HomeMy WebLinkAboutPACKET Estes Park Planning Commission 2022-11-15AGENDA
PLANNING COMMISSION – TOWN OF ESTES PARK
Tuesday, November 15, 2022
1:30 p.m.
AGENDA APPROVAL
PUBLIC COMMENT. (Please state your name and address).
CONSENT AGENDA:
1.Planning Commission Study Session Minutes dated October 18, 2022
ACTION ITEMS
1.Comprehensive Plan Adoption Director Garner
DISCUSSION ITEMS:
ADJOURN
The Town of Estes Park will make reasonable accommodations for access to Town services, programs, and activities and
special communication arrangements for persons with disabilities. Please call (970) 577-4777. TDD available.
Prepared November 7, 2022 1
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Town of Estes Park, Larimer County, Colorado October 18, 2022
Minutes of a Joint Study Session of the PLANNING COMMISSION of Estes Park and
the Comprehensive Plan Advisory Committee, Larimer County, Colorado. The meeting
was held in the Town Board Room, 170 MacGregor Avenue in said town.
Commission: Chair Matt Comstock, Vice-Chair Matthew Heiser,
Commissioners Joe Elkins, Howard Hanson
Attending: Comstock, Hanson, Heiser, Elkins
CompPac members
Attending: Chuck Cooper, Frank Theis, Karen Thompson, Dave Shirk,
John Schnipkoweit
Also Attending: Director Jessica Garner, Senior Planner Jeff Woeber, Town
Attorney Dan Kramer, Town Board Liaison Barbara
MacAlpine, Recording Secretary Karin Swanlund
Absent: none
Chair Comstock called the meeting to order at 11:30 a.m.
The purpose of this joint Study Session was to review the final draft version of the
Comprehensive Plan. Miriam McGilvray, lead project manager from Logan Simpson,
was in attendance for the review.
Director Garner noted that public comments received earlier today were related to the
Missing Middle memo included in the meeting packet, not associated with the
Comprehensive Plan.
McGilvray reviewed the highlights of the plan process over the past 18 months and the
four chapters that make up the draft Comprehensive Plan. Also reviewed were the
public comments received, both online and from the four in-person meetings that were
held.
A 30-minute lunch break was taken.
CompPac chair Matt Heiser thanked the committee, Town and County Staff, and the
public for their hard work and input during the process. He asked for comments from
the CompPac committee.
No CompPac members commented when given the opportunity.
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Planning Commission Study Session October 18, 2022 – Page 2
Frank Theis relayed a comment from a community member over the frustration at the
lack of opportunity for undocumented community members to participate. Elkins asked
if there was a way to include those people in the 11th hour.
Commissioner Hanson asked about the process going forward, i.e., what happens with
all of the comments, and how the document gets edited when the need arises. Director
Garner stated that public comment closes on October 23 and will be incorporated into
the draft document as necessary. The final draft will be brought before the Planning
Commission on November 15, followed by the Town Board adoption in December.
Larimer County will also review and adopt the Plan.
Dave Shirk, CompPac member, stated that putting more weight on the public comments
that show up last minute does a disservice to the longevity of the work that has been
done. He thanked Chair Heiser for all his time and work keeping order and level head
through this process.
Frank Theis, a member of the Estes Valley Planning Advisory Committee and
CompPac, noted that areas in the County should be looked at for Future Land Use.
For clarification, it was noted that the appendices are adopted with the Plan. Other
documents, i.e., wildlife protection and housing needs study that come along later, will
be adopted as they are ready.
Director Garner mentioned that the Missing Middle study, being worked on by Ayres
Associates, is looking at maximizing density and exploring options on how to make this
happen. The memo included in the packet was intended to update the Planning
Commission and will be brought back for discussion in the future.
Chair Comstock adjourned the Study Session at 1:45 p.m.
Karin Swanlund, Recording Secretary
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COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT Memo
To: Chair Matt Comstock
Estes Park Planning Commission
Through: Jessica Garner, AICP, Community Development Director
Date: November 15, 2022
Application: Estes Forward Comprehensive Plan
Town of Estes Park, Applicant
Logan Simpson, Consultant
Recommendation: Staff recommends the Planning Commission conduct a public hearing
and adopt Resolution No. 01-22 to approve the Estes Forward Comprehensive
Plan
Land Use: The Comprehensive Plan addresses land use within the Town boundaries and
throughout the Estes Valley Planning Area
PUBLIC HEARING ORDINANCE LAND USE
CONTRACT/AGREEMENT RESOLUTION OTHER______________
QUASI-JUDICIAL YES NO
Objective:
The applicant requests the Planning Commission review the draft Comprehensive Plan (“The
Plan), and open and close a public hearing to consider and adopt Resolution XX-XX to approve
the Estes Forward Comprehensive Plan.
Location:
The Plan encompasses the Town of Estes Park and the surrounding Estes Valley Planning
Area.
Background:
Colorado municipalities and counties are authorized to prepare Comprehensive Plans as a long-
range guiding document to achieve their vision and goals. The Plan provides the policy
framework for regulatory tools like zoning, subdivisions, and other policies. The Estes Forward
Plan promotes the community’s vision, guiding principles, goals, policies and action items, and
seeks to provide balance between the built and natural environment.
The Town’s (and County’s) existing Plan was last comprehensively updated in 1996. In 2020,
the Town applied for grant funds from the Department of Local Affairs’ (DOLA) Energy and
Mineral Impact Assistance Funds (EIAF) to support the process of developing the Plan and was
awarded $150,000 to match the Town’s investment in late 2020.
The Town initiated the process to update the Plan in early 2021, which included hiring the firm
Logan Simpson to help facilitate the process, creating a Town Board-appointed Comprehensive
Plan Advisory Committee (CompPAC), and working on engagement strategies to bring the
community into the planning process. The fourteen CompPAC members convened for the first
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PLANNING COMMISSION, NOVEMBER 15, 2022
ESTES FORWARD COMPREHENSIVE PLAN
PAGE 2 OF 4
public meeting in May, 2021, and met several dozen times throughout the next year, with the
last formal CompPAC meeting in September, 2022. Larimer County also convened the Estes
Valley Planning Advisory Committee (EVPAC) to act in a similar capacity as the CompPAC.
Development of the Estes Forward Plan included preparation of an Existing Conditions Report
to establish a baseline of conditions, including the current demographics and population counts,
the current and future land use mix in Town and in the Valley, the economy, health indicators,
housing, natural resources, and infrastructure. The full report is included in the appendices of
the Plan.
The Plan also included the preparation of a Future Land Use Map (FLUM) and corresponding
land use categories to identify potential changes that address the opportunities and challenges
facing the community over the next twenty years. Additionally, the Plan update included a series
of goals, policies and action steps that comprise the bulk of the Plan document and will be used
to guide the community and policymakers toward the shared vision and guiding principles. The
Estes Forward Plan is supported with a variety of maps and diagrams, most notably the Future
Land Use Map in Chapter 3.
PROJECT DESCRIPTION
Comprehensive Plan Content
The Plan contains the following chapters:
1) The Introduction & Plan Development chapter provides information about the
Comprehensive Plan, including background, how it’s applied, the resiliency focus and
themes used, the vision and guiding principles, and community engagement throughout
the process. Neither the resiliency themes, nor the guiding principles are organized in
terms of priority.
2) The Policy Framework chapter provides each resiliency theme with a series of goals,
policies and actions to provide guidance to the Town, County, and Both (Town and
County) on how to direct change, manage growth and resources over the twenty-year
life of the Plan. Chapter 2 defines and explains how to interpret each set of goals,
policies and actions, and delineates the responsibilities by jurisdiction.
