Basalt Planning Department
The
Basalt Planning Department staff consists of three people: the Town
Planner; the Community Development Coordinator; and a part-time Planning
Technician. A new position, that of Senior Planner, will be filled shortly.
Talking to the planning staff is the first step residents take when
determining whether or not to make any changes to their property. Planning
staff are available by appointment to meet with residents and developers
to discuss proposals.
The Basalt Town Council and its advisory boards rely
heavily on the assistance of the Planning Department to help decide
how the town should grow and develop. Along with these decisions comes
the Planning Department's important responsibility of making sure that
the impacts of development are paid for by those who benefit the most
from that development.
The planning staff also helps the Planning and Zoning
Commission prepare master plans to guide the town's growth. Currently,
the 1999 Master Plan is the town's signature document for outlining
key planning policies. In 2002 the River
Stewardship Master Plan was adopted by the town government as an
amendment to the 1999 Master Plan. The River Stewardship Master Plan
identifies how to make the river safer, enhance the riparian environment,
and create river parks for all of Basalt to enjoy. At this time, the
town's planning staff are working on a five-year update to the Master
Plan as well as finalizing the River Corridor Development Plan. This
plan will look more closely at development along the rivers and how
to pay for making the proposed river safety improvements.
The Planning Department also helps the Planning and
Zoning Commission and the Town Council review new developments. These
development projects range from looking at the perceived traffic and
infrastructure impacts of a proposed accessory dwelling unit in Old
Town Basalt to reviewing annexations into the town boundaries of properties
over a hundred acres with associated dwelling units. As a current example,
the town is reviewing Phase II of the Roaring Fork Club PUD, and several
other properties adjacent to the Roaring Fork River, that are seeking
annexation into the town.
Planning staff also coordinate and support the activities
and work of the Basalt Board of Zoning Adjustment which reviews and
either approves or denies applications for zoning variances.

The results of the results of the Basalt Community Survey are in! Click on the link below to view the survey. Thank you for your responses.
NWCCOG Basalt Community Survey Results
Small Town Character Presentation 12/12/2005