Salida City Council's First Work Session of 2021 Focuses on Housing and Economic Development - by Brooke Gilmore

Salida City Council will host their first work session of 2021 at 6:00 p.m. on January 4. The agenda includes a discussion on the annexation and rezoning of a 6.22 acre property located immediately north of CR 140 between CR 141 and CR 141-A.

The application of annexation was submitted by Tory Upchurch who wishes to build 25 units which Upchurch believes “will greatly relieve the housing availability stress that Salida is feeling right now and add to the tax base for the City of Salida.”

Touber Building where Salida City Council meetings are held (Photo by Taylor Sumners)

City Council will also discuss the Cherry Grove major subdivision. The proposal is to subdivide the 1.2-acre parcel into 7 individual lots that meet the dimensional standards of the R-4 zone district. Council will then to hear a presentation by Southern Colorado Economic Development. SCEDD’ s primary mission is to ensure economic priorities, policies and projects are being targeted for both federal and state funding through a variety of programs.

Michael Yerman, who will be giving the presentation, was a Salida City Planner 10 years ago. He then went to Buena Vista as a Planning Manager and came back to Salida as Community Development Director in 2012.

Over the next 12 months, SCEDD will be completing an update to the Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy; a five-year plan for the 13-member county region.

The presentation on Jan. 4 will outline the steps for this year-long process, including an upcoming survey of officials, staff and citizens to help best direct the priorities and resources needed to accomplish them.

SCEDD offers:

Existing services:

Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy Preparation
Planning Technical Assistance
Community Profile Preparation
Grant Preparation Assistance (limited)

Planned services:

Broadband planning and implementation
Attainable Housing capacity building
COVID-19 Relief Efforts
Filling unserved business financing niches
Full grant writing and planning services

Atmos Energy also has a presentation planned for council; the details of which have not yet been made available. Last on the agenda is a discussion of future work session dates that fall on a holiday, which include January 18, February 15, July 5 and September 6. Council will discuss how to reschedule the work session in lieu of the holidays. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, the work session will be held virtually via GoToMeeting. Click here to preregister.