3) The Future Land Use chapter provides information about the Town and County’s
proposed land use categories, including how they were developed, where they are
located within each jurisdiction and how they address character, built form, and
appropriate land uses and development types. The categories consolidated many of the
former land uses into a framework that’s easier to interpret. The categories, land use
map, and the policies in Chapter Two are designed to protect and enhance the character
of the Town and County, and prevent costly infrastructure and long-term maintenance
associated with sprawl.
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PLANNING COMMISSION, NOVEMBER 15, 2022
ESTES FORWARD COMPREHENSIVE PLAN
PAGE 3 OF 4
4) The Implementation chapter guides elected and appointed officials, Town and County
staff, and the public in developing programs and actions that implement the adopted
Estes Forward Plan’s goals and policies. Each implementation action is a procedure,
program, or technique that requires action, either alone or in collaboration with other
agencies, organizations, or partners. Completion of the implementation measures will be
subject to funding availability and staff resources, and will be reviewed on an annual
basis to ensure they are being addressed.
PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT/COMMENT
Throughout the process of updating the Plan, engagement with the community has been a
critical factor. The Town initiated the process by establishing the online hub, EngageEstes.org,
as a resource for the community to find information and updates, as well as watch any of the
CompPAC or additional public meetings focused on the Plan. Due to the ongoing pandemic, the
meetings were initially conducted virtually, and gradually expanded into in-person meetings if
safe. The team worked to ensure meetings were accessible to the Latinx population, and also
provided free food and childcare in addition to translation and interpretation options in a variety
of locations throughout Town.
Staff and the consultant team devised a series of events that helped to inform the subsequent
stages of the Plan, including the following:
• Listening sessions during the initial audit of the Estes Valley Comprehensive Plan
• Surveys, online questionnaires and virtual workshops to better understand the needs
and concerns from the community
• Development of a “Meeting in a Box” kit for the community to bring back to smaller
groups, facilitate dialogue and submit feedback
• Small group meetings
• Public workshops
• Interactive mapping activities
• Community conversations to dialogue about controversial issues
• Quarterly updates to the Board of Trustees
• Joint study sessions with the Planning Commission and Town Board
• Updates via social media, Town newsletter, newspaper, and EngageEstes.org
When the draft Plan was completed, staff shared the Plan widely and worked with the
CompPAC and EVPAC to collect comments. This process continued with each successive draft,
and staff convened the CompPAC for a final joint study session in October before the final draft
of the Plan was released in early November.
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PLANNING COMMISSION, NOVEMBER 15, 2022
ESTES FORWARD COMPREHENSIVE PLAN
PAGE 4 OF 4
Comments received from the community were carefully vetted throughout the planning process,
and all public comments submitted during the draft Plan review are included as an attachment
to the staff report.
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends approval and adoption of Resolution #01-22 for the Estes Forward Plan,
which will then proceed to the Town Board for approval on December 6.
Attachments:
1) Resolution No. 01-22
2) Adoption Draft Estes Forward Comprehensive Plan
3) Future Land Use Map
4) Estes Forward Appendices
5) Draft Plan Public Comments
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PLANNING COMMISSION RESOLUTION 01-22
A RESOLUTION OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION TO ADOPT THE ESTES
FORWARD COMPREHENSIVE PLAN
WHEREAS, the Planning Commission of the Town of Estes Park, Colorado (the
“Town”) has considered the adoption of a comprehensive land use plan for the Town of
Estes Park pursuant to C.R.S. 31-23-208; and
WHEREAS, prior to the adoption of the Comprehensive Plan, the Planning
Commission held at least one public hearing thereon, notice of the time and place of
which was given by one publication in a newspaper of general circulation in the
municipality and in the official newspaper of the county affected; and
WHEREAS, the adoption of the Plan was by resolution of the Planning
Commission carried by the affirmative votes of not less than two-thirds of the entire
membership of the Commission.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE PLANNING COMMISSION
OF THE TOWN OF ESTES PARK AS FOLLOWS:
1. The Estes Forward Comprehensive Plan dated November, 2022 and the Future
Land Use Map dated October 25, 2022 are hereby adopted as the
Comprehensive Plan for the Town of Estes Park.
2. The Plan as adopted shall include all portions of the Estes Forward
Comprehensive Plan and the Future Land Use Map including all maps and
descriptive matter therein, including without limitation the following:
a. Introduction and Plan direction
b. Policy framework
c. Future land use
d. Implementation
e. Appendix A: Glossary of terms
f. Appendix B: Existing conditions report
g. Public Engagement Summaries
3. The action taken by the Planning Commission herein shall be recorded on the
maps and Plan and descriptive matter by the signature of the Chair or Secretary
of the Commission.
4. An attested copy of the Plan shall be certified to the Board of Trustees of the
Town of Estes Park and after the approval by such body shall be filed with the
County Clerk and Recorder of Larimer County, Colorado.
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DATED this ____ day of __________, 2022.
Matt Comstock
Chair, Planning Commission
ATTEST:
Karin Swanlund
Recording Secretary
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
Town Attorney
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ADOPTION DRAFT | NOVEMBER 2022
ESTES FORWARD COMPREHENSIVE PLAN
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IIIESTES FORWARD | COMPREHENSIVE PLAN
TOWN OF ESTES PARK
Town Board of Trustees
Wendy Koenig, Mayor
Patrick Martchink
Carlie Bangs (Former Trustee)
Marie Cenac
Kirby Hazelton
Barbara MacAlpine
Scott Webermeier, Mayor Pro Tem
Cindy Younglund
Town Planning Commission
Matt Comstock, Chair
Joe Elkins
Howard Hanson
Matt Heiser, Vice-Chair
Janene Centurione (Former Commissioner)
Comprehensive Plan Advisory Committee
(CompPAC)
David Bangs (Former Member)
Eric Blackhurst
Matt Comstock
Charles Cooper
Michael Kennedy (Former Member)
Bob Leavitt, Vice-Chair
Kirby Hazelton (Former Member)
Matthew Heiser, Chair
Barbara MacAlpine, Town Board liaison
John Schnipkoweit
David Shirk
Frank Theis
Karen Thompson
Rosemary Truman
David Wolf
Town Staff
Jessica Garner, AICP, Community Development Director
Jeffrey Woeber, AICP, Senior Planner
Special thanks to all Estes Park Town Staff who contributed
their time and expertise to this plan.
LARIMER COUNTY
Board of County Commissioners
John Kefalas, District I
Kristin Stephens, District II, Chair
Jody Shadduck-McNally, District III, Chair Pro Tem
County Planning Commission
John Barnett, Chair
Jordana Barrack
Bob Choate
Sean Dougherty
Conor Duffy
Gary Green
Anne Johnson, Vice Chair
Patrick Rowe
Jon Slutsky
Nancy Wallace (Former Member)
Estes Valley Planning Advisory Committee
(EVPAC)
David Converse
Olivia Harper (Former Member)
Michael Kennedy
Linda Moak
Rex Poggenpohl
Scott Stewart
Frank Theis
Drew Webb
County Staff
Lesli Ellis, AICP, Community Development Director
Matthew Lafferty, AICP, Principal Planner
Special thanks to all Larimer County Staff who contributed
their time and expertise to this plan.
