Buena Vista adopts water-allocation policy tweaks and formalizes annexation fees tied to water augmentation certificates

Buena Vista — May 26, 2026 — The Board of Trustees approved administrative amendments to the town's water-allocation policy (Resolution 42) and adopted Ordinance 2026-12 establishing annexation-related fees tied to water-augmentation certificate administrative and engineering costs.

Resolution 42 modifies definitions and weighting in the town's water-allocation framework to better match recently adopted affordability thresholds. Staff described a scenario (a 40-unit condominium example) showing how the policy requires that at least one unit receiving water from the town's affordable allocation must meet an affordability standard in perpetuity (100% area median income or better, per the town's adopted definition) and that developers choosing to use the affordable allocation must pick measures from a menu to achieve required affordability metrics.

Town staff said the changes close loopholes that previously allowed marginally market-rate units to qualify, and that the updated policy is intended to ensure allocations tied to the affordable housing bucket deliver long-term affordability outcomes. Trustees moved and adopted Resolution 42.

In a separate but related action, trustees adopted Ordinance 2026-12 to place in the municipal code the expectation that annexation applicants pay fees associated with water-augmentation certificates and any required engineering or ongoing costs as a condition of annexation. Staff said the ordinance memorializes a practice and clarifies the town's authority to charge those fees as part of annexation review.

Next steps: staff will post the amended water-allocation policy online and apply the updated definitions and allocation menu to future sketch-plan and annexation reviews.