Pitkin County gives update on Vision 2050 during community open house

Pitkin County held an open house on Wednesday to update community members on where the county stands with Vision 2050 and to gather feedback for a comprehensive plan.

The plan, which guides land use and building code amendments, identifies five elements based on the shared values and quality-of-life goals the committee envisioned for the community. These include built environment and natural environments, economic and community health, and regional approach.

County staff and other Vision 2050 project team representatives were in attendance at the event to provide additional information, answer questions, and gather feedback, as well as provide background on recommendations from the 26-person Community Growth Advisory Committee that launched the project.

“Public process is crucial in developing a comprehensive plan,” Pitkin County Deputy Director Kara Silbernagel said in a county news release. “This is an exciting time to come together to curate a vision that incorporates the ideals and desires of the community and honors the hard work from the Community Growth Advisory Committee.”

Counties are required by the state of Colorado to adopt comprehensive plans as advisory documents. These plans provide guidance for land use and other county programs and policies, as well as promote a long-term vision on various topics, the news release states.

The Planning and Zoning Commission adopted Pitkin County’s current plan in 2003. It is made up of the common themes of preservation of rural character and the natural environment.

“We’re 20 years down the line. Lots changed,” said Suzanne Wolff, Pitkin County Community Development director. “So, it’s time, and the growth committee that met for a year was charged by the board to have conversations around climate and growth and density and all of those things and try and come up with some recommendations.”

In the past 20 years or so, Pitkin County’s resident population grew 6.9%, according to presentations at the open house. The population is expected to grow another 3.6% by 2050.

In Pitkin County, there is currently one housing unit for every 124 people — a ratio that has been declining for the past 20 years. This indicated that the county’s housing stock is much less efficient at housing the population, another presentation stated.

Since 2000, the cost of living for a family of four rose almost 200%, while the median annual household income has increased by only 78%, contributing to financial hardship.

And between 2000 and 2022, the county added 3,400 more housing units, but many of these are unoccupied second homes.

In 2022, talks began around creating an updated plan. Wolff hopes that by mid-2025 the new plan will be adopted.

“We’ll then start to work towards drafting the comprehensive plan policies,” she said. “We’ll workshop those again, more with the work group and P&Z, and at various points along the way. There will still be public input. This isn’t a one-and-done kind of a deal, but it’s sort of the steps towards at some point having the comprehensive plan adopted.”

Vision 2050 is a part of the flourishing natural and built environment section of the county’s budget. Flourishing natural and built environment is 60% of the $164 million overall budget, and Vision 2050 is asking for a 23.1% budget increase in 2025.

Regan Mertz can be reached at 970-429-9153 or rmertz@aspentimes.com.