CONSULTANTS
Logan Simpson
Felsburg Holt & Ullevig
Michael Baker
OPS Strategies
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
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IV
1. INTRODUCTION & PLAN DIRECTION .........................................................................VI
»WHAT IS THE PLAN? �������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������2
»FOCUS OF THE PLAN �����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������4
»VISION AND GUIDING PRINCIPLES��������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������5
»PLAN ORGANIZATION ����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������8
»COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT ���������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������10
2. POLICY FRAMEWORK ...............................................................................................14
»INTERPRETING THE GOALS AND POLICIES ���������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������16
»NATURAL ENVIRONMENT ��������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������18
»BUILT ENVIRONMENT �������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������23
»ECONOMY ���������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������31
»HOUSING ����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������34
»HEALTH & SOCIAL ��������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������39
»TRANSPORTATION & INFRASTRUCTURE ������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������46
TABLE OF CONTENTS
IV
16
VESTES FORWARD | COMPREHENSIVE PLAN
3. FUTURE LAND USE ...................................................................................................60
»INTRODUCTION ������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������62
»FUTURE LAND USE CATEGORIES �������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������63
»FUTURE LAND USE MAP ����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������74
»OPPORTUNITY AREAS ������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������76
»ANNEXATION AND FUTURE TOWN SERVICE AREAS �����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������78
4. IMPLEMENTATION ....................................................................................................80
»APPLYING THE PLAN���������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������82
»COMPLIANCE WITH COMPREHENSIVE PLAN �����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������83
»PLAN MANAGEMENT ��������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������83
»IMPLEMENTATION PLAN ��������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������84
APPENDICES
»A� GLOSSARY OF TERMS
»B� EXISTING CONDITIONS REPORT
»C� PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT SUMMARIES
V
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CHAPTER ONE
1
»What is the Plan?
»Focus of the Plan
»Vision and Guiding Principles
»Plan Organization
»Community Engagement
INTRODUCTION
& PLAN
DIRECTION
18
ESTES FORWARD PROVIDES
AN ACTION-ORIENTED
ROAD MAP FOR THE VALLEY
FOR THE NEXT 10-20 YEARS.
1ESTES FORWARD | COMPREHENSIVE PLAN
19
WHAT IS THE PLAN?
The Town of Estes Park and Larimer County collaborated
to rewrite the quarter-century old 1996 Estes Valley
Comprehensive Plan to more accurately and holistically
guide the day-to-day and long-range decisions that
affect the Estes Valley into the future� This coordinated
effort—Estes Forward—addresses topics pertinent to the
Town of Estes Park, the rural unincorporated areas, as
well as areas of mutual interest� The planning process
engaged both Town and County community members to
establish a shared vision for the Estes Valley as a whole�
Building on Past Successes
Since the mid-1980’s, the Town of Estes Park and the
surrounding Estes Valley have experienced rapid and
complex changes in the economic base, population mix,
growth characteristics, and use of natural resources�
Many of these changes are caused by forces outside the
community and are difficult to recognize and influence.
The last Comprehensive Plan, adopted in 1997, was a
coordinated effort between the Town of Estes Park and
Larimer County to further understand these influences
and develop a preferred future for the Valley� The plan
provided a practical and long-term guide for the Town of
Estes Park Board of Trustees and Estes Valley Planning
Commission, Estes Park Urban Renewal Authority,
Larimer County Board of Commissioners and Planning
Commission, and Town and County staff in addressing
issues related to the future development of Estes Valley�
The Estes Forward planning process was undertaken
to take a fresh look at the issues, challenges, and
opportunities that the Estes Valley faces today� While the
Comprehensive Plan remains the Town’s principal policy
document to guide responsible growth and development
in Estes Park, the community has changed since 1997
and several important plans and studies have been
developed to help understand new priorities and values
of the current Estes community�
»Estes Town Strategic Plan (updated annually)
»2022 Community Wildfire Protection Plan
»2020 Estes Valley Open Space Plan
»2020 Estes Valley Safe & Strong Resiliency Plan
»2019 Larimer County Comprehensive Plan
»2018 Estes Park Downtown Plan
»2017 Upper Big Thompson Corridor Plan for
Resiliency
»2016 Downtown Parking Management Plan
»2016 Estes Park Area Housing Needs Assessment
»2015 Estes Valley Economic Development Strategy
»2015 Comprehensive Water Master Plan
»2015 Fall River Corridor Plan for Resiliency
»2015 Fish Creek Corridor Plan for Resiliency
»2012 Water Conservation Plan
»2008 Estes Valley Habitat Assessment
Applying the Plan
Estes Forward is intended to serve the following purposes:
»Articulate a cohesive vision and actionable strategy
for the future development of Estes Park and the
Valley�
»Identify land use patterns, growth, transportation,
environmental, economic, and community goals
and policies as they relate to land use, conservation,
development, health, and provision of community
services and facilities�
»Establish a coordinated decision-making framework
through the application of long-range land use,
transportation, services, conservation and growth
goals and policies�
»Provide a basis for judging whether specific
individual development proposals and public
improvement projects are consistent with these
goals and policies�
»Inform residents, developers, decision-makers, and
other local partners of the policies that will guide
development and conservation within the Valley�
INTRODUCTION
2 CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION & PLAN
20
210
Miles
±
Date: 9/30/2022
Arapahoe and Roosevelt
National Forest
Rocky Mountain
National Park
Other Conserved Lands
Rivers and Creeks
Lakes
Local Roads
Major Roads
Estes Valley Planning
Area
Town of Estes Park
36
34
7
Planning Area
The Town of Estes Park is the eastern gateway to
Rocky Mountain National Park and within an enclosed
mountain valley� Located just over an hour from Denver
International Airport, it is accessed year-round by
commuters via U�S� Highways 34 and 36 and Colorado
Highway 7, or summer sightseers who climb to 12,000+
feet over Trail Ridge Road (Highway 34) from the west�
Estes Park is a small mountain community and travel
destination, with an economy that benefits from the
millions of annual visitors to Rocky Mountain National
Park� The Town’s permanent resident population is
estimated at approximately 6,500, with a total Estes
Valley population at approximately 11,500 that can swell
to 85,000 during daytime peak tourist season�
The planning area for Estes Forward includes the town
limits of Estes Park as well as the area surrounding the
Town, including the Estes Valley Planning Area� The State
ESTES FORWARD
PLANNING AREA
of Colorado mandates a three-mile study area beyond
current boundaries for all Colorado municipalities to
establish an understanding of regional land development
patterns and service and infrastructure capacity in the
event that future annexation opportunities arise�
Plan Timeframe and Future Updates
Estes Forward provides an action-oriented roadmap for
the Town for a 10-to-20-year period� It is important that
the plan remain current to the conditions and trends
that are important to the community across the Valley—
issues that may change over time�
It is expected that the plan will be reviewed annually or
every other year, with a closer look at the success of plan
goals and actions at the five-year mark. Generally, the
plan should be evaluated for a major update within ten
years, unless completion of actions, issues, or additional
opportunities arise prior�
3ESTES FORWARD | COMPREHENSIVE PLAN
21
RESILIENCY
THEMES
Natural Environment
watersheds, forests,
wildlife, and
recreational areas
Economy
workforce and
adaptive economy
Health & Social
services, amenities,
and community
well-being
Built Environment
governance and
community character
Housing
supply, affordability,
and vulnerability
Transportation &
Infrastructure
critical infrastructure,
utilities, and
transportation
IMPORTANCE OF RESILIENCY
While the Estes Valley is rich in natural, cultural, and
economic resources, it is also susceptible to numerous
hazards and changing circumstances that can threaten
those resources. Some, like fires and floods, are periodic
hazard events that can cause direct damage, injuries,
and death� Others, like an aging population or climate
variability, are underlying long-term “stresses” that
create and exacerbate negative outcomes before, during,
and after a hazard occurs� Knowledge and awareness of
these risks and vulnerabilities not only help with response
and recovery times following a disaster, but perhaps
more importantly, helps with proactively planning for and
building local resiliency to future shocks and stresses�
Over the last decade, the Estes community experienced
devastating environmental, economic, and structural
losses in the aftermath of the 2012 and 2013 fire and
flood events, significant loss of life due to the COVID-19
pandemic and the threat of record-breaking fires again in
2020� These events damaged thousands of residences
and businesses, devastated hundreds of thousands of
acres of land, obstructed roads, isolated neighborhoods,
caused utility outages, closed local economies, and
resulted in billions of dollars in damages�
Disasters like these will continue to occur and are expected
to increase in intensity, duration, and frequency because
of climate change. By being flexible and adaptable to
known and unknown changes, the Town, County, and
community stakeholders can protect lives, property, and
livelihoods amidst ever changing conditions�
RESILIENCY THEMES
Modeled after the Colorado Resiliency Framework,
Estes Forward is organized according to six Resiliency
Themes� These themes represent the cross-sector focus
areas for implementing specific actions to achieve the
Estes Forward Vision�
FOCUS OF THE PLAN
The Cost of Not Attaining Resiliency
Should the Town and County fail to build a resilient
community, we risk significant social, economic,
and infrastructure costs. If we do not resolve our
housing shortage, the Valley will be unable to
sustain a workforce and services will decrease. If
we cannot adequately build resiliency to natural
and man-made disasters and a changing climate,
our economy could be immediately and indefinitely
impacted.
