Fraser Forward: The Town's New Plan Embraces Fraser's Spirit + Character While Connecting Housing, Jobs, Safety, and Outdoor Recreation Into One Community-Centered Shared Vision
Our fun, funky little mountain town is looking toward the future with intention. There’s no question the Fraser Valley is growing in both popularity and population, and the Town of Fraser is committed to guiding that growth wisely without losing its unique character. You’ve probably seen the “Keep Fraser Funky” stickers or “Leaving Planet Earth” hats around town: Fraser embraces its outside-the-box personality and intends to stay true to its artsy, entrepreneurial, and free-spirited roots as it envisions the future.
The Town’s newly adopted Comprehensive Plan offers a big-picture look at how Fraser plans to grow while staying true to what makes it special. For residents and future homebuyers, it paints a clear vision: more housing options (especially for locals), a more connected and walkable town, expanded trails and open space, and thoughtful development that doesn’t sacrifice that laid-back, mountain-town feel we know and love.
Drafted over 18 months in 2024 and 2025 with extensive community input, “Fraser Forward” was officially adopted in early 2026. The Town describes it as a “living document,” designed to evolve alongside the community as new opportunities and challenges emerge. While it does include specific tangible steps the town hopes to take, it’s more of a guiding picture of the vision for the vibe of Fraser, laying out big ideas and long-term goals with enough flexibility for the details to adapt over time.
DOWNTOWN VISION
We already love some "downtown Fraser" favorites like Fraser Valley Distilling, local breweries like Fraser River Beer + Camber Brewing, Fisher's Bar, and food trucks like Colorado Corndog and Burger Company - the potential for the area is evident, and local businesses are here for it!
With the potential in mind, one of my favorite parts of the new plan is Fraser’s vision for downtown! They want to capitalize on the existing area by creating a hub that brings together local businesses, residents, and visitors by shifting the focus off the highway. Right now, “downtown Fraser” is largely oriented around Highway 40, but the plan reimagines it as a cohesive, walkable district centered around the Fraser River instead. With the river as the focal point, the vision includes expanded trails, wider sidewalks, welcoming gathering spaces, the Fraser Center for Creative Arts, and improved connections woven throughout the area the town is calling the "Riverwalk District."
The idea is to really lean into the river as a destination, adding public spaces, events, and stronger links between the highway and the heart of downtown so it feels more unified and inviting. New development would follow a more traditional downtown pattern, with shops, restaurants, and other active uses at street level and housing or offices above, helping create a livelier, more engaging streetscape. Think: park your car or bike once and experience everything downtown has to offer on foot. And they're hopeful to streamline parking, maximizing street parking and including underground garages that help minimize large parking lots, leaving the "prime real estate" for businesses and open space. Overall, the goal is to build a vibrant, outdoor-centered downtown that highlights one of Fraser’s greatest natural assets (the river) while creating a destination downtown!
PARKS AND OPEN SPACE
Another way the town plans to really incorporate the Fraser River in its vision is with the Fraser River Corridor Master Plan, capitalizing on Cozens Ranch Open Space. Located just east of Highway 40 to the south of Safeway, Cozens Ranch Open Space is already on its way to realizing the town's vision with the construction of the new Fraser Bike Park! Mark your calendars for the Grand Opening on May 30!
In addition to the bike park, the Fraser River Corridor Master Plan sees the river corridor as one of Fraser’s most important natural and community assets. Think: a place where recreation, nature, and everyday life come together. Just like in the Riverwalk District, the long-term vision is to better connect people to the Fraser River through access points, trails, and open spaces, while still protecting the sensitive riparian habitat that runs through the valley.
On the conservation side, the plan calls for protecting wildlife habitats, floodplain areas, and natural river conditions with conservation easements and careful land management. On the recreation side, the Town is dreaming of a connected network of looped trails, pedestrian bridges, improved parking and access points, and new community amenities like riverfront gathering spaces, interpretive areas, and even potential future features such as an amphitheater or nature play areas. There’s also a strong emphasis on accessibility, making sure more people can actually reach and enjoy the river corridor all the way to Rendezvous safely and comfortably, whether on foot, bike, or skis.
