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Project Background
Summit County has experienced rapid growth in recent years, which has resulted in changes to the community character. The most notable changes have occurred in housing availability and affordability, vehicular traffic volumes, and increased recreational use at trails and trailheads. The County anticipates continued growth as more people are able to work remotely and choose to call Summit County their home. The important issues facing the County as a whole are growth management; housing availability and affordability; economic resiliency; transportation and traffic; preservation of natural resources, scenic vistas, and water quality; environmental hazards such as those related to wildfire, flooding, and avalanche; sustainability; and climate adaptation. Given these significant changes, it is time to update the existing Countywide Comprehensive Plan to reevaluate the attributes and characteristics of the County that residents, businesses, and visitors value most.
Summit County has had land use master plan documents in place since 1963. The Countywide Comprehensive Plan was adopted in 1994. From 1988 – 1999, Basin Master Plans were created to address the unique characteristics and community vision of the four (4) geographic basin areas in the County. The Countywide Comprehensive Plan is the umbrella document under which the County Basin Master Plans reside. The Countywide Comprehensive Plan was significantly updated in 2003, with an update related to affordable workforce housing taking place in 2009. In 2016, planning staff began an in-house attempt at updating the 2009 Countywide Comprehensive Plan. Staff completed the information gathering and public engagement portion related to the update of the Comprehensive Plan. Unfortunately, staff was unable to complete the Countywide Comprehensive Plan update process at that time. That effort is starting up again to update the 2009 Comprehensive Plan with the anticipated timeline wrapping up at the end of 2024.
Summit County has five (5) Planning Commissions; one for each of the four (4) geographic basins and a Countywide Planning Commission. The Countywide Comprehensive Plan will consolidate and incorporate the four (4) Basin Master Plans into one document.
What is a Comprehensive Plan?
A Comprehensive Plan is the primary planning document for the community. It will serve as a long-term strategic plan with a guiding vision built by the community and strategies to support that vision. Once adopted, the Countywide Comprehensive Plan will shape decisions related to new development, redevelopment, and county programs and services; focusing on enhancing the county’s values and high quality of life.
The Summit County Comprehensive Plan update will include consolidation and streamlining of the Countywide Comprehensive Plan, the Lower Blue Master Plan, the Snake River Master Plan, the Ten Mile Master Plan, and the Upper Blue Basin Master Plan into a document that provides clear land use, planning, environmental preservation, and economic diversification and resilience direction for the next 20 years.
Why does it matter to residents?
The plan will identify unique community characteristics and locations for future housing, parks, trails, community facilities, and more.
Why does it matter to business and property owners?
The plan will include land use recommendations and development policies.
Why does it matter to City leaders?
The plan will provide direction on the topics of development, policies, programs, and services provided by the County.
Why does it matter to decision-makers?
The plan will give guidance on budget, timing for capital improvements, and review of development proposals.
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Upper Blue Basin Overview
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This Basin begins near the southern shores of Lake Dillon, in the Farmers Korner area, and extends southward through the towns of Breckenridge and Blue River to the summit of Hoosier Pass. The easternmost portions of the Basin extend to the crest of the Continental Divide and the westernmost portions reach the crest of the Tenmile Range. Approximately 78 percent of this Basin is National Forest System land, the majority of which comprises undeveloped mountainsides. The primary areas of development are within and adjacent to the towns of Blue River and Breckenridge, in close proximity to the valley floor of the Blue River. The Basin is home to the Breckenridge Ski Area, one of the nation’s most popular ski destinations. Elevations in the Basin range from 9,014 feet at Lake Dillon to 14,265 feet at the summit of Quandary Peak.
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Snake River Basin Overview
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This Basin occupies the eastern portion of the County and is dominated by mountains. This Basin contains the Keystone and Arapahoe Basin Ski Resorts and ranges in elevation from 8,786 feet at the bottom of the Dillon Dam to a high of 14,270 atop Grays Peak. Ten miles of Interstate - 70 (I-70) runs through the northwestern portion of the Basin extending from the western edge of the Eisenhower Tunnel down to the Town of Silverthorne. Colorado Highway 6 bisects the heart of the Basin extending east to west from Loveland Pass, through the Keystone corridor, around a portion of Dillon Reservoir and into the Town of Dillon. The Basin’s most distinguishing feature—the Continental Divide, demarcates the majority of its northern and eastern boundaries, and is characterized by a series of prominent peaks. Swan Mountain serves as a southwestern buffer to the Summit Cove residential neighborhood area. The Snake River is the largest and most significant river in the Basin. It begins above the Town of Montezuma, cuts through the Keystone corridor, and ultimately terminates in the Dillon Reservoir.
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Ten Mile Basin Overview
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This basin encompasses the portion of Summit County that extends from the Gore Range on the north to the Lake County line (just north of Fremont Pass) on the south. The east and west boundaries are a portion of the Tenmile Range and the Eagle County line respectively. Located in the southwestern portion of the County, the Basin includes the Town of Frisco and Copper Mountain Ski Resort.
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Lower Blue Basin Overview
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This is a unique part of the County and has historically been an agricultural and ranching community. Today, the Basin is a mixture of national forest, wilderness areas, agriculture, natural resource extraction and processing, recreation, permanent residences, and second homes. Much of the real estate development and recreational use that has occurred in the Basin in the last several years is a result of increased tourism in the County. The Town of Silverthorne, at the southern end of the Basin, serves as a hub providing services and employment for residents of the area. North of Silverthorne, land uses shift from “urban,” or town-oriented, to agriculture, natural resource extraction and processing, dispersed recreation, and rural residential. In addition, Green Mountain Reservoir provides residents and visitors with a wide range of water-based recreational activities, some of which are not permitted elsewhere in the County, such as water skiing and swimming.
