reverting to the norm. I could go on but I see Drudge has a headline about Paris Hilton and I must see what she is up to now.
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
at 1:57:13 PM
Suggest removal
Jerry Cobb says...
Don't the town planners have anything better to do? In these terrible economic times, you would think that ANY tax generating business & employer would be welcome with open arms!! this sounds like California, where the state is running small businesses out, & going broke at the same time!!!
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
at 12:47:04 PM
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steve says...
I visit Silverton every autumn (from Texas) and am always impressed with the people and their business activities. I particularly enjoy the folks at Handlebars and Butterfly Creations, among the many others. I can appreciate how business must really fall off at the end of October. I can't imagine how the city fathers could get heavy-handed with any business that keeps as much of the local economy going as it can during the off-tourist season. Don't kill free enterprise with ordinances that are not necessary.
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
at 12:34:19 PM
Suggest removal
Patrick Leonetti says...
In a recession it is always good to put a revenue generator out of business. Would it be any different if it were a custom molding and cabinet shop? Tourists, I am sure, would love to walk by a quaint little building and see craftsmen working on sleds. It gives you the mountain town feeling! Boy, Santa's going to be pissed this year and I hope the town board gets worse than switches and coal!
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
at 12:19:20 PM
Suggest removal
M. David says...
I don't think a vacant building would be a better option. Handmade sleds are definitely a craft not a manufacturing facility. It is sad that Silverton thinks they would benefit by running out a business that is turning a profit without creating toxic waste.
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
at 9:51:12 AM
Suggest removal
corey tompkins says...
I was in Silverton early this month and had my morning coffee at Smedleys (the scene of the crime). It wasn't until I returned home that I read that the little sled business was in violation of zoning requirements. Speaking as a tourist, I was glad to see that the building was occupied and it really looked nice too (no dust or loud sawing, etc.). The coffee was good and Mr. Zimmerman was very nice. I'll be back next year and will be looking to see if the little sled maker is still there.
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
at 9:24:16 AM
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John Cook says...
As another Silverton business owner I think I can speak for most of the business community that we're in full support of Brice Hoskins and Paul Zimmerman in their effort to confront town hall bureaucrats and their attempt to halt local entrepreneurship.
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
at 9:20:38 AM
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K. C. Robertson says...
Sounds to me like the "good ol' Boys" of Silverton have spent too much time outside in winter bare headed.
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
at 8:28:04 AM
Suggest removal
ord23cb says...
Wow - and this is the same community that is screeeeaming for fiber-optic internet access on the basis that they can't grow their small-biz community without it? You've taken a page right out of Crested Butte's book! Kill business at all cost; for any reason. Trust me, it works - we have 1/2 of our main street empty, and families leaving weekly - you can have this level of "success too"! Keep up the goo work Silverton Planners!
Sledworks - we've watched your business for years and are very impressed with the positive impression you've added to Silverton's image!!
ord
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
at 7:42:30 AM
Suggest removal
George Cable says...
Typical. City/county/government employees seem to want to shut down business operations during times of slow economic cycles. Instead of trying to stop enterprising people, logical government should do everything in their power to encourage and build business as this. Government needs to wake up and remember how and who pays for their very existence. If Silverton does not want this business in their town, I can extend an invitation to many other locations.