4 CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION & PLAN
22
G U I D I N G P RINCIPLE
S
ESTES
FORWARD
VISION
1
2
3
4
56
7
8
9
G
UIDING P R I N C I P L E S
E c o n omy
Goals
Policies
Actions
H e a l t h & Socia
l
Goals
Policies
Actions
Hou s i n g
Goals
Policies
Actions
Natu r a l E n viron
m
e
n
t
Goals
Policies
Actions
Infrastr u c t u re
T r a n s p ortatio
n
B
uilt Env i r o n m ent
Goals
Policies
Actions
Goals
Policies
Actions
If being fragile is to be damaged by change, and resiliency is bouncing
back from disruption, then anti-fragile is the ability to become stronger
and benefit from disorder and stress. The Mountain Strong social media
movement after the 2012-2013 fire and flood events was a call to become
stronger (anti-fragile) by preparing for, recovering from, and adapting to
change (resiliency).
VISION AND GUIDING PRINCIPLES
Visioning is a critical step in every planning process,
laying a foundation for long-term community
engagement and planning� Visioning ensures that the
values and goals of Estes Valley residents, leaders, and
visitors are accurately reflected in the Comprehensive
Plan’s objectives, policies, and recommendations�
Valuable insights generated by the community visioning
process directly informed the development of the Estes
Forward Vision Statement and Guiding Principles�
The Vision Statement articulates a collective future
vision for the Estes Valley in a single, concise declaration�
Guiding Principles provide further detail on the values
and guidance for how the Town, County, and community
will achieve the Estes Forward Plan� Additionally, the
Guiding Principles provide an overarching framework
for public policy goals and specific strategies aimed at
achieving the stated Vision. Specific policies and actions
are detailed in Chapter 2 Policy Framework and Chapter
4 Implementation�
From Resilient to Mountain Strong
5ESTES FORWARD | COMPREHENSIVE PLAN
23
6
THE VISION
Our community works
together as responsible
stewards of our irreplaceable
mountain surroundings to
support residents and welcome
visitors by preserving and
enhancing our quality of life,
sense of community, economic
vitality, and health of the
natural environment.
6
24
7
Responsible access to and protection of wild spaces, scenic
vistas, outdoor recreation, and Rocky Mountain National Park.
A unified, proactive response to climate change through
adaptation, resilient infrastructure, ecosystem management,
protection of biodiversity, and reduced carbon emissions.
Balanced and managed growth that enhances quality
of life, preserves local character, conserves natural
resources and wildlife habitat.
Cooperative governance and fiscal responsibility
through strong partnerships with federal, state, and
local agencies and stakeholders.
Year-round, diversified economy and social services
for residents and visitors of all ages and income
levels.
Housing opportunities sufficient to support a
multigenerational, year-round community.
Pathways to health and prosperity for people of
all races, cultures, ethnicities, religions, sexual
orientations, genders, income levels, ages and
abilities, and especially people of color and those
disproportionately affected by racism, oppression,
and poverty.
Connected community linked locally and regionally by
multi-modal transportation options.
Recognition and respect for all cultures, sacred lands, and
indigenous ceremonial practices.
GUIDING PRINCIPLES
7
25
PLAN ORGANIZATION
1
This chapter explains the purpose and
planning area of the Comprehensive
Plan, the importance of resilience
within the process, and the planning
and engagement process. This also
details the overarching Vision and
Guiding Principles under which goals
and policies are organized.
Introduction and
Plan Direction
3
This chapter focuses on the future
land use plan and its associated
categories, potential areas for future
annexation or conservation, and
additional opportunities.
Land Use Plan
4
This chapter outlines the action
plan, including specific strategies
for implementation of the goals
and policies, and a management
plan to monitor the plan’s
success.
Implementation
2
This chapter details goals and
policies organized by the six
resiliency themes.
Policy Framework
Comprehensive Plan
The Appendices include a glossary of planning terms used within the plan; a summary of public
engagement completed as part of the planning process; and the existing conditions report.
Appendices
ESTES FORWARD IS ORGANIZED INTO FOUR CHAPTERS,
WITH A SERIES OF SUPPORTING APPENDICES.
8 CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION & PLAN
26
TOWN AND COUNTY
RESPONSIBILITIES
Estes Forward serves as a practical and long-term guide
for the Town of Estes Park and Larimer County� Rooted
in a common vision for the future, the plan defines goals,
policies, and a desired future land use character for the
Town and the surrounding Valley� While both Estes Park
and Larimer County subscribe to a shared vision and set
of guiding principles, responsibility for implementing
certain policies and actions to achieve the stated vision
differs between the two jurisdictions�
Issues related to the Town and County unincorporated
areas have been addressed concurrently through this
process, and this plan will be adopted by each governing
agency for its respective jurisdiction� While there is
currently no formal intergovernmental agreement (IGA),
both the Town and the County rely on the good will,
cooperation, initiative, and efforts of each other as well
as partners to implement a specific goal, policy, or action
(See Chapter 2 and 4)� The development of a future IGA
will be considered, consistent with the shared vision in
this plan�
The direction described and illustrated in the Future Land
Use Plan (Chapter 3) will be used by each jurisdiction
independently; the Town will work toward achieving the
desired future land uses within the Town boundary, and
the County will work toward the future land uses in the
surrounding unincorporated areas of the Valley�
Photo Credit: Town of Estes Park
9ESTES FORWARD | COMPREHENSIVE PLAN
27
ENGAGEMENT PROCESS
The Estes Forward process kicked off in April of 2021 and
extended through adoption of the final plan in December
2022� The process included three phases: 1) Setting the
Foundation; 2) Defining the Direction; and 3) Realizing the
Plan� Purposeful and sincere engagement has been critical
to cultivating public trust, expanding support for the Plan,
addressing concerns early and consistently throughout
the process, ultimately building a sense of ownership for
plan implementation�
Public engagement was mutually guided by the Town’s
thirteen-member Estes Park Comprehensive Plan Advisory
Committee (CompPAC) and the seven-member Estes Valley
Planning Advisory Committee (EVPAC), an existing Larimer
County advisory board� These committees informed the
engagement strategy by applying their local knowledge
and insight and advocating local engagement through
their professional and social networks�
EngageEstes�org was established as an online hub of
information and engagement� The site provided a platform
for education and interaction through tools such as online
questionnaires and map activities� EngageEstes�org was
regularly updated to share opportunities for engagement,
key findings, public outreach results, and draft project
deliverables�
Visioning
Community visioning took place from July 2021 through
January 2022 and included a series of events that engaged
with a total of 577 Estes Valley community members�
Events included Commissioner and Trustee presentations;
listening sessions; committee workshops; one-on-one
interviews, virtual public workshops; small group meetings,
including one in Spanish; and online questionnaire and
activities� The purpose of these conversations was to:
»Stimulate community-wide interest in Estes Forward;
»Solicit candid feedback from those who know the
community best; and
»Identify themes, opportunities, local values, and
future visions and goals for the Town and surrounding
Valley�
Valuable insights generated by the community visioning
events directly informed the development of the Vision
Statement and Guiding Principles and provided a
foundation for ongoing research and values analysis by
revealing the most pressing issues to be addressed in
Estes Forward�
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
Visioning Kick-offJUNE
2021
Previous Plan AuditStakeholder Interviews BeginListening SessionsSurvey #1: Kick-off Questions
JULY-AUG.
