Crested Butte takes Community Compass road show to County

“We really want to call for regional collaboration”

[  By Katherine Nettles  ]

Having recently completed the 12-month effort of creating a Community Compass draft, or strategic guiding document, representatives from the town of Crested Butte spoke to Gunnison County commissioners on Tuesday, August 23 about the potential for regional collaboration where shared values can be found and asked for input. They were met with enthusiasm on several aspects of the draft and a commitment to consider the new document further in how it can be an asset for regional participation and collaboration, particularly around transportation. County staff will work with commissioners to prepare more detailed comments in the coming weeks.

The Community Compass, as CB community development director Troy Russ and long-range planner Mel Yemma explained, is basically the town’s comprehensive plan. The document “declares the intentions on the Town and provides a framework” to navigate the future that aligns with core community values.  

The town staff developed the document based on extensive outreach, partner workshops and a retreat. Then a large advisory committee, several drafts, and a public comment period ended with a final draft document identifying four core values to stand by in navigating the future. Those values have been identified as being authentic, connected, bold and accountable, and the idea is to identify measures of success by turning “values into actions,” as Yemma stated. 

The goals include enacting a five-year plan and navigating complex community changes based on the guidance of the identified values. The document outlines a method of identifying problems, outlining a community engagement strategy, considering alternatives and making decisions. The document’s epilogue chapter, which brought the staff to the county commissioners, is titled “A call and commitment for collaboration.”

”We really want to call for regional collaboration. We’ve done that very well in this valley on a number of challenges,” said Russ. “We want to continue that with some more of our challenges…we think there’s shared values, and we certainly want to get your feedback—from our council as well as you, the Crested Butte South POA, Mt. Crested Butte and the city of Gunnison.”

Russ highlighted considerations such as civil dialogue, social equity and and environment. He said a regional land use strategy “to help preserve our rural feeling between our population centers,” would be of interest to the council beyond its own square mile of town boundaries, and economically ensuring essential services to the communities as well as caring for environmental impacts.

“There are some things that we have to do to clean up inside our own house, but then also make a declaration to our partners so they know where we are coming from,” said Russ. He said the town wants to avoid making unilateral decisions “but for our partners to be able to trust us.” 

Commissioners gave their comments, which were overall complimentary of the town’s new planning strategy. 

Commissioner Roland Mason said during his eight years serving on CB’s town council, the compass shows a lot of progress from previous efforts to start and then eventually shelving strategic plan efforts. “If I were to get back on the council at some point in the future, I would find this very helpful,” he said.

“This is a very thoughtful process you’ve put together,” said commissioner Liz Smith. She noted that there are a lot of things that can be in conflict with one another, such as economic vitality and environmental responsibility, which will be complex. She also said she thinks the stated values “are almost all shared,” and simply a matter of prioritization. She asked, “How do you see that interfacing with the larger collaborations?”

Russ said the hope is that regional partners can agree to some form of this declaration.

“The very important thing which our mayor brought up…is what are potential trade-offs?” he acknowledged. 

 Commissioner chair Jonathan Houck said he appreciates the idea of expanding some values beyond the immediate town of CB and focused on the example of regional transportation and the shared values of walkability, living where you work, accessing mass transit and reducing drive traffic. He also spoke of interconnectedness.

“The success of the ski area and the business community of Crested Butte is very important to Gunnison,” Houck said. “And the success of Western Colorado University and the business community in Gunnison is very important to Crested Butte. We are very much connected even though the communities are somewhat separate geographically.”

Russ said the next steps would be for commissioners and county staff, if willing, to offer more formal feedback and input within the month of September as part of the compass process. Assistant county manager for community and economic development Cathie Pagano said as she was able to spend more time with the document in the coming days, she and other county staff could gather comments along with the commissioners’ feedback. 

Houck made a final comment on the compass value of boldness. “We are seeing rapid changes globally, in this country, in this state, and with our communities. Even with our geographic isolation and us really enjoying the sweet little spot we get to live in Gunnison County. Boldness should be expected and boldness should be displayed. Not just by the town council but by all of us and people who are a part of our county-wide community. So I really think this is an opportunity and I appreciate that you want to draw that out,” he said. “I’m looking forward to our ability to interface with you on this more.”