The Buena Vista Board of Trustees will hold their regular meeting at 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, April 12, after a 6:00 p.m. work session with the Chaffee Housing Authority on sustainable funding. Meetings are held at the Community Center, 715 East Main Street in Buena Vista, and are also available on Zoom. Public comment and public hearings are also accessible through Zoom.
Major points on the board’s agenda this week are a public hearing regarding the Stackhaus Annexation petition, zoning ordinances, and a trustee discussion of the proposed changes to the town’s water rate schedule.
Stackhaus Annexation
Proposed Stackhaus development. Courtesy of the Town of Buena Vista, Stackhaus LLC.
The applicant, Stackhaus LLC, is petitioning for the annexation of 15750 County Road 306 and is requesting R-3 (High-Density Residential) zoning. In the board packet, Planning Director Joseph Teipel writes that town staff recommends approval of the resolution finding eligibility, sees an overall benefit to the Town and recommends approving the annexation ordinances, and joins the Planning and Zoning Commission in recommending the high-density residential zoning.
In his annexation narrative, Alex Telthorst of Stackhaus LLC writes that local workforce housing is in short supply. The Stackhaus development is intended to increase the housing supply, build deed-restricted units for local workers, and build rental units aimed at the seasonal workforce.
“This development will not solve all of the town’s housing problems,” he writes. “We will be building market-rate units as well as attainable units. We aim to be part of the solution and intend to build a welcoming, community-oriented, mixed-income neighborhood that will be a great place to live for generations.”
The board will hear presentations from Stackhaus LLC as well as town staff and will open the meeting to public comment on the annexation petition.
Water Rate Change
The board will also discuss and move to approve, approve with amendments, or deny “Resolution 26 approving amendments to the 2022 fee schedule, specific to water rates and including the addition of a tiered rate structure.”
The board held a work session on February 22 on the Draft Water Rate Study commissioned by the town from Wright Water Engineers. The study included a recommendation for changes to the water rates to cover increases in maintenance costs and capital expenses from 2022-2028. There is also a tiered structure recommended for monthly use beyond 5,000 gallons per month.
The recommendation is to increase the base water service rate each year by the Consumer Price Index to pay for increased costs of operation, parts, etc. The recommended rate change would increase that base rate from $34.92 to $36.87 and includes up to 5,000 gallons of water each month.
If approved, the tiered system adds on an additional cost per 1,000 gallons over 5,000 and increases the rate at certain thresholds. Fire lines are proposed to remain at 25 percent of the monthly base rate (currently there are 28 of these). Stormwater fees are not proposed to change ($3 for residences and $6 for commercial).
More information about the meeting’s agenda, as well as meeting packets and Zoom information, is available on the Town of Buena Vista website. All attendees wishing to enter for public comment must register in person or on Zoom.
The Stackhaus is a perfect example of solutions to the housing issue that local governments should be approving! There’s no need to increase taxes to fund housing, just get out of the way and allow developers and builders to help solve the problem!
Approve it