Virtual Public Workshops
Survey #2: VisionNOVEMBER
CompPAC/EVPAC Vision Workshop
Visioning Meeting in a Box Kit
Draft Vision Development
DECEMBER
Vision RefinementJAN. 2022
10 CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION & PLAN
28
11ESTES FORWARD | COMPREHENSIVE PLAN
VISIONING BY THE NUMBERS
“Be a leader in our relationship with the natural world.”
“Embrace *moderate* growth and emphasize service to RMNP visitors.”
“Maintaining a sense of place and physical character is important.”“We need housing that is truly affordable.”
“Fix the housing crisis; fix the childcare crisis.”
52
ONE-ON-ONE
INTERVIEWS
4
PLANNING
COMMISSION &
TRUSTEE
PRESENTATIONS
2
VIRTUAL
VISIONING
WORKSHOPS
191
VISIONING
QUESTIONNAIRE
RESPONSES
1
COMMUNITY
CHOICES PUBLIC
WORKSHOP
300+
WRITTEN
COMMENTS ON
DRAFT PLAN
7
VIRTUAL
LISTENING
SESSIONS
7
SMALL GROUP
VISIONING
MEETINGS
2
EVENTOS EN
ESPANOL
95
COMMUNITY
CHOICES
QUESTIONNAIRE
RESPONSES
1
COMMUNITY
CONVERSATIONS
WORKSHOP
27
COMPPAC
MEETINGS
29
COMMUNITY CHOICES
The Community Choices engagement campaign took
place in May 2022 and included in-person and online
opportunities that engaged approximately 190 Estes
Valley community members� Events during this phase
included a public workshop (held in English and Spanish);
online questionnaire (available in English and Spanish)
and interactive online map activity; and a small-group
discussion with the Estes Valley Investment in Childhood
Success (EVICS) Mujeres en Conexión�
Public Workshops (English and Spanish)
Approximately 90 community members attended the
Community Choices Workshop held on May 25th at Estes
Park Elementary School� The workshop included two
simultaneous events conducted in English and Spanish�
Online Questionnaire
In conjunction with the in-person Choices Workshop,
an online questionnaire in both English and Spanish
was available from May 7th to the 22nd providing a
digital option for community members who prefer online
engagement or could not attend the workshop�
Interactive Online Map Activity
This online tool was intended to gather feedback on
Future Land Uses within identified Opportunity Areas
and other locations throughout the Estes Forward Study
Area� Participants could zoom to any location on the
map and drag the marker of their choice, representing a
land use category, to place it on the map�
Small-group Discussion with EVICS
Mujeres en Conexión
On May 19th, Town of Estes Park staff attended a
meeting with EVICS and Mujeres en Conexión group�
Approximately 10 community members attended the
meeting� The discussion was conducted in Spanish and
covered a variety of topics covering the same themes as
the public workshop�
12 CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION & PLAN
30
DRAFT PLAN REVIEW
The final series of events provided an opportunity for
participants to review and provide feedback on the
draft plan and included open house events and online
activities�
Elected and Appointed Boards
The draft future land use plan and goals and policies
were workshopped with Town and County leadership
in mid-July, 2022� Joint meetings of the Estes Park
Board of Trustees and Planning Commission as well
as the Larimer County Board of Commissioners and
Planning Commission resulted in productive feedback
for refining the plan. Trustees and Planning Commission
members reviewed and submitted detailed comments
on the draft goals, policies, and actions during this time�
Leadership within Town staff reviewed and commented
on the draft plan simultaneously resulting in a total of
230+ comments and suggested edits collected in July,
including those submitted by the public�
Community Conversations
On August 3rd, 2022, the Town partnered with the local
Community Conversations team to host a public event at
the High School to facilitate thoughtful and productive
dialogue on the draft goals, policies, and actions for high-
profile community issues such as attainable housing,
economic development, inclusivity, climate resiliency,
and the built environment� The event collected feedback
on draft policies and actions and provided a venue
for the community to respectfully exchange diverse
perspectives within small groups�
Online Review
On October 1, 2022, the draft plan was published for
public review through the Engage Estes project website�
Community members commented directly on the plan
using an online tool� In addition to adding their own
comments, residents could also review other comments
and indicate their agreement or disagreement to create
an interactive digital community dialogue� Over 200
comments were submitted through the commenting tool
and by email�
In addition to online plan review, an interactive version
of the Draft Future Land Use Map allowed the public to
review the map digitally by zooming to any location on
the map and reviewing the proposed future land use� The
community was invited to post geo-located comments
on the map by dragging and dropping a marker in the
location related to their comment� 10 comments were
made through this tool�
Draft Plan Public Event
The launch of the online review period coincided with
a community-wide event held on October 6th, 2022
at the Estes Park Community Center� It was hosted in
partnership with the Estes Valley Land Trust, the Estes
Valley Watershed Coalition, and other community
partners. As the final public engagement event, this
meeting celebrated the result of the planning process:
a unified Comprehensive Plan that sets the direction for
the next 20 years�
The event opened with a presentation that summarized
the planning process, outcomes, and contents of the
plan� Following the presentation, attendees participated
in the small-group discussion of their choosing: Future
Land Use, Housing, or Wildlife and Natural Resources�
Each small group discussion allowed community
members to engage in meaningful discussions with the
planning team on the topics most important to them�
Approximately 35 people attended the in-person event�
Planning Commission Workshops and
Public Adoption Hearings
Following the Draft Plan Public Event, the CompPAC and
EVPAC committees met separately to review the draft
plan and consider comments received� The CompPAC
joined the Estes Park Planning Commission on October
18th for a study session, and the EVPAC joined a joint
Larimer County Planning Commission and Board of
County Commissioners worksession on November 9 to
discuss further�
The Estes Park Planning Commission will hold a public
hearing to consider the adoption of the Town’s portion
of the Comprehensive Plan on November 15, tentatively
followed with a Board of Trustee public hearing on
December 6�
The Larimer County Planning Commission will hold a
public hearing to consider the adoption of the County’s
portion of the Comprehensive Plan on November 16,
tentatively followed with a Board of County Commissioner
ratification on December 19.
