According to the latest Big Sky housing study (EPS, May 2014), 83 percent of Big Sky workers commute from outside the community. What needs to change to encourage a more local Big Sky workforce?
Eric Ossorio, Big Sky, Mont.
Broker, Prudential Montana
“The first thing we need to do is revisit zoning. Where are you going to put everybody? Nineteen years after zoning [in Big Sky], it might be time to revisit where these homes would go. I don’t see people carving out spaces for affordable housing. It would also be interesting to know how many of the 83 percent really want to live in Big Sky.”
Ken Parker, Bozeman, Mont.
Bus driver, Karst Stage
“This place needs housing, which is no secret. But there’s a cultural aspect to this as well. You have the ‘haves’ and the ‘have-nots’ and there’s a dividing line there that’s pretty distinct. Prices in Big Sky are inflated and if people can’t buy here they can’t be here.”
Josh Tozier and Alaina Stinson, Big Sky, Mont.
Owners, High Country Goods
“Definitely more affordable housing. That’s the No. 1 problem. In Aspen, there’s a mandate to build affordable housing. With private land in Big Sky, no one wants to build on it and sell it for cheap. They almost need to buy land from private owners … But there is no ‘they.’ Big Sky might be getting to a point [where] an unincorporated township is not the answer.”
