The Buena Vista Board of Trustees approved a one-time policy exception for a June 27 drone show celebrating national and state anniversaries, established regulations for natural medicine businesses, and accepted a $300,000 state grant for replacing the airport’s 20-year-old weather system at their March 10 meeting. The board also expanded the Sportsmen’s Club lease by 43 acres to support youth shooting programs and formed a workgroup to develop permanent short-term rental policies by September 2026.
Anniversary Drone Show Gets Green Light
Trustees unanimously approved a policy exemption allowing Mountain West UAS to host a drone light show on Saturday, June 27, at the Drone Training Park. The event violates town policy prohibiting special events during the last full weekend of June, but trustees granted a one-time exception for the celebration of America’s 250th anniversary, Colorado’s 150th, and Chaffee Fire District’s 50th.
Dennis Heap, treasurer of Mountain West UAS, told trustees the American Legion historically provided July 4th fireworks until 2025, when the Sons of the American Legion Post 55 took over responsibility. Concerned about potential fire bans, organizers pursued a drone show alternative through the Colorado Tourism Office, but July 4th dates were already booked. June 27 was the only available date.
During public comment, Blaine Clark, treasurer of the Sons of the American Legion Post 55, said the organization raised $14,000 for 2025 fireworks and remains committed to both shows. If substantial snow arrives in April allowing traditional fireworks, the group will proceed with both the June 27 drone show and July 4th fireworks. Janene Ervin, president of the Buena Vista Chamber of Commerce board, also spoke in support, saying the organization lacks the bandwidth to independently manage holiday events and welcomes the partnership.
The 15-minute drone show begins at 9:15 p.m. and is part of a noon to 10:30 p.m. event featuring a beer garden, live music, food trucks, and approximately 20 vendors. Expected attendance is 500 people.
Special Events Coordinator Annie Carlson said the committee would support the one-time exception given the unique anniversary circumstances and potential to alleviate July 4th weekend stress on officers. The complete application, including liquor permits and site plans, must be submitted before final approval.
Natural Medicine Business Regulations Established
Trustees unanimously adopted Ordinance 05, Series 2026, establishing zoning and operational requirements for natural medicine businesses following state legalization of psilocybin and psilocin under Proposition 122.
Natural healing centers, where facilitated medicinal experiences occur on-site, are permitted in Mixed Use 1, Mixed Use 2, and Highway Commercial zones with special use permits. Healing product manufacturers, cultivation facilities, and testing facilities require special use permits in the Industrial zone.
State law requires 1,000-foot setbacks from schools, childcare centers, and residential child care facilities. Trustees approved a 500-foot separation requirement between natural medicine businesses, defeating a proposal by Trustees Maggie Huyck and Micha Rosenoer to allow co-location consistent with state rules. The vote was 4-2.
Operating hours are limited to 7 a.m. to 9 p.m., Monday through Sunday. Trustee Rosenoer unsuccessfully argued for eliminating time restrictions entirely, noting facilitated psilocybin experiences can last several hours. Trustees removed a proposed 500-foot setback from drug and alcohol rehabilitation facilities after Senior Policy Advisor and Project Advocate Joel Benson relayed a recommendation from a state natural medicine policy advisor that psilocybin is often used to treat addiction and the setback would work against that therapeutic use.
Outdoor administration areas are limited to 1,000 square feet and must have six-foot fences screening activities from public view. State handles all licensing. The town’s role is limited to zoning compliance through special use permits.
Planning Director Marika Kopp’s mapping analysis shows eligible parcels include 14 in MU-2, 33 in MU-1, 47 in PUD, 54 in Industrial, and 82 in Highway Commercial zones, though the 1,000-foot school and childcare setbacks eliminate most downtown areas.
Airport Weather System Upgrade Advances
Trustees unanimously approved Resolution 23 accepting a $300,000 Colorado Department of Transportation grant for replacing the airport’s 20-year-old Automated Weather Observation System. The board also directed staff to pursue Alternate Site 3 near the Johnson Village/US-24 intersection, which opens the current location for future hangar and commercial development.
Town Administrator Brian Berger explained the existing AWOS has been on “life support” for years with increasingly difficult repairs and replacement parts. The system provides critical wind, temperature, and weather data pilots need for approach and landing decisions.
