Staff shows draft strategic growth overlay map required by SB 24‑174

Staff presented the draft strategic growth overlay the town will adopt to meet Colorado SB 24‑174 and explained it is an illustrative, nonbinding tool to identify corridors and sites where infill or redevelopment could meet housing needs. "The strategic growth overlay is the area of town where we would like to, highlight opportunities for infill and redevelopment, both for our own economic goals, but also to meet our housing needs assessment," the planner said during the map walk‑through.

The map (shown with zoning and county open‑space layers) traces a red outline from the Bluegrass area along the main corridor through historic downtown, identifies Riverbend and an automotive property as candidate areas and excludes parks and single‑family neighborhoods. Staff stressed the overlay does not automatically rezone property or force owners to redevelop; it is designed to show capacity and to guide test‑site exercises and infrastructure costing. The planner said boards and commissions will review the draft and staff expect further edits after targeted outreach.

Participants debated including the post office lot and Sandstone Park, with at least one trustee warning that singling out parks could provoke community resistance. Staff said they would refine the map and the narrative, add test‑site examples and infrastructure cost estimates, then put the addendum through public hearings before the board.