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Consultants present Valley Vision plan to Gunnison commission, promoting downtown infill, parks and new trail network
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Summary
Consultants presented a multi‑chapter Valley Vision plan that recommends downtown infill, an interconnected trail network, a regional park near the high school, and possible Main Street redesigns (including lane reductions and bike lanes). The plan will be provided to both city councils for adoption and to support future general‑plan updates.
Consultants presented the Valley Vision plan to the Gunnison Planning & Zoning Commission on Jan. 29, describing a six‑chapter document that lays out a growth strategy, future land‑use map, recreation plan and a transportation framework for the valley.
The team said the plan reflects public engagement (more than 400 participants) and scenario testing. “Overall, more than three‑quarters of residents favored scenario 2/3,” the consultant said, and the scenarios together contemplated roughly 3,300 new households and 3,300 new jobs. The document includes a preferred mix: downtown housing infill, select attached housing/ADU areas, maintenance of agriculture on the town edge and an innovation/industrial area in the northeast.
On downtown design, consultants proposed concentrating investments on a compact downtown core rather than spreading interventions along the entire Main Street corridor. Design suggestions included street trees, modified street lights, more distinctive signage, on‑street dining, diagonal parking on some approaches and temporary placemaking events to draw foot traffic. Consultants also recommended updating the sign ordinance and exploring public restroom options and coordinated hours for businesses.
The parks and recreation chapter proposes two large recreation areas, a regional park adjacent to the high school with multiple sports fields, courts and a possible indoor recreation or warehouse‑style facility, and an "emerald necklace" of parks and trails along the river. Consultants noted trail grant deadlines in March and urged the city to use an adopted plan as a basis for grant applications.
The transportation plan suggests converting three downtown blocks from four travel lanes toward two travel lanes with a center turn lane to improve pedestrian safety, adding bike lanes on Main Street and coordinating with UDOT on signal and intersection improvements. Consultants said UDOT planners indicated the proposed changes would function with the city’s traffic counts and that small increases in travel time could be offset by increased pedestrian safety and downtown activity.
Commissioners asked what to prioritize with unlimited funds (responses included acquiring park land, building the regional center, and trails) and what to tackle with limited funds (updating zoning/code was cited as high value). Staff said consultants will deliver GIS files and that the plan can be adopted as an exhibit to the city’s general plan following required public‑notice steps and council approvals.