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Fire district unveils strategic plan and CHA secures $1.6M for 33-unit Crossing development
Summary
At the Jan. 13 Buena Vista meeting, Chaffee County Fire Protection District announced its first 50-year Strategic Plan and a new Type 3 wildland engine; the Chaffee Housing Authority said The Crossing closed loans and secured a $1.6 million Housing Development Grant for a 33-unit project serving households 30%–100% AMI.
At the Jan. 13 meeting of the Buena Vista Board of Trustees, two county agencies provided substantive updates: the Chaffee County Fire Protection District reported operational expansions and the Chaffee Housing Authority (CHA) described progress on a 33-unit housing development.
Fire Chief Kira Jones said the district has experienced increased call volume, expanded community engagement, and finished its first Strategic Plan in its 50-year history. Jones listed 2026 priorities including resiliency code coordination, aligning food-truck inspections with the 2025–26 national fire code, updates to the Chaffee Chips wildfire mitigation program, expanded staffing and the creation of a Wildland Captain position. She also announced the district purchased a Type 3 wildland engine, the first major equipment acquisition in over a decade.
Marjo Curgus, Executive Director of the Chaffee Housing Authority, reported that The Crossing project has closed on its loans and secured a $1.6 million Housing Development Grant through a CHA partnership. The 33-unit development will serve households earning roughly 30% to 100% of area median income (AMI) and is expected to open in late 2026 or early 2027. Curgus described CHA's coordination with a potential Kroger/City Market workforce-housing outreach, plans to administer a countywide bridge-housing program (Molly House under Jane's Place) for families and seniors, and the importance of the Jan. 27 Point-in-Time unsheltered count amid potential federal funding changes.
Planning Director Marika Kopp told trustees that Root Policy was selected to conduct the county's Housing Needs Assessment starting in February and reported that a temporary vendor survey received 90 responses. Trustees discussed the reformation of the Chaffee County Visitors Bureau into a Destination Management Council and expressed interest in participating.
Next steps: agencies will continue implementation of strategic priorities, CHA will finalize DOLA reporting and next-phase planning for The Crossing, and the county housing needs assessment will begin in February.
