The town of Basalt is currently seeking public input on the creation of historic design guidelines, intended to preserve downtown’s “unique historic character and community identity,” along Midland Avenue.

Design guidelines, according to a press release, are a set of criteria to ensure consistency and compatibility with the historic nature of Basalt as properties are built or altered. The 2020 Basalt Master Plan outlined a goal to maintain Basalt’s small-town character by promoting human-scale buildings that relate to the current context — policies and protections such as design guidelines will help preserve that sense of place in historic downtown and support economic vitality.

The public can learn more about the project and contribute their ideas and survey responses at https://letstalk.basalt.net/design-guidelines. Questions on the page center around the community’s perception of Basalt’s character, favorite buildings and design elements, and what qualities make downtown special. 

There are also opportunities for the public to share photos of buildings and designs they love from around the world.

The community engagement phase of the project is open through October. A complete timeline and more about the project is available at https://letstalk.basalt.net/.