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Severance launches comprehensive‑plan update with statutory water and growth work required this year
Summary
Consultants and town staff kicked off a months‑long comprehensive plan update that will include state‑required water and strategic growth elements; CPAC was briefed on timeline, outreach plans and a target to complete statutory components by year‑end.
Consultants from Ayers and Severance planning staff opened the Comprehensive Plan Advisory Committee meeting with a detailed overview of the town’s comprehensive plan update, its statutory requirements and a proposed public‑engagement schedule.
Josh Olhava of Ayers, the lead consultant on the project, said the update will be a strategic, action‑oriented document covering housing, water capacity, growth guidance, infrastructure and implementation steps. “Comprehensive plans work as a long‑range vision and guide,” Olhava said, describing the effort as a five‑to‑ten year framework with more immediate, actionable priorities.
Town staff emphasized two elements that state statute now requires: a water element and a strategic growth element. Those pieces, staff said, will be advanced early in the process so the town meets statutory criteria and retains grant eligibility. “If we’re not in compliance with the state, there truly is a list, and they’ll say you’re not in compliance — you’re not eligible for that grant anymore,” a planning staff member said, stressing timeliness for adoption of those components.
The consultant presented a six‑phase schedule: early research and data collection; stakeholder interviews; drafting of vision and strategies; chapter drafting and review; public outreach with an open house and youth engagement; and final adoption steps with planning commission and town council. The team expects focused drafting work through late summer and statutory pieces to be ready for adoption by the end of the year.
Committee members offered to share prior survey data and requested copies of maps and the existing plan; staff agreed to circulate links and to print a small set of hard copies on request. The consultants said the committee will review chapter drafts in stages and provide a recommendation to planning commission before council consideration.
Next steps: staff will circulate the current plan and map links, consultants will complete initial data analysis and the committee will reconvene in July for an early check‑in on findings and outreach plans.
