Buena Vista Comprehensive Town Plan

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Downtown Buena Vista

Project title: 2024 Buena Vista Comprehensive Plan

Project purpose or justification: A comprehensive town plan is the bedrock for decision making for elected officials and town staff.

Project objective: To create a comprehensive plan to meet the unique needs of Buena Vista, reflect the Collective Vision, and support the goals, policies, and programs that make Buena Vista a great place to live, work, and visit.

Project scope:

Phase 1: Project Management (Initiated May 2024)

The Project Management phase ensures a solid coordination between the client team and the consultant teams. This phase includes tasks to launch the project, identify key stakeholder groups, and coordinate with the advisory committee.

Phase 2: Co-Creators and Community Engagement (April 2024- March 2025)

The Co-Creators and Community Engagement phase includes a range of outreach activities to identify top community priorities and concerns. This outreach will help our team understand community values and stressors and update the Collective Vision Statement accordingly. This engagement effort will need to capture the unique viewpoints and experiences of all types of residents in Buena Vista and the surrounding area. This phase also involves relationship-building with key stakeholders and community partners, such as water managers and major employers. It also involves meetings with the Advisory Committee and Planning and Zoning Commission. These meetings will be virtual to be mindful of budget. Two meetings will be joint meetings between the Advisory Committee and P&Z.

Phase 3: Research and Community Analysis (April 2024- October 2024)

The research and community analysis phase will produce a demographic profile for Buena Vista consisting of the following reports:

  1. Community Demographic Profile
  2. Water Audit and Growth Analysis
  3. A Basemap Set
  4. Existing Conditions analysis to inform the recommendations of the plan
  5. Vision, Values, and Stressors Report

Phase 4: Plan Document (November 2024- June 2025)

The final plan document will incorporate current research and best practices that align with the community’s vision. The final plan will be more than a document; it will serve as an interactive roadmap to achieving community goals.

Project deliverables:

  1. Community Profile and Demographics- June 15, 2024
  2. Water Audit and Growth Analysis- June 15, 2024
  3. Existing Conditions Report- October 15, 2024
  4. Visions, Values, and Stressors Report- October 15, 2024
  5. Plan Framework and Plan Integration Methodology- December 15, 2024
  6. First Draft Plan- March 15, 2025
  7. Revised Draft Plan- April 15, 2025
  8. Final Draft Plan- May 15, 2025
  9. Adoption Process- May 15, 2025

Project stakeholders: Traditionally underrepresented populations and means of outreach.

  • Youth
    • Social media, postcards/ flyers in area businesses, outreach via employers and affinity groups
  • Low-income residents
    • Online surveys and other engagement methods that require low time investment, postcards/flyers in grocery stores and other busy locations
  • Elderly population
    • Outreach via senior living facilities, medical offices
  • Renters
    • Outreach via landlords, canvassing
  • Seasonal employees
    • Outreach via employers
  • ESL persons
    • Multilingual engagement materials, such as flyers and survey
  • Minority groups
    • Outreach via churches, schools, affinity groups
  • 81211 Zip Code Residents
    • Outreach via water bills, regional news outlets and organizations. Can verify participation from this group via geo-referenced survey questions (e.g., people note where they live on a map).

Project timeline:

Phase 1: Project Management (April 2024- May 2024)

Phase 2: Co-Creators and Community Engagement (April 2024- March 2025)

Phase 3: Research and Community Analysis (April 2024- October 2024)

Phase 4: Plan Document (November 2024- June 2025)- Final Draft and Block Party (Spring 2025)





Project title: 2024 Buena Vista Comprehensive Plan

Project purpose or justification: A comprehensive town plan is the bedrock for decision making for elected officials and town staff.

Project objective: To create a comprehensive plan to meet the unique needs of Buena Vista, reflect the Collective Vision, and support the goals, policies, and programs that make Buena Vista a great place to live, work, and visit.

Project scope:

Phase 1: Project Management (Initiated May 2024)

The Project Management phase ensures a solid coordination between the client team and the consultant teams. This phase includes tasks to launch the project, identify key stakeholder groups, and coordinate with the advisory committee.

Phase 2: Co-Creators and Community Engagement (April 2024- March 2025)

The Co-Creators and Community Engagement phase includes a range of outreach activities to identify top community priorities and concerns. This outreach will help our team understand community values and stressors and update the Collective Vision Statement accordingly. This engagement effort will need to capture the unique viewpoints and experiences of all types of residents in Buena Vista and the surrounding area. This phase also involves relationship-building with key stakeholders and community partners, such as water managers and major employers. It also involves meetings with the Advisory Committee and Planning and Zoning Commission. These meetings will be virtual to be mindful of budget. Two meetings will be joint meetings between the Advisory Committee and P&Z.

