The town of Dolores is launching a new comprehensive plan, which hasn’t been updated since 1997, Town Manager Leigh Reeves said.
Putting the plan together could take about a year, Reeves said, and the primary goal is to gather as much public input as possible.
“It’s honestly the most important part, because you want it to reflect what's important to town members,” Reeves said.
A comprehensive plan is required to pursue many state grants, including those through the Colorado Department of Local Affairs. The long-term guide, typically 20 to 400 pages, outlines community priorities, future projects and investments, and allows town officials to plan for change and allocate resources.
During the town manager’s update to board leaders Jan. 12, Reeves said the Planning and Zoning Commission is preparing to create a clearer timeline for community engagement.
Priorities may have changed since the 1990s, Reeves said. Housing, for example, is expected to be a major focus, as required by state law.
“Like in 1997, if you go look at that one, it’s like, ‘Oh, we're going to double in size,’” Reeves said. “Well, we actually didn't double in size. It said we should annex the eastern part – past where our town limits are – but we can't do that because of infrastructure,” she said.
Infrastructure limitations will be another key factor in planning. While earlier plans envisioned expansion, Dolores is largely constrained by water and sewer capacity.
The town’s population in 1997 was about 860 people in around 417 households, roughly 100 fewer than officials estimate today.
Reeves emphasized the comprehensive plan is a “vision” document, not a regulatory one. It guides decisions about land use, housing, parks and economic development, but it doesn’t establish enforceable rules. Regulatory details remain in the town’s land-use code, which was last updated in 2022.
Public outreach is expected to last until fall. Plans so far involve the following, though no official dates have been announced:
- A dedicated project website, expected to launch soon, with an interactive GIS-based map system where residents can drop suggestions about places they value or improvements they’d like to see.
- Surveys available both online and on paper.
- In-person engagement with community events, including at the farmers market, community center, and other local gathering spots, with food to encourage participation.
- Listening sessions hosted in multiple locations.
“We will probably do an event at Dolores River Brewery to get not just Dolores people but lots of people who use our town,” she said. “We have some of the best parks in the county.”
The town secured a $50,000 matching grant to support the process, with $25,000 from DOLA and $25,000 from the town’s budget. The grant covers only the public outreach and community engagement portion of the project.
Once drafted, the comprehensive plan will be brought forward for public hearings before adoption by the town board. The final product will likely be a searchable PDF posted to the town’s website.
