Adams County commissioners adopt Strasburg subarea plan after broad community outreach

Adams County commissioners voted to adopt the Strasburg sub area plan (PLN-2026-6) after staff described two years of community engagement and a package of land-use, transportation, parks and historic-preservation strategies intended to guide growth over the next 25 years.

Senior long-range planner Ella Gleason told the board the plan was developed in-house across county departments and in close coordination with Arapahoe County, was informed by a community steering committee and technical advisory committee, and includes an implementation matrix assigning timelines, funding possibilities and departmental responsibilities. "This plan will have a 25 year horizon," Gleason said, adding the plan includes limits on density and building height in certain mixed-use and residential zones to maintain Strasburg’s small‑town and agricultural character.

The plan package updates the future land-use map, sets a lower maximum density for certain mixed‑use areas (no more than 14 dwelling units per acre with a commercial component and a two‑story height limit), and adjusts a "Strasburg Residential Low" category to encourage about one dwelling unit per acre in portions of the plan area. Gleason said staff notified property owners whose future land‑use designation would change and held targeted meetings with them.

Kip Sirotis, executive director of the I‑70 Regional Economic Advancement Partnership (REAP), praised staff outreach and said REAP will assist with implementation priorities such as roads and bridges. "Growth is coming maybe to Strasburg," he said, noting that water‑district capacity often controls the timing of development and that REAP will be involved in implementation.

Commissioners asked detailed questions about plan boundaries, the relation between the plan area and census‑designated place boundaries, and whether the document is a living instrument; staff responded that the implementation matrix is intended to keep the plan active and that amendments to the future land‑use map are possible as conditions change. Commissioner Lynn Baca moved to approve the plan with three findings of fact and one staff note for minor typographical corrections; Commissioner Henson seconded and the motion passed.

The board praised the extensive public outreach documented in the plan — staff reported more than 260 subscribers to the project mailing list and a series of open houses and community events — and said the next steps are implementation work identified in the plan’s matrix. The county will coordinate with local districts, including the Strasburg Parks and Rec District and local water providers, as implementation moves forward.

The board’s formal approval directs staff to finalize minor edits identified in a note and begin implementation actions according to the plan’s schedule.