13ESTES FORWARD | COMPREHENSIVE PLAN
31
CHAPTER TWO
2
POLICY
FRAMEWORK
»Interpreting the Goals and Policies
»Natural Environment
»Built Environment
»Economy
»Housing
»Health & Social
»Transportation & Infrastructure
32
THE GOALS AND POLICIES IN THIS
CHAPTER ARE A CRITICAL STEP
TOWARD COMMUNITY RESILIENCY
TO MITIGATE FUTURE HEALTH,
ECONOMIC, AND ENVIRONMENTAL
IMPACTS FROM NATURAL AND
ECONOMIC DISASTERS.
15ESTES FORWARD | COMPREHENSIVE PLAN
33
GOALS AND POLICIES OVERVIEW
The Goals and Policies identified in this chapter are
designed to enhance the lives of residents, operate
within available resources, protect the environment,
guide sound public infrastructure investments, and make
informed land use decisions� They are a critical step
toward community resiliency to mitigate future health,
economic, and environmental impacts from natural and
economic disasters�
For the purposes of this document, Goals, Policies, and
Actions are defined as follows:
• Statements of expressions of community ideals
and a value to be sought; an end toward which
effort is directed� They are broad directions that
establish ideal future conditions�
• Statements of standard or a course of action
that guides governmental action and decision
making to achieve the goals� Policies are guides
for decision-makers, not decisions themselves�
• An action, procedure, implementation
technique, or specific program to be undertaken
to help achieve a specified goal or to implement
an adopted policy�
GOALS
POLICIES
ACTIONS
INTERPRETING THE GOALS AND
POLICIES
In reading this Plan, it is important to understand that
the goals, policies, and actions are limited to the extent
that they are financially feasible and appropriate for the
Town and/or County to carry them out and to the extent
legally permitted by Federal and State law� For example,
policies and measures which indicate that a party will
“provide,” “support,” “ensure,” or otherwise carry them
out do not indicate an irreversible commitment of funds
or staff resources to those activities, but rather, that the
Town and/or County will support them when deemed
financially feasible and appropriate to do so.
POLICY FRAMEWORK
16 CHAPTER 2: POLICY FRAMEWORK
34
RESPONSIBILITY AND
JURISDICTION FOR TOWN AND
COUNTY
While the Estes Forward Comprehensive Plan was a joint
planning process, the jurisdiction and authority to use
and implement this plan is clearly defined. There are
specific policies and actions that may be shared across
jurisdictions, and others that are firmly within either the
Town or County’s purview�
The policies and actions that are associated with the
Town will be adopted and implemented by the Town of
Estes Park� The policies and actions that are associated
with the County will be adopted and implemented by
Larimer County�
= TOWNT = COUNTYC = BOTHB
Town and County Policies and
Actions
Town only policies are colored dark blue,
County only policies are colored teal
green, and policies that apply to both
jurisdictions are gray.
Actions for the Town and County that
support each goal are included. More
details can be found in Chapter 4:
Implementation.
17ESTES FORWARD | COMPREHENSIVE PLAN
TOWN
BOTH
(TOWN + COUNTY)P
o
l
i
c
i
e
s th
at apply to both j u r i s d i c ti o n s are gray.
COUNTY
To
w
n
o
n
l
y
policies a r e c o l ored dark
b
l
u
e
.County o n l y p o licies are
c
o
l
o
r
e
d teal green.
35
NATURAL ENVIRONMENT
GOAL NE1: Maintain Estes Valley’s scenic character and viewsheds into and
within the Valley and Rocky Mountain National Park.
B NE 1.1 The Town and County encourage the protection and enhancement of key
community gateway views.
B NE 1.2 The Town and County ensure that new development minimizes the impacts
to visual quality within the Valley, including viewsheds of the mountains and
protection of dark skies.
C NE 1.3 The County encourages a scenic, natural, and ranching environment along
Highways 7, 34, and 36 and Devils Gulch Road. Any development should
blend in.
The natural beauty and wildlife resources of the Valley have long drawn residents and visitors to the
area. Watersheds and the natural resources within them provide the foundation and sustenance for
the Estes Valley and the region. However, as our climate changes, temperatures rise and weather
patterns are changing causing a cascade of impacts and implications, threatening both natural
and human systems. Even small changes in climate may compromise the delicate ecosystem
of flora, fauna, and landforms that define the Estes region. This Natural Environment element
establishes goals and policies to be sensitive to and work in harmony with natural ecosystems,
conserve natural resources and wildlife habitat, and plan for a changing climate.
= TOWNT = COUNTYC = BOTHB18 CHAPTER 2: POLICY FRAMEWORK
THE TOWN’S RECOMMENDED
ACTIONS INCLUDE:
»NE 1.A: Maintain and strengthen current code
requirements for dark skies, obtain grant
funding, and develop an incentive program to
replace non-compliant fixtures.
»NE 1.B: Work to minimize obstructed views
by overhead utilities by burying lines as
appropriate.
»NE 1.C: Maintain Ridgeline Protection Zones.
»NE 1.D: Reduce impacts on viewsheds by
strengthening grading standards to reduce the
amount of cut and fill.
THE COUNTY’S RECOMMENDED
ACTIONS INCLUDE:
»NE 1.C: Maintain Ridgeline Protection Zones.
»NE 1.D: Reduce impacts on viewsheds by
strengthening grading standards to reduce the
amount of cut and fill.
»NE 1.E: Maintain current code lighting
requirements for dark skies.
»NE 1.F: Encourage continued ranching and
agriculture uses along with open space
conservation along Highways 7, 34, and 36.
36
B NE 2.1 The Town and County work with partners to create a perpetual open
space network through land acquisition, development agreements, and
conservation easements.
B NE 2.2 The Town and County protect healthy watersheds by minimizing
development impacts within riparian areas, wetlands, and floodplains.
B NE 2.3 The Town and County use a suite of tools to accomplish shared land
conservation priorities that are not yet protected and incentivize infill
development where feasible.
B NE 2.4 The Town and County encourage cluster residential development to protect
wildlife habitat and movement.
GOAL NE2: Ensure the provision and preservation of diverse and accessible
open spaces throughout the Valley while allowing for contextual development
in the right locations.
19ESTES FORWARD | COMPREHENSIVE PLAN
THE TOWN’S RECOMMENDED
ACTIONS INCLUDE:
»NE 2.A: Increase river, stream, and wetlands
setbacks or buffers.
»NE 2.B: Further identify appropriate locations
in Downtown and in Mixed Use Centers and
Corridors for increased height allowances
within context of existing development.
»NE 2.C: Work with willing landowners and
acquire lands through land swaps for properties
that are underdeveloped in order to build local
parks in Town.
»NE 2.D: Explore potential development code
updates, such as parks dedication and fee in
lieu requirements.
»NE 2.E: Work with conservation partners, such
as the Estes Valley Land Trust, Estes Valley
Watershed Coalition, and similar organizations
to increase their ability to pursue land
preservation and open space acquisition.
»NE 2.F: Explore the feasibility of a Transfer of
Development Rights program.
THE COUNTY’S RECOMMENDED
ACTIONS INCLUDE:
»NE 2.E: Work with conservation partners, such
as the Estes Valley Land Trust, Estes Valley
Watershed Coalition, and similar organizations
to increase their ability to pursue land
preservation and open space acquisition.
»NE 2.F: Explore the feasibility of a Transfer of
Development Rights program.
37
T NE 3.1 The Town protects existing native wildlife habitat and vegetation
communities by minimizing disturbance outside of the building envelope
and limiting fragmentation, except as required for wildfire protection.
B NE 3.2 The Town and County encourage the conservation and protection of
connected wildlife habitats and movement corridors.
