Implementing Basalt's 2020 Master Plan
by identifying and prioritizing capital projects

Basalt Forward 2030 Project Recommendations

Basalt Master Plan provided several projects for consideration

The Basalt Master Plan came together through extensive community engagement. The Master Plan’s primary purpose is to be the guidebook for how Basalt’s citizens, workers, visitors and developers will help the Town grow into its vision of a sustainable and connected community. The plan included maps, charts, descriptions and illustrations to communicate our community’s values to future leadership and residents in order to leave a planning legacy for future generations.

As part of the Master Plan, 13 projects were identified and ranked by the public that demonstrated “actionable efforts that may be championed … to implement this Plan.” The citizen-led Capital Needs Committee is reviewing several of these projects. The Town has already begun or taken significant steps to complete some of the Master Plan projects, including:

• Making capital investments to reduce Basalt’s greenhouse gas emissions;
• Completing firewise mitigation projects along our urban fringe;
• Beginning steps toward redevelopment of the Clark’s Market parcel; and
• Upgrading Arbaney Park swimming pool.

Facility Needs Study identifies additional Town projects

In addition to the important projects identified in the Master Plan, the Town itself has several infrastructure needs to maintain high levels of core community services now and into the future.

As part of this process, the Town commissioned a Facility Needs Study to review all of Basalt’s public buildings. The study was recently presented to Town Council and specifically identified Town Hall and a police facility as short-term needs for Basalt. Both facilities need to be modernized to address community growth, building age, employee space needs, customer service and other considerations.

The completion of the second phase of the Public Works Facility was also identified as a need in the study. These three projects have been added to the Capital Needs Committee’s consideration of potential projects.

Capital Needs Committee project list

As of June 15, the Capital Needs Committee has met three times to discuss the scope of Basalt Forward 2030 and potential Town projects that can be addressed as part of this process. In working with Town staff, the committee has developed the following list of potential projects, combining recommendations from the Master Plan, Facility Needs Study and other public input.

The committee will be reviewing the feasibility, community input and potential costs of these projects to make recommendations to Town Council later in the summer. Town Council, staff and committee members will utilize public feedback, including this survey, to help prioritize projects and decide whether to put a question on the 2021 ballot. The current list of projects being consider include:

Master Plan recommendations:

• Affordable workforce and/or senior housing project—The Town could utilize resources from a bond for a public-public or public-private partnership to provide much-needed workforce or senior housing for our community.

• Green initiatives—The Town could invest in a significant solar project or partner in a large emissions-reduction project to reduce the community’s greenhouse gas emissions.

• Midland Avenue streetscape—The Town could complete vitality and beautification improvements within Old Town that support local businesses.

• Traffic improvement—The Town could conduct a feasibility study for a Southside Drive/
Midland Avenue underpass.

• Child Development Center—Basalt could support a public-private partnership to construct an early-education and childcare facility to support the Town’s workforce and childcare needs.

• Parking—Old Town and Willits could benefit from parking to accommodate community members and visitors, while supporting local businesses.

Facility Needs Study recommendations:

• Town Hall—The Town could construct a new Town Hall that would provide community space and an updated facility for better interface for community services.

• Police facility—To meet the needs of our growing community, the Basalt police force will need a new space to accommodate staffing, community services, storage and vehicles.

• Public works facility—The Town could fast-track completion of Phase 2 of its Public Works Facility to include several energy-efficiency and Green upgrades. This would provide adequate work space and allow the Town’s vehicle fleet to transition to electric vehicles.

Projects for future consideration:

The following projects were identified in the Master Plan, but due to limitations in this funding source, they will be considered at a future date. The Town will continue to study the feasibility of each project and look for funding sources and partnerships with neighboring communities and other governments.

• Transportation—A connector shuttle between Old Town and Willits, as well as free RFTA bus service within a mid-valley zone, to help reduce traffic. Operational costs, such as bus service, cannot be part of a bond question.

• Pedestrian connectivity—An additional pedestrian bridge over the Roaring Fork River.