Clear Creek commissioners back Safer Streets grant pursuit, ask staff to prioritize pedestrian safety and CDOT coordination in DLD plan

Clear Creek County commissioners reviewed early implementation steps for the Dumont–Lawson–Downeyville (DLD) sub‑area plan at a work session on Feb. 4, directing staff to pursue federal grant funding and coordinate safety improvements with the Colorado Department of Transportation.

Planning staff said the DLD plan, adopted Jan. 7, translates goals developed during extensive community engagement into an “implementation table” with priorities and proposed timelines. Amy Saxton, speaking for planning staff, summarized the team’s proposal to sort action items into implementation types — information/communications, policy/process changes, future master‑planning items and stand‑alone projects — and asked commissioners for guidance on priorities.

Saxton said, “As you know, the DLD sub area plan was adopted on January 7,” and explained staff added an “implementation type” column to help turn the plan’s action items into deliverable projects. Garrett McAllister, the county’s planning manager, described the extra column as “an organizational device” intended to help staff decide how to begin work across many topics.

Why it matters: commissioners and staff flagged pedestrian safety along Interstate 70 and adjacent County Road 308 as the top, near‑term concern for residents and a likely candidate for federal funding. Staff recommended applying for a federal Safer Streets grant (pre‑application due April 17, 2025), saying the newly adopted sub‑area plan strengthens the county’s candidacy and may also attract matching funds through partners.

During discussion commissioners pressed staff to raise the priority for CDOT‑dependent safety projects — including safer crossings at the five‑way intersection near the I‑70 frontage — and to begin work now to secure partnership with CDOT rather than waiting for long‑range CDOT capital cycles. Commissioners also asked staff to develop a maintenance memorandum of understanding (MOU) for County Road 308 clarifying responsibilities for snow removal, shoulders, culverts and other routine work.

Staff outlined several specific, near‑term directions the board gave: pursue a Safer Streets grant application; evaluate whether the federal “Reconnecting Communities” grant (previously funded at large levels) could be a fit; open conversations with CDOT to explore maintenance agreements and the feasibility of larger safety projects; and create a DLD neighborhood resources page or dedicated sub‑site that consolidates information residents need (well testing, weatherization resources, short‑term‑rental rules, grant notices and meeting notices).

Commissioners also asked staff to prepare a short update for DLD residents explaining recent changes to the county’s short‑term rental rules and to include a clear note beside the sub‑area plan’s wildfire‑risk map on the county website that the map may not reflect the most current Forest Service or Colorado Fire Service data. Saxton said staff would add clarifying language on the county’s web page rather than immediately amending the adopted plan.

What’s next: staff will return with a plan to apply for grant funding, a draft maintenance MOU outline for County Road 308, a proposal to create the DLD online resources page and a schedule for town‑hall meetings in the DLD neighborhoods. Commissioners asked staff to prioritize short, visible deliverables that can demonstrate progress to the community while work on larger CDOT coordination and major capital projects continues.

Ending: Commissioners emphasized they want to show DLD residents tangible, near‑term action — such as improved communications, formalized maintenance roles and an application for a safety action plan — even as larger, CDOT‑level changes will require longer timelines and interagency agreement.