C NE 3.3 The County encourages a scenic, natural, and ranching environment along
Highways 7, 34, and 36 and Devils Gulch Road. Any development should
blend in.
B NE 3.4 The Town and County limit development in wildlife conservation priority
areas as identified in the Estes Valley Open Space Plan.
B NE 3.5 The Town and County work with landowners to prevent the introduction,
establishment, and spread of invasive species, as well as to eradicate and
control populations of invasive species that are established.
GOAL NE3: Protect wildlife and enhance biodiversity and ecosystems.
= TOWNT = COUNTYC = BOTHB20 CHAPTER 2: POLICY FRAMEWORK
THE TOWN’S RECOMMENDED
ACTIONS INCLUDE:
»NE 3.A: Consider an Environmentally Sensitive
Lands Zoning Overlay that would be subject to
additional design review.
»NE 3.B: Improve wildlife movement by
requiring wildlife-friendly fencing on all new
development, reviewing setback requirements
from key habitat areas/wildlife movement
corridors, encouraging removal of legacy
barbed wire fencing, seeking grant funding, and
developing an incentive program.
»NE 3.C: Update the 2008 Wildlife Habitat
Assessment and Development Code, including
map of wildlife corridors and sensitive habitat.
THE COUNTY’S RECOMMENDED
ACTIONS INCLUDE:
»NE 3.B: Improve wildlife movement by
requiring wildlife-friendly fencing on all new
development, reviewing setback requirements
from key habitat areas/wildlife movement
corridors, encouraging removal of legacy
barbed wire fencing, seeking grant funding, and
developing an incentive program.
»NE 3.C: Update the 2008 Wildlife Habitat
Assessment including map of wildlife corridors
and sensitive habitat.
38
B NE 4.1 The Town and County maintain building code standards to require fire
hardened and resistant materials in new development and substantial
improvements.
B NE 4.2
The Town and County proactively mitigate risk through large-scale fuel
reduction in partnership with Rocky Mountain National Park, US Forest
Service, Colorado State Forestry, Estes Valley Watershed Coalition, and
NoCo Fireshed Collaborative.
B NE 4.3
The Town and County strive to reduce evacuation time and improve
communication in the event of disaster, including an opt out (rather than opt
in) for emergency calls and text messages to all residents in both English
and Spanish.
GOAL NE4: Recognize that wildfire is a growing risk to the community and
proactively work to protect the lives, property, and resiliency of the Valley.
21ESTES FORWARD | COMPREHENSIVE PLAN
THE TOWN’S RECOMMENDED
ACTIONS INCLUDE:
»NE 4.A: Consider adopting a fire mitigation
program in partnership with the Fire District
to encourage individual property owners to
reduce fuels on their property and select
landscaping choices and building materials for
fire resistance.
»NE 4.B: Review current fire educational
materials and update as needed, ensuring all
materials are available in Spanish and provide
community education on available resources
in Spanish and English. Consider a targeted
communications campaign for visitors.
»NE 4.C: Expand the months that the Community
Sort Yard is open.
»NE 4.D: Review potential mitigation
requirements in the Development Code to align
with recommendations of Community Planning
Assistance for Wildfires (CPAW).
»NE 4.E: Evaluate site design standards and
landscape requirements to ensure appropriate
spacing of native trees and frequent thinning
and pruning of materials.
»NE 4.F: Implement the 2022 Community
Wildfire Protection Plan.
»NE 4.G: Explore supporting a Fire District led
fire mitigation public education program in
coordination that includes public seminars.
THE COUNTY’S RECOMMENDED
ACTIONS INCLUDE:
»NE 4.E: Evaluate site design standards and
landscape requirements to ensure appropriate
spacing of native trees and frequent thinning
and pruning of materials.
»NE 4.F: Implement the 2022 Community
Wildfire Protection Plan.
»NE 4.G: Explore supporting a Fire District led
fire mitigation public education program in
coordination that includes public seminars.
»NE 4.H: Continue to evaluate and make changes
to Land Use and Building Code standards to
align with CPAW recommendations and other
best practices.
39
T NE 5.1
The Town strengthens development regulations to keep property and
people out of high flood risk areas and ensure space for natural flooding to
occur, including increasing setbacks and base flood elevation freeboard for
buildings.
T NE 5.2 The Town pursues grants to purchase high-risk properties and create public
spaces that mitigate flood risk.
T NE 5.3 The Town incorporates data and recommendations from the Town of Estes
Park Stormwater Master Plan and ensures consistency in growth estimates
and actions between planning efforts.
B NE 5.4 The Town and County identify infrastructure vulnerabilities, such as
undersized bridges and culverts or critical infrastructure in high flood risk
areas and pursue improvements to reduce flood risk.
GOAL NE5: Mitigate flood risk through multifunctional infrastructure and
recreation improvements.
= TOWNT = COUNTYC = BOTHB22 CHAPTER 2: POLICY FRAMEWORK
THE TOWN’S RECOMMENDED
ACTIONS INCLUDE:
»NE 5.A: Implement the flood mitigation projects
identified in the Estes Park Downtown Plan and
in alignment with the County efforts for river
restoration to reduce flood risk.
»NE 5.B: Support and participate in Larimer
Connects.
»NE 5.C: Adopt the updated floodplain insurance
maps.
»NE 5.D: Coordinate on the Larimer County
Strategic Plan Improvements for floodplain and
drainage projects.
THE COUNTY’S RECOMMENDED
ACTIONS INCLUDE:
»NE 5.B: Support and participate in Larimer
Connects.
»NE 5.C: Adopt the updated floodplain insurance
maps.
»NE 5.D: Coordinate on the Larimer County
Strategic Plan Improvements for floodplain and
drainage projects.
»NE 5.E: Maintain strong floodplain regulations
for the Estes Valley unincorporated area.
40
B BE 1.1 The Town and County prioritize redevelopment and infill in areas with
existing transportation networks and available water/sewer infrastructure.
B BE 1.2 The Town and County ensure that new development minimizes the impacts
to visual quality within the Valley, including viewsheds of the mountains and
protection of dark skies.
C BE 1.3 The County encourages a scenic, natural, and ranching environment along
Highways 7, 34, and 36 and Devils Gulch Road. Any development should
blend in.
T BE 1.4 The Town encourages new development and redevelopment that prioritizes
active transportation such as walking, biking, public transit, and ride-
sharing in a pedestrian-scale environment.
GOAL BE1: Maximize public investment and the efficient delivery of
public services by strategically directing growth toward areas of existing
infrastructure, while recognizing necessary housing solutions will require
creative strategies with Environmental Justice as a foundational principle.
The built environment is perhaps the most significant contributor to, or detractor from, a
community’s sense of place. Estes Park’s distinct identity has evolved into its current form because
of the Valley’s extraordinary physical landscape, rich history, and community contributions.
Together, these elements influence the development of the built environment which impacts
nearly every aspect of daily life. This Built Environment element establishes goals and policies
to enhance quality of life, preserve local character, balance a supportive mix of land uses, align
services and infrastructure needs, and strengthen partnerships and cooperative governance.
Recommendations of this section complement and are supported by the Future Land Use Plan
presented in Chapter 3.
BUILT ENVIRONMENT
23ESTES FORWARD | COMPREHENSIVE PLAN
THE TOWN’S RECOMMENDED
ACTIONS INCLUDE:
»BE 1.A: Audit and amend the Development
Code (DC) to reduce barriers to incremental and
small-scale commercial redevelopment in order
to maximize infill and redevelopment of sites.