Phase 3: Research and Community Analysis (April 2024- October 2024)

The research and community analysis phase will produce a demographic profile for Buena Vista consisting of the following reports:

  1. Community Demographic Profile
  2. Water Audit and Growth Analysis
  3. A Basemap Set
  4. Existing Conditions analysis to inform the recommendations of the plan
  5. Vision, Values, and Stressors Report

Phase 4: Plan Document (November 2024- June 2025)

The final plan document will incorporate current research and best practices that align with the community’s vision. The final plan will be more than a document; it will serve as an interactive roadmap to achieving community goals.

Project deliverables:

  1. Community Profile and Demographics- June 15, 2024
  2. Water Audit and Growth Analysis- June 15, 2024
  3. Existing Conditions Report- October 15, 2024
  4. Visions, Values, and Stressors Report- October 15, 2024
  5. Plan Framework and Plan Integration Methodology- December 15, 2024
  6. First Draft Plan- March 15, 2025
  7. Revised Draft Plan- April 15, 2025
  8. Final Draft Plan- May 15, 2025
  9. Adoption Process- May 15, 2025

Project stakeholders: Traditionally underrepresented populations and means of outreach.

  • Youth
    • Social media, postcards/ flyers in area businesses, outreach via employers and affinity groups
  • Low-income residents
    • Online surveys and other engagement methods that require low time investment, postcards/flyers in grocery stores and other busy locations
  • Elderly population
    • Outreach via senior living facilities, medical offices
  • Renters
    • Outreach via landlords, canvassing
  • Seasonal employees
    • Outreach via employers
  • ESL persons
    • Multilingual engagement materials, such as flyers and survey
  • Minority groups
    • Outreach via churches, schools, affinity groups
  • 81211 Zip Code Residents
    • Outreach via water bills, regional news outlets and organizations. Can verify participation from this group via geo-referenced survey questions (e.g., people note where they live on a map).

Project timeline:

Phase 1: Project Management (April 2024- May 2024)

Phase 2: Co-Creators and Community Engagement (April 2024- March 2025)

Phase 3: Research and Community Analysis (April 2024- October 2024)

Phase 4: Plan Document (November 2024- June 2025)- Final Draft and Block Party (Spring 2025)





  • August 2025

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    Join the Planning and Zoning Commission on Wednesday, August 6th at 7:00 PM in the Pinon Room at the Community Center (715 E. Main Street) for the final public review of the Town of Buena Vista’s Comprehensive Plan before it heads to the Board of Trustees!

    This is your last chance to view the final draft and share your thoughts before the plan is presented for adoption on August 26th.

    • Snacks and refreshments will be provided!
    • Bring a friend and your voice — this is your final opportunity to be heard!

    Following this mini-celebration of all the hard work that’s gone into the plan, the meeting will continue with a final discussion carried over from the July 9th Planning and Zoning Commission meeting. The continuation was scheduled to give Commissioners and the public time to thoroughly review the full document.

    SE Group, our planning consultants, will present a summary of final edits, and the Planning and Zoning Commission will vote on whether to recommend adoption to the Board of Trustees.


    Help us spread the word — we hope to see you there!

    Buena Vista Comp Plan Update_REVISED_072525_with appendices.pdf - Google Drive

  • July 2025-Buena Vista Comprehensive Plan w/ Appendix

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    The Town of Buena Vista is proud to announce the adoption of the Buena Vista 2025 Comprehensive Plan, a community-driven roadmap to guide growth, development, and community priorities over the next decade.

    Click here to view the 2025 Buena Vista Comprehensive Town Plan

    Reflecting over a year of extensive public engagement, in which hundreds of residents shared their vision for the future of Buena Vista. Through surveys, open houses, and stakeholder conversations, key priorities emerged, including affordable housing, water resource management, transportation connectivity, and preserving the small-town character that makes Buena Vista unique.

    The updated Comprehensive Plan serves as a tool for residents, Town leaders, businesses, and community partners to work together toward shared goals. It will guide land use decisions, infrastructure investments, and policy development to ensure Buena Vista remains a desirable, welcoming, and sustainable community for all.

    Highlights of the 2025 Comprehensive Plan include:

    • A renewed focus on preserving Buena Vista’s small-town character, scenic beauty, and historic charm
    • Clear strategies to expand affordable housing, particularly through infill development and the use of Town-owned land
    • Integration of water resource planning into all development decisions to safeguard this vital resource
    • Support for a vibrant, walkable downtown and revitalization of key areas along Highway 24 and West Main Street
    • Emphasis on inclusivity, community spirit, and ensuring all residents feel welcomed, empowered, and connected

    The plan builds upon recent milestones, including expanded trails, park improvements, housing initiatives, and critical water infrastructure projects. It aligns with other Town plans, including the Transportation Master Plan, Water Conservation Plan, and Recreation Master Plan.

