As the La Plata County Planning Commission wends its way through an overhaul of the county’s 2001 comprehensive plan, it is examining the components of land-use planning chapter by chapter at monthly meetings. On Thursday, commissioners will delve into infrastructure needs, and in updating the plan, the county significantly has broadened the scope beyond its historical focus on transportation. That is appropriate to the vastly expanded set of utilities that comprise infrastructure and its effect on economic activity.
The discussion Thursday will focus on the long-term transportation, water, sewer, utility and telecommunications needs facing the county. These are considerable variables – individually and taken together – in the equation determining quality of life and economic development, as well as human and environmental health in La Plata County now and in the future. It behooves the county to ensure that these components are crafted with as much forethought as possible given to future needs and how best to meet them in coordination with other jurisdictions.
The Durango-La Plata County Airport is one such example. While the comprehensive plan is not intended to outline specific project plans, the proposed plan revision sets policy goals to guide that future planning. In the version up for discussion Thursday, a proposed policy says, “The county should recognize, participate and coordinate with efforts to establish future plans of both the La Plata-Durango and Animas airports.” Indeed, the county’s involvement is essential, as is that of its partner agencies. Enshrining that coordination in a long-range planning document is an important focus for the planning commission.
Water is another area where such coordination is critical. The discussion version sets the county’s overarching water goal broadly: “Coordinate with appropriate federal, state and local agencies to address current and future water sources, demand and conservation strategies.” To that end, the plan cues the county to consider the forthcoming Colorado Water Plan’s findings and conduct water storage, distribution and resource inventories to predict future supply in the county. This is a key component of a comprehensive plan.
The Planning Commission also will discuss telecommunications and utility infrastructure Thursday. The plan revision considers policy proposals that would encourage telecommunications companies to install fiber optics and other infrastructure in areas that lack services, as well as seek grant funding for the county to improve its telecommunications skeleton. These are investments that will pay major dividends for future economic expansion in the county and absolutely belong in the comprehensive plan.
The infrastructure component of the La Plata County Comprehensive Plan is one of its most crucial. Investing in adequate roads, sewer systems, water supply and utility – including telecommunications – is an essential underpinning to healthy growth. It is not cheap, however, and meeting these many and varied needs requires prioritization and resources. Citizen input is critical to shaping a long-range vision that both is desirable and attainable. The county is providing ample opportunity for that input; it is incumbent upon county residents to engage in this important process.
Attend the La Plata County Planning Commission’s special meeting Thursday to discuss the county’s long-term infrastructure needs.
