Custer County Master Plan Supporting Document July 6, 2010 July 6, 2010 Vision Statement Custer County, one of Colorado’s most beautiful mountain landscapes, honors its rural, agricultural, mining, and western heritage, and seeks to connect its future with its past by protecting local values, preserving community assets, respecting property rights, accommodating managed growth and compatible economic, and serving as responsible stewards of its inspiring natural environment. 2 Custer County Master Plan Supporting Document July 6, 2010 Table of Contents Introduction .............................................................................................................................. 5 Purpose ................................................................................................................................. 5 Background ............................................................................................................................ 5 Planning Influences .................................................................................................................... 8 Land Use................................................................................................................................ 8 Context .............................................................................................................................. 8 Incorporated Towns ............................................................................................................. 8 Land Use, Zoning and Subdivision ......................................................................................... 9 Environment ......................................................................................................................... 11 Topography ...................................................................................................................... 11 Climate ............................................................................................................................. 11 Air Quality ......................................................................................................................... 12 Geology ............................................................................................................................ 12 Soils ................................................................................................................................. 12 Noxious Weeds .................................................................................................................. 14 Water ............................................................................................................................... 15 Wetlands .......................................................................................................................... 16 Wildlife ............................................................................................................................. 16 Economic Development ............................................................................................................ 17 Housing ............................................................................................................................ 17 Historic Preservation .......................................................................................................... 17 Sustainable Development ................................................................................................... 18 Services and Infrastructure ....................................................................................................... 19 Government ...................................................................................................................... 19 Transportation .................................................................................................................. 19 Utilities ............................................................................................................................. 20 Emergency Services ........................................................................................................... 22 Education ......................................................................................................................... 23 Appendix A: Common Acronyms ................................................................................................ 29 Appendix B: Bibliography .......................................................................................................... 30 Appendix C: Adoption Resolution ............................................................................................... 32 Acknowledgments .................................................................................................................... 33 Custer County Master Plan Supporting Document 3 July 6, 2010 List of Tables Table 1: Historic Population ...................................................................................................... 26 Table 2: Population Projections ................................................................................................. 26 Table 3: Public Land Use Acreage .............................................................................................. 26 Table 4: Private Land Use Acreage ............................................................................................ 26 Table 5: Selected Subdivision Activity ........................................................................................ 27 Table 6: Permit Activity ............................................................................................................ 27 Table 7: Assessed Valuation ...................................................................................................... 28 Table 8: Employment Projections .............................................................................................. 28 Table 9: Revenue/Expense Ratios .............................................................................................. 28 List of Maps Figure 1. Location Map ............................................................................................................. 24 Figure 2. Planning Influences Map ............................................................................................. 25 4 Custer County Master Plan Supporting Document July 6, 2010 Introduction Purpose was funded by a HUD planning grant. Unlike the 1969 Sketch Plan, the 1975 Comprehensive Plan provided in-depth This Supporting Document was detail of Custer County, with over 35 developed as part of the 2010 review maps and illustrations organized into four and revision of the Custer County plan sections addressing environmental Master Plan. It includes the setting, cultural characteristics, land use inventories, studies, surveys and determinants, and Colorado House Bill analysis of current trends that indicate 1041. Over 35 years later, much of the social and economic consequences of information within the 1975 the Master Plan to the existing and Comprehensive Plan is still relevant as projected population. reference material. Background In 1984, Custer County contracted with a planning consultant to prepare a In 1969, the Colorado State Planning “comprehensive area plan”, which Office, through an urban planning included approximately one-third of the grant from the Department of Housing county, primarily the central growth and Urban Development (HUD) under areas. At the time, proposed the provisions of Section 701 of the development of the Conquistador Ski Housing Act of 1954, prepared a Area, the Lake De Weese area, and the Sketch Plan for Custer County, Silver Silver West Airport area were anticipated Cliff and Westcliffe. The simple, two- to create significant growth pressure in sided Sketch Plan plot outlined goals the Wet Mountain Valley and upon the and objectives and described existing towns of Silver Cliff and Westcliffe. The land use, transportation, and 1984 Custer County Comprehensive Area community facilities. Plan ultimately was not supported primarily due to a desire to include the In proposing future land use, the entire county in the comprehensive Sketch Plan depicted five categories of planning process. uses: urban, agriculture, mountain residential, resort residential and open New growth pressures during the mid- space. Although never adopted, the 1990’s spurred a “grassroots” initiative to Sketch Plan served a very useful develop a master plan. A local volunteer planning purpose for Custer County – Master Plan Committee, appointed by the the future land use categories Regional Planning Commission, solicited provided the initial foundation for input from local public officials and Custer County’s 1971 Zoning community groups, held numerous public Resolution and its five zoning districts. meetings and created several drafts of a master plan. Approximately 250 people The second attempt to create a county attended a workshop as part of the master plan was initiated by the Upper Custer County Community Forum on Arkansas Council of Governments in June 26, 1999, emerging with a top 1975. Like the 1969 effort, the 1975 priority to adopt a master plan. The Custer County Comprehensive Plan Custer County Regional Planning Custer County Master Plan Supporting Document 5 July 6, 2010 Commission adopted a version of a The 2002 version of the Custer County draft master plan in December 1999. Master Plan was designed to build upon After