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Buena Vista approves land swap with Colorado Parks and Wildlife to acquire development-ready parcel
Summary
Trustees authorized a $0 exchange that would trade the town farm for a CPW parcel south of town; the swap includes water rights and is subject to legal descriptions and final state approval.
The Buena Vista Board of Trustees voted March 25 to approve a land‑exchange agreement with Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) that would transfer the town’s northside property known as the town farm to CPW in exchange for a parcel south of town and associated water rights.
What trustees approved: By resolution the board authorized the mayor to execute an exchange agreement that staff and attorneys reviewed. The swap is a $0 exchange in appraised value: town and CPW valuations were reported as effectively equal. The agreement includes water rights tied to the parcels (staff referenced approximately 3 cubic feet per second on each side associated with irrigating ditches) and is contingent on final legal descriptions and review by the town and water attorneys.
Why it matters: Trustees and staff said the parcel CPW would convey to the town has development potential closer to town and could support a future housing project, road connections and public infrastructure. CPW retains lands better suited for wildlife management farther from town. Town staff noted the trade would provide additional development-ready acreage and an access corridor that could be useful for emergency response and for future development phases.
State approval and next steps: The town’s action authorizes local execution; the exchange also requires review by the State of Colorado capital development committee and related state approvals. CPW and town staff said they were coordinating materials for that state review. The board recorded a formal roll-call vote on the resolution and staff said legal descriptions and the exact water‑right conveyances would be finalized before recording.
Ending: Trustees described the swap as a multi‑year effort and a strategic opportunity to obtain land near town with water rights suitable for municipal uses; staff will report back as state approvals and legal descriptions are completed.
