Despite initial resistance and concerns about development, Gilpin County’s first Comprehensive Plan is a long-range planning success story. The County’s desire to preserve their rural mountain lifestyle coupled with an award-winning engagement process, led to community consensus for “the Right Development in the Right Place,” expressed as concentrated development footprints called “villages.”

The Together Chaffee County Comprehensive Plan was honored to receive an award for its outstanding community engagement in unprecedented times. A unique, collaborative process involving local leadership, stakeholders and the general public resulted in a truly community-driven and implementable plan.