Archuleta County is updating its Comprehensive Plan
A long-range vision that will guide how the county grows and changes over the next 20 years, including land use, housing, water, infrastructure, and county services.
The community survey will play a pivotal role in shaping the plan’s vision, goals, and priorities. Questions will cover quality of life, growth and land use, water, housing, and county services. There are no right or wrong answers; the intent of the survey is to understand the community’s experiences and hopes for the county’s
The survey will take 10 to 15 minutes to complete, and every response counts.
All comments are welcome
Get Involved
FAQ’s
Welcome to the official hub for the Archuleta County Comprehensive Plan! This project serves as our community’s long-range blueprint, establishing a clear, sustainable vision for how our county evolves over the coming years.
This plan belongs to the community. Your local knowledge and perspectives are vital to ensuring this roadmap accurately reflects the priorities of those who live and work here. Please explore the site to review project materials, view maps, and provide feedback through our digital engagement tools.
Overview & Purpose
The Comprehensive Plan replaces the 2017 Community Plan and will serve as the County’s long-range vision to reflect today’s growth, housing needs, and infrastructure realities, while meeting new requirements under Colorado Senate Bill 24-174 (SB24-174) and Colorado Revised Statutes (C.R.S.) § 30-28-106. Together, these require Colorado counties to add a Water Supply Element, developed in consultation with local water providers, and a Strategic Growth Element to their comprehensive plans by December 31, 2026, and to update both at least every five years.
The update will:
- Refresh the vision, goals, and policies of the 2017 Community Plan to reflect recent growth and current community priorities.
- Add a Water Supply Element that inventories water providers, water rights, and facilities, and connects water planning with future land use.
- Add a Strategic Growth Element that encourages infill, discourages sprawl, and helps guide where and how the County grows.
- Link the Plan to the County’s recent Housing Needs Assessment and the Housing Action Plan now underway.
- Update maps, demographics, and data to support clear, evidence-based decisions.
Archuleta County continues to grow, welcoming more than 1,000 residents (roughly 9%) since 2017, with population projected to reach about 16,218 by 2035. Most of this growth is taking shape in the unincorporated areas around Pagosa Springs. Planning ahead helps ensure that as the County grows, residents keep access to a range of housing options, reliable infrastructure, a strong local economy, and the open spaces and recreation that make Archuleta County home.
Project Timeline
The Community Plan Update is underway in 2026, with community engagement woven throughout the process.
Phase 1
Project Launch & Existing Conditions
Confirm the vision and goals and update the Plan’s data on population, housing, economy, land use, infrastructure, and natural hazards.
Phase 2
Community Engagement
Surveys, stakeholder conversations, and a community workshop and open house to gather input throughout the project.
Phase 3
Water Supply & Strategic Growth Elements
Develop the two new state-required elements, including water inventories and infill, as well as a greenfield growth analysis.
Phase 4
Draft Plan, Review & Adoption
Compile the updated Comprehensive Plan and present it to the Planning Commission and Board of County Commissioners for review and adoption.
Resources
Access key documents and materials related to the Comprehensive Plan. New materials will be added throughout the process, check back here for updates.
Ways to Participate
The Archuleta County Community Plan Update is shaped by the people who live, work, and play here. There are several ways to get involved:
- Participate in community surveys.
- Attend the combined community workshop and open house, held jointly with the County’s Housing Action Plan effort.
- Sign up for email updates to stay informed about meetings and milestones.
What the Plan Will Address
Your input will help guide:
- Vision, goals, and community character
- Housing choices and affordability
- Water supply and infrastructure
- Strategic growth, infill, and sprawl prevention
- Land use and future development patterns
- Natural hazards and environmental stewardship
Key Stakeholders
Throughout the project, the team is coordinating with agencies and organizations that serve Archuleta County, including:
- Town of Pagosa Springs
- Pagosa Area Water and Sanitation District (PAWSD)
- Pagosa Springs Sanitation General Improvement District (PSSGID)
- La Plata Electric Association (LPEA)
- Archuleta School District #50 JT
- Pagosa Lakes Property Owners Association (PLPOA)
- Pagosa Springs Community Development Corporation
Public Meetings
Public meetings and the community workshop and open house will:
- Share the purpose and process for the Comprehensive Plan
- Present findings on existing conditions, water supply, and strategic growth
- Offer hands-on, station-based activities with maps and data visualizations
Upcoming Meetings
The Comprehensive Plan (sometimes called a community or master plan) is the County’s long-range guide that expresses the community’s shared vision for the future. It sets goals and policies for how Archuleta County grows and changes, covering land use, housing, water, infrastructure, the local economy, natural resources, and community character. It helps County leaders and staff make consistent, well-informed decisions over time.
The current Community Plan was adopted in 2017. Since then, the community has changed with growth pressures, rising housing costs, and the demands of an economy shaped by tourism and second homes. This update refreshes the County’s vision and goals and, importantly, adds two new elements now required under Colorado Senate Bill 24-174 and Colorado Revised Statutes (C.R.S.) § 30-28-106: a Water Supply Element and a Strategic Growth Element. The work is being coordinated with the Colorado Department of Local Affairs (DOLA).
Like other plans, it looks roughly 10 to 20 years into the future. It is meant to be a living document that is revisited and updated as conditions change, not a fixed blueprint.
No. The Comprehensive Plan is an advisory, guiding document. It does not rezone property, change your zoning, or by itself change what you can do with your land. It sets the County’s long-term direction. Any future regulatory changes, such as updates to zoning or the land use code, would happen separately, through their own public process.
The plan does not require or approve any specific development. In fact, the new Strategic Growth Element is about managing growth thoughtfully by encouraging development where roads, water, and services already exist, supporting infill, and discouraging scattered sprawl so the County can protect its rural and small-town character while planning responsibly for change.
SB 24-174 is a Colorado law that raises expectations for how communities plan for strategic growth and water supply, asking them to demonstrate a data-supported understanding of both. Under Colorado Revised Statutes (C.R.S.) § 30-28-106, counties must add a Water Supply Element, developed with local water providers, and a Strategic Growth Element to their comprehensive plans by December 31, 2026. For Archuleta County, this means the updated Comprehensive Plan will include two new elements prepared to be defensible, transparent, and useful for State coordination and grant funding.
It is a new section of the plan that inventories the county’s water providers, facilities, water rights, and limitations; connects land use planning to real water availability; incorporates water conservation; and identifies triggers for future updates. It is being prepared in consultation with local water providers and includes a commitment to revisit it regularly.
It sets policies and tools to promote strategic growth and prevent sprawl. It includes an analysis of vacant and underused land suitable for infill, an evaluation of undeveloped “greenfield” areas and the long-term cost of serving them, including the county’s village centers of Arboles, Aspen Springs, and Chromo, and a clear link to the County’s housing needs. The County will commit to reviewing this element at least every five years.
For more information about the Archuleta County Community Plan Update, or to ask a question, please contact the project team:
- Eva Kruse – County Coordinator | ekruse@archuletacounty.gov