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THE COUNTY’S RECOMMENDED
ACTIONS INCLUDE:
»BE 1.D: Develop corridor or small area plans for
strategic areas as identified on the Future Land
Use Map. Work with the Town on areas that
include parcels inside of Town limits.
CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE
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= TOWNT = COUNTYC = BOTHB24 CHAPTER 2: POLICY FRAMEWORK
CONTINUED TOWN’S ACTIONS:
»BE 1.B: Consider strategies for incentivizing
infill and redevelopment of existing buildings.
»BE 1.C: Explore potential impact fees for new
development to offset the costs of increased
demand for public services such as water,
sewer, stormwater management, recreation,
social services, and public safety.
»BE 1.D: Develop corridor or small area plans for
strategic areas as identified on the Future Land
Use Map. Work with the County on strategic
areas that include parcels outside of Town
limits.
»BE 1.E: Identify future planning areas
that present an opportunity for infill or
redevelopment. Future planning efforts for
these areas will further inform and update the
Future Land Use Map.
»BE 1.F: Consider defining a Future Town Service
Area Boundary. (See Chapter 3 for more detail)
»BE 1.G: Develop an annexation policy
and criteria for new annexations such as:
conformance to the Future Land Use Map;
ability to accommodate 20-year growth
projections; urban-level densities and
intensities; multi-modal connectivity; water,
sewer, and urban fire service; urban road
standards; building performance standards
for hazard resiliency, water conservation, and
energy efficiency; and conservation standards
for wildlife habitat and corridors.
CONTINUED COUNTY’S ACTIONS:
»BE 1.E: Identify future planning areas
that present an opportunity for infill or
redevelopment. Future planning efforts for
these areas will further inform and update the
Future Land Use Map.
»BE 1.F: Consider defining a Future Town Service
Area Boundary with the Town of Estes Park.
»BE 1.G: Develop an annexation policy
and criteria for new annexations such as:
conformance to the Future Land Use Map;
ability to accommodate 20-year growth
projections; urban-level densities and
intensities; multi-modal connectivity; water,
sewer, and urban fire service; urban road
standards; building performance standards
for hazard resiliency, water conservation, and
energy efficiency; and conservation standards
for wildlife habitat and corridors.
»BE 1.H: Allow conservation developments,
where appropriate, that preserve open space
over traditional large-lot subdivisions.
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GOAL BE2: Promote protection of the environment by ensuring that
development is in harmony with its setting and provides equal and
meaningful opportunity to participate in the decision-making process to
achieve a healthy environment.
B BE 2.1 The Town and County require that development preserve water quality,
ecological systems, and the natural features through sensitive site design
and minimal disturbance.
B BE 2.2 The Town and County support preservation and ceremonial utilization of
indigenous cultural landscapes.
25ESTES FORWARD | COMPREHENSIVE PLAN
THE TOWN’S RECOMMENDED
ACTIONS INCLUDE:
»BE 2.A: Audit the Preferred Planting List
to prioritize native, fire-resistant, climate-
adaptive, and pollinator species.
»BE 2.B: Limit areas of disturbance for new
development in order to protect existing native
vegetation, except as required for wildfire
protection.
»BE 2.C: Continue to enforce grading
requirements and limitations on steep slope
and ridgeline development that maintain natural
slopes and viewsheds.
»BE 2.D: Continue applying and enforcing
floodplain development standards, as well
as stream and wetland corridor protection
requirements.
»BE 2.E: Reference the wildlife habitat
assessment map, as updated periodically
to include current data, during development
review to evaluate potential impacts to wildlife
habitat.
»BE 2.F: Work with the Ute, Arapaho, and other
Sovereign Nations to protect, interpret, and
provide access to sacred lands and ceremonial
sites.
THE COUNTY’S RECOMMENDED
ACTIONS INCLUDE:
»BE 2.B: Limit areas of disturbance for new
development in order to protect existing native
vegetation, except as required for wildfire
protection.
»BE 2.C: Continue to enforce grading
requirements and limitations on steep slope
and ridgeline development that maintain natural
slopes and viewsheds.
»BE 2.D: Continue applying and enforcing
floodplain development standards, as well
as stream and wetland corridor protection
requirements.
»BE 2.E: Reference the wildlife habitat
assessment map, as updated periodically
to include current data, during development
review to evaluate potential impacts to wildlife
habitat.
»BE 2.F: Work with the Ute, Arapaho, and other
Sovereign Nations to protect, interpret, and
provide access to sacred lands and ceremonial
sites.
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B BE 3.1 The Town and County implement the Future Land Use Categories to allow
a variety of compatible land uses with higher intensity and density uses
concentrated within the Estes Park town limits.
B BE 3.2 The Town and County provide appropriate transition between varying
intensity of uses and scales of development to minimize impacts between
adjacent developments.
T BE 3.3
The Town invests in physical improvements to the built environment and
placemaking in Downtown commercial areas to facilitate high quality
redevelopment, pedestrian movement, public art, and areas for relaxing,
gathering, and shopping.
T BE 3.4 The Town supports and integrates housing goals, policies, and actions into
land use policy and the Land Development Code as needed to provide a
variety of affordable, multigenerational housing opportunities.
B BE 3.5 The Town and County support opportunities for historic preservation,
rehabilitation, and adaptive use of historic structures in development review
and land conservation activities.
GOAL BE3: Encourage a balanced mix of uses that meets the diverse needs of
residents, businesses, and visitors.
= TOWNT = COUNTYC = BOTHB26 CHAPTER 2: POLICY FRAMEWORK
THE TOWN’S RECOMMENDED
ACTIONS INCLUDE:
»BE 3.A: Amend the Town’s Development Code
for consistency with the Estes Forward Future
Land Use Framework and Map, including zoning
regulations.
»BE 3.B: Support the adaptive reuse, renovation,
or redevelopment of aging centers or
commercial uses that are no longer viable due
to changing market conditions, demographics,
or retail trends into areas that support mixed
use and attainable housing opportunities.
»BE 3.C: Encourage the provision of workforce-
serving amenities in non-residential areas, such
as parks and plazas, outdoor seating areas,
fitness facilities, daycare centers, and bicycle
storage.
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THE COUNTY’S RECOMMENDED
ACTIONS INCLUDE:
»BE 3.J: Conduct regular audits to ensure
permitted uses are consistent with the desired
future land use mix and account for new uses
that result from changes in market forces and
technological advancements.
»BE 3.K: Minimize the visual impact of large
parking lots by requiring new development and
redevelopment to locate parking at the rear or
side of buildings and converting unneeded and
underutilized paved areas into neighborhood-
enhancing features that improve walkability.
»BE 3.L: Retain the existing County Zoning and
Land Use code for the unincorporated area
of the Estes Valley, except where specific
standards are identified for clarification or
coordination with the Town.
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27ESTES FORWARD | COMPREHENSIVE PLAN
CONTINUED TOWN’S ACTIONS:
»BE 3.D: Continue implementation of the
Estes Park Downtown Plan by integrating the
recommendations for each Character Area into
land use policy and the Development Code.
»BE 3.E: Promote clean, creative, and
environmentally responsible industrial,
warehouse, or large-scale commercial uses
within the designated Industrial Mix areas on
the Future Land Use Map.
»BE 3.F: Incentivize workforce housing
development through strategies such as
streamlined permitting, reduced application
and tap fees, density bonuses, and building
height bonuses.
»BE 3.G: As opportunity presents, collaborate
with property owners to upgrade, beautify, and
revitalize existing strip commercial areas and
aging shopping centers and focus on street
improvements and amenities during utility
and transportation improvement projects that
improve curb appeal and walkability.
»BE 3