Pitkin County outlines long - term climate goals

aspentimes.com · Feb 22, 2026 · Collected from GDELT

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Colorado's Western Slope is experiencing its worst snowpack on record, with Aspen Mountain still showing sparse conditions at the base on Feb. 15, 2026. Ski seasons have been shrinking since the 1980s as temperatures rise. Austin Colbert/The Aspen Times It all started with the declaration of a climate emergency in 2019. Then came Pitkin County’s creation of a 26-person citizen committee, analyzing “growth management challenges” through the lens of climate and quality of life, which sparked in 2024 the county’s establishment of a mutli-faceted “Vision 2050 Project.” “Which is implementing bold climate action, balancing our economy, preserving rural and wild lands and supporting an equitable and affordable community,” Pitkin County Senior Long-Range Planner Hannah-Hunt Wander told Aspen City Council in a joint city-county work session last week. And now, the county has drafted an updated version of its Comprehensive Plan, which is publicly available on Pitkin County’s website, so it can lay the foundation for future code updates aligning with its long-term vision. Wander explained to Aspen City Council that the major goals outlined in the Comprehensive Plan update are to focus on the natural environment, the built environment, community and economic health — and to take a regional approach to tackling challenges. The natural environment goal includes striving to preserve, conserve and protect Pitkin County’s natural environment, wild lands and rural character, according to the Comprehensive Plan draft. Wander said the plan aims to ensure that “all elements of the built environment,” including land use, transportation, housing, energy, and infrastructure, “work together to reflect our community values.” The plan’s community and economic health goal envisions that Pitkin County has an economy that supports an equitable and sustainable quality of life and is a healthy, safe and inclusive place. To implement a regional approach to these challenges, “from transportation to housing to climate,” the county strives to collaborate valley-wide, according to Wander’s presentation on the plan. The plan includes both carrying forward existing policies and bringing new ones to the table. The new policies underscores increased water adequacy and water conservation requirements, incentivizes homes under 3,250 square feet, supports “agricultural producers and local food,” calls for regional transportation planning, supports the Pitkin County workforce “regardless of residence” and more, according to the presentation. Aspen City Council Member John Doyle said he was “really impressed with the plan.” “You could tell it was very thoughtfully done,” he said. Public comment on the plan is available online in anticipation of a March 4 public hearing on the plan by Pitkin County’s Planning Commission. Send comments to vision2050@pitkincounty.com. Skyler Stark-Ragsdale can be reached at 970-429-9152 or email him at sstark-ragsdale@aspentimes.com. Pitkin County outlines long-term climate goals Feb 22, 2026 It all started with the declaration of a climate emergency in 2019. Then came Pitkin County’s creation of a 26-person citizen committee, analyzing “growth management challenges” through the lens of climate and quality of life, which sparked in 2024 the county’s establishment of a mutli-faceted “Vision 2050 Project.” See more