Alternate Site 3 carries an estimated cost of $385,947 after Dibble Engineering revised initial estimates downward. A Sangre de Cristo Electric representative identified an existing power pole near the site, eliminating the major expense of running power across the airport. CDOT offered an additional $25,000 in grant funding, bringing total state participation to $325,000. The town’s budgeted match is $33,333, leaving a $25,000-30,000 funding gap.
Trustees directed staff to explore closing the gap within existing airport budgets, potentially by delaying other approved capital projects to 2027. The airport ended 2025 with revenues exceeding projections and expenses under budget, creating approximately $30,000 in buffer funds.
Trustee Andrew Rice praised the Airport Advisory Board’s contribution to making the preferred location financially viable, noting it creates long-term economic development potential by freeing the current site for revenue-generating hangars and commercial use.
Sportsmen’s Club Lease Expansion Approved
Trustees voted 5-2 to approve a 43-acre expansion of the Sportsmen’s Club lease, bringing total leased area to approximately 71.77 acres. The expansion supports adding skeet shooting, five-stand, and sporting clays capabilities to the existing trap shooting program.
Jake Farber of the Sportsmen’s Club approached staff in fall 2025 seeking expanded capabilities for the Buena Vista High School team. The club is pursuing approximately $850,000 in grants through Colorado Parks and Wildlife to fund improvements at no cost to the town.
Recreation Advisory Board recommended approval February 18, with the club pledging additional improvements for signage, property delineation, noise mitigation through tree planting and improved berms, and safety fencing to prevent public wandering into the facility.
Trustee Chris Sturm supported the project but recommended prioritizing landscape and noise dampening plans in the improvement budget, given expansion toward north neighborhoods. Trustee Cindie Swisher praised the program as a healthy option for youth that adds value to town property at no cost.
Trustee Micha Rosenoer voted against approval, citing concerns about fencing plans and recreational use overlap, noting increased trail activity along County Road from Chicago Ranch trails and future playground and dog park proximity. Trustee Devin Rowe also voted no on fencing concerns.
Short-Term Rental Workgroup Formed
During a 6 p.m. work session, trustees appointed Devin Rowe and Maggie Huyck as board representatives to a short-term rental policy workgroup, with David Kosley representing the Planning and Zoning Commission. Katie Davis, a former Poncha Springs trustee, will facilitate the group.
Town Attorney Jeff Parker informed trustees that legal review determined providing preferences to residents and owner-occupied units may pose legal challenges, eliminating the local versus remote preference framework previous policies relied on. The committee will develop a policy framework and intentions by September 2026, with staff translating the framework into specific policy language.
Topics include neighborhood compatibility, community fabric preservation versus economic benefits, unintended consequences of various approaches, and what constitutes community versus individual investor benefit.
Trustees clarified the committee should identify areas of strong agreement and strong disagreement while bringing objective information to support decisions. Staff will provide historical background on ordinances dating to 2017, when the first STR policy established a percentage-based cap later changed to a hard cap for out-of-county residents.
Water System Updates
Public Works Director Shawn Williams reported the town’s unaccounted water loss at 37 percent, with Ivy League system losses at 48 percent totaling 0.142 million gallons. A major leak behind BB Maid was repaired March 2, with flow estimated at 100 gallons per minute from a nickel-to-quarter-sized hole in copper pipe caused by electrolysis.
Williams said Ivy League representatives are working with the Water Advisory Board on leak repairs as identified, with staff developing recommendations for board action expected within 2026.
Other Business
Trustees approved Resolution 22 appointing Laura Schmonsees as a voting member of the Trails Advisory Board and Ordinance 06, Series 2026, amending municipal penalties code to ensure local penalties for non-traffic offenses don’t exceed state statute penalties, following a recent Colorado Supreme Court decision.
Mayor Libby Fay announced trustees approved sending a letter of support for Heart of the Rockies Regional Medical Center’s request for additional equipment allowing different surgery types and PET scans, reducing resident travel to Colorado Springs or Denver for diagnostic procedures.
Trustee Chris Sturm announced his appointment to the Governor’s Ponderosa Mountain Pine Beetle task force as ex-officio member, reporting statements from U.S. Forest Service officials predicting potential loss of all Front Range Ponderosa trees within five years.
Trustee Andrew Rice reported progress on meetings between board members and school district officials regarding an irrigation well for the school district that would remove irrigation demand from the town water system, with an update expected in coming months.
The board scheduled a strategic planning retreat for April 24 at 8 a.m., and will consider a joint work session with Planning and Zoning Commission on April 22 at 7 p.m.
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