    This is a living document, designed to evolve as the community grows and conditions change. Town staff, elected officials, and community organizations will use the plan to guide future projects, secure grant funding, and make informed decisions that reflect the values and priorities of Buena Vista residents.

    Learn more and explore the full Buena Vista 2025 Comprehensive Plan at www.buenavistaco.gov/comprehensiveplan

    Be Visionary. Together, we’re shaping the future of Buena Vista.

  • June 2025- Draft Plan Release

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    The draft Comprehensive Plan was presented at the May 27th Buena Vista Board of Trustee's meeting for initial review. This public draft is available for review here and by clicking the button below. Public comment on this draft will be accepted for 30 days, until June 26th. Please use the form below to provide comment.


    Buena Vista Comprehensive Plan (Draft)


    Public Comment Form


  • November 2024 Update

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    Comprehensive Plan November Update

    The Town of Buena Vista is updating its Comprehensive Town Plan, a policy document to guide the look and feel of the community over the next decade. For more information, visit the project website: BVBeVisionary.com

    Updates and ways to stay involved!

    Ongoing Research: The project team has been compiling research about existing conditions, covering everything from economic development to recreation to housing and water, and laying the factual foundation for the Comprehensive Plan. Each existing condition report is workshopped with the Comprehensive Plan Steering Committee, and the draft reports are available for public review on the project website: Draft Documents page. A portion of the reports have been finalized and others are still in draft form and will be posted once complete.

    Public Comment Portal: A public comment portal is available on the project website, Get Involved page. This portal will be up throughout the life of the Comprehensive Plan Update and will be monitored regularly.

    Recreation Survey: The Recreation, Trails, Facilities & Parks survey is live! This survey seeks to understand the community’s recreational needs, priorities, and willingness to pay for facilities and programming. This survey is open through December 15th and should take approximately 10 minutes to complete. Respondents will be entered into an opportunity drawing for one of several prizes provided by local companies. For more information about the survey, visit https://www.buenavistarec.com/survey/. While not a part of the comprehensive plan itself, the comprehensive plan will draw on the findings of this survey as appropriate.

    Future Comprehensive Plan Engagement: Following the completion of the existing conditions research in late 2024 - early 2025, a community survey and additional engagement opportunities will be launched to present potential plan recommendations and gauge community feedback. Stay tuned!

    Project Timeline

    May 2024 – Project Kick-Off

    June 2024 – Open House & Engagement Kick-Off

    June – December 2024 – Research & Community Engagement – we are here!

    Winter 2025 – First Draft of Plan

    Spring 2025 – Final Plan & Block Party

  • September 2024 Update

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    Comprehensive Plan September Update

    The Town of Buena Vista is updating its Comprehensive Town Plan, a policy document to guide the look and feel of the community over the next decade. For more information, visit the project website: BVBeVisionary.com

    What’s been happening so far?

    RESEARCH: After a successful Open House event in June 2024, the project team has been processing the results of the community feedback and compiling research about existing conditions, laying the factual foundation for the Comprehensive Plan.

    DRAFT DOCUMENTS: The Open House Engagement Summary and first round of existing conditions memos are available for public review on the project website, Draft Documents page.

    Upcoming ways to get involved!

    PUBLIC COMMENT PORTAL: A public comment portal is available on the project website, Get Involved page. This portal will be up throughout the life of the Comprehensive Plan Update and will be monitored regularly.

    RECREATION SURVEY: In October, a Recreation, Trails & Facilities survey will be launched to understand the community’s recreational needs, priorities, and willingness to pay for facilities and programming.

    PLAN RECOMMENDATIONS SURVEY: Following the completion of the existing conditions research in late 2024 - early 2025, a community survey will be launched to present potential plan recommendations and gauge community feedback.

    Project Timeline

    May 2024 – Project Kick-Off

    June 2024 – Open House & Engagement Kick-Off

    June – December 2024 – Research & Community Engagement – we are here!

    Winter 2025 – First Draft of Plan

    Spring 2025 – Final Plan & Block Party


  • Open House-June 20th, 5-7:30pm

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    Join us at the Buena Vista Comprehensive Plan Open House

    June 20th, 5-7:30pm

    Buena Vista Community Center

    715 E Main Street

Page last updated: 01 Aug 2025, 01:38 PM