Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Land And Water Exchange topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Committee backs Buena Vista–CPW fee‑title exchange in Chaffee County
Summary
The Capital Development Committee voted unanimously to recommend a cost‑neutral exchange of land and associated water rights between the Town of Buena Vista and Colorado Parks and Wildlife, trading a 113‑acre parcel for a 63‑acre parcel to support wildlife management and town infrastructure.
The Capital Development Committee on a unanimous vote recommended support for a fee‑title exchange between the Town of Buena Vista and Colorado Parks and Wildlife that would trade two parcels and associated water rights in Chaffee County.
Daphne Gervais, director of legislative affairs at the Department of Natural Resources, told the committee the proposal is “cost neutral” and said the two parcels have been appraised “at almost identical values.” Gervais said the town initiated the transaction and that Colorado Parks and Wildlife is interested in acquiring the Buena Vista “Hog” property to manage it “as a state wildlife area for hunter access, habitat preservation, landscape connectivity” because it borders a Bureau of Land Management parcel and U.S. Forest Service land.
Gervais said the town of Buena Vista wants the CPW parcel for “expansion of city infrastructure, business improvements and other improvements, including a closer water supply, as the town population continues to increase.”
The committee’s motion to recommend support — described in the meeting as approving the fee‑title exchange receiving the Hog property for the Hay Barn property, “113 acres for 63 acres” — was moved by Senator Malika and passed on a unanimous poll. The minutes show committee members voting in the affirmative and the chair announcing, “That passes unanimously.”
Why it matters: The swap would place the Hog parcel under state wildlife management to preserve habitat and hunting access while giving the town a parcel CPW currently owns to support municipal infrastructure and water access as local demand grows. The committee record identifies adjacency to federal lands (BLM and U.S. Forest Service), which officials said supports landscape connectivity goals.
Action details: The committee recorded the motion and held a roll call poll before approving the recommendation. The committee did not document any conditions attached to the recommendation in the meeting transcript.
Next steps: The committee’s recommendation records support for the exchange; the transcript does not specify subsequent approvals or recording steps required to complete the transaction.