As far as parks, open spaces, and trails beyond the Fraser River Corridor, Fraser’s vision is all about making the outdoors more connected, accessible, and enjoyable as the community grows. That means expanding and linking the trail system so people can move more easily between neighborhoods, parks, the river, and surrounding open spaces. In addition to connections, there’s a focus on building and improving amenities people use every day: things like adding new park spaces where growth occurs, upgrading existing parks with better facilities, and working with development projects to dedicate land or funding for future parks and trails.
HOUSING
Fraser’s housing vision centers on creating a wider range of attainable, high-quality housing options that support a full-time, year-round community. The plan emphasizes increasing supply (especially workforce housing) while also preserving existing neighborhoods and maintaining overall livability. A key focus is encouraging a mix of housing types, including apartments, townhomes, and smaller units, rather than relying solely on single-family homes. This approach is intended to support people at different life stages and income levels, while helping local businesses attract and retain employees.
To make this happen, the Town is looking at a combination of strategies, including incentivizing new development, supporting deed-restricted and locally occupied housing, and aligning zoning and land use policies with housing goals. There’s also an emphasis on integrating housing into walkable, mixed-use areas (specifically downtown) so residents have easier access to jobs, services, and amenities.
Koselig on Main is a development that is already helping reach some of these long-term goals. Fraser's newest mixed-use development right on Highway 40 features some of the only glass-fronting retail in Grand County (home to Simple Coffee Co. and The Birdie Lounge!) with a total of 20 residential units comprised of one, two, and three-bedroom apartments with year leases. Two of the units are deed restricted to 80% of Area Median Income, and the main tenant must work at least 30 hours a week in Grand County.
A major housing priority in the Fraser Forward plan is the development of the St. Louis Landing site just north of the Riverwalk District as a walkable, mixed-income neighborhood designed specifically to expand workforce and local housing options. You've likely noticed that the Town has already started constructions on building out the high-density housing area that includes a mix of apartments, townhomes, and cottage-style homes. A significant portion of units remain permanently deed-restricted and reserved for local residents working in Grand County, helping ensure the housing directly supports the community’s workforce needs. The project also incorporates on-site amenities and supporting uses like childcare (Grand Kids Learning Center) and potential commercial space.
COMMUNITY
Fraser’s goal is to build a community where people feel connected and genuinely at home. A big part of that is creating more opportunities for residents to get involved (think local events, arts, and civic life) while also improving communication so people feel informed and heard. The Town is also making an effort to better engage second-home owners, encouraging them to be more active participants in the community rather than just occasional visitors!
They'll continue to host events like weekly summer live music at Picnic in the Park, the annual Fraser Fire + Ice Festival in February, and the annual Mountain Mural Festival each summer. But they're busy brainstorming more ways to engage with the community and offer events that bring people together throughout the year and capitalize on the revitalized downtown area!
And there’s of course a strong emphasis on celebrating and preserving what makes Fraser unique! That means leaning into its “funky” identity by supporting local artists, events, and creative spaces that bring people together year-round. Think more murals, more public art, and thoughtful design that highlights the big views of the Continental Divide, Byers Peak, and Winter Park Resort we all love.
TOWN SERVICES AND INFRASTRUCTURE
Fraser also plans to up its game with services, specifically targeting childcare, senior care, health care, mental health, multilingual access, and emergency preparedness. The addition of the Middle Park Health Fraser Campus has been a huge win for healthcare, and creating a larger space for Grand Kids Learning Center at St. Louis Landing is equally monumental.
They're also ensuring a sustainable future that supports wise growth with a long-term water supply, high-quality drinking water, upgraded sewer and wastewater systems, and expanded recycling and compost facilities.
MOVING FORWARD IN FRASER?
So what does all of this mean for real estate in Fraser? The Town’s long-term vision is already beginning to take shape, and a plan like this can only add to the appeal of owning property in a place that’s already in high demand. For current homeowners, Fraser Forward gives buyers even more confidence in the town’s future, making this an exciting time to consider your home’s value and what a sale could look like in today’s market!
And if Fraser’s vision for the future has you imagining life here, you’re not alone! From a more vibrant downtown to expanded trails, housing, and community spaces, the town is investing in the kind of mountain lifestyle many buyers are searching for. Whether you’re thinking about selling your current home or putting down roots in Fraser, I’d love to connect and learn more about your real estate goals!
Posted by Leah Bishop on
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