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Arvada launches 18–22 month comprehensive plan update, staff seeks broad community input
Summary
City staff told council Jan. 27 that Arvada will launch an 18–22 month comprehensive-plan update to guide growth for the next 10–20 years, with a focus on inclusive community engagement, youth outreach and an advisory group; a consultant contract will be brought to council for approval.
City staff on Tuesday kicked off Arvada’s comprehensive-plan update, outlining a roughly 18–22 month effort to set policy guidance for the next 10 to 20 years.
Planning project manager Paul Donegan told the council the update will integrate recent work on transportation and housing and aim to ‘‘build consensus on important issues so that decision makers … can feel confident making decisions’’ when the plan is presented for adoption. He said more than 10,000 people have moved to Arvada since the last major update in 2014, driving the need for a new plan.
Staff described a four‑phase process: (1) document existing conditions and history, (2) identify opportunities and challenges, (3) develop a shared vision and future scenarios, and (4) define policy directions and implementation strategies. Donegan said the city will report regularly to the planning commission and city council and hopes to finish the adoption process in 2027.
The administration emphasized community engagement, including neighborhood-level outreach, a community advisory group of roughly 10–15 residents, a technical advisory group of city departments and a youth engagement day planned for March with Arvada High and Arvada West. ‘‘This is a community-driven and a community-focused plan,’’ staff said during the presentation.
Council members offered early feedback. Mayor Pro Tem Tim Morman urged more neighborhood-level, small-group engagement; Council member Griffith urged outreach to marginalized communities and suggested affordability be treated as a cross-cutting theme; Council member Pfeiffer recommended inclusion of economic-development stakeholders to help with ‘‘place-making.’’
Staff said they have been working internally and with partner organizations in advance of formally executing a consultant contract, which they expect to bring to council for consideration. The timeline staff presented includes public events, committee work and periodic status reports to the planning commission and council.
Next steps: staff will return with a consultant contract and a formal public-engagement plan that sets milestones and describes how residents can participate.
The planning commission and council will have roles at different stages; the commission will adopt the plan and the council will ratify it when it reaches final form.
