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Ridgway planning commission begins targeted code updates; consultant outlines engagement plan and timeline
Summary
Consultant TJ Diller told the Ridgeway Planning Commission the targeted code update will combine technical edits with larger policy work, with staged public outreach (July concert/farmers market, monthly work sessions starting in August) and final synthesis planned for late fall.
The Ridgeway Planning Commission on Tuesday heard a presentation from consultant TJ Diller of Community Planning Strategies outlining a targeted code update process that combines technical edits with broader policy changes and public engagement.
Diller told commissioners the project will draw on the town master plan, the recent housing needs assessment and a prior land-use analysis to align Chapter 7 (land use regulations) with current policy goals. "We're trying to bring in a lot of different elements through both the master plan, the recent housing needs assessment, the land analysis," he said, adding the process will pair annotated technical redlines with topic-based discussions and larger community events for policy issues.
Why it matters: The effort could reshape zoning districts and design standards that guide future infill and redevelopment in Ridgeway's historic core. Commissioners were asked to focus on five topic groups — zone districts (including historic districts HP and HR and the Downtown Service zone), lodging types, the land-use table, subdivision and public improvements, and the town's historic development form and architectural standards.
Diller described a tiered engagement plan. Technical edits will be circulated as annotated redlines for commissioners to review; major items will be discussed in public work sessions; and policy topics will be paired with community engagement events. The consultant suggested early outreach at a July concert series (with QR codes and dot-survey boards to direct residents to online materials) and possibly at the farmers market to reach more sustained attendees. "It's not really about getting people to pick a six-foot versus a five-foot setback at the concert," he said; the aim is early awareness and to gather initial input.
The schedule presented calls for early public outreach in July, monthly focused work sessions beginning in August (starting with zoning districts and lodging types), a September focus on subdivision and public-improvement requirements, and a comprehensive synthesis in October–November with a possible council work session before formal hearings and adoption. Diller said the team will send redline materials to commissioners ahead of meetings to allow more informed discussions.
Commissioners discussed outreach trade-offs and outreach mechanics — for example, whether noisy concerts can produce usable feedback versus visibility only — and recommended adding homeowner association representatives and farmers-market outreach to the stakeholder list. Several members emphasized the need to frame technical materials in visuals (what a 10-foot setback or a three-story building looks like) instead of page-by-page code review.
Next steps: Staff and the consultant will prepare redline materials and an engagement push ahead of the August work sessions. The commission agreed to prioritize the five topic areas and to return with more detailed drafts and annotated edits in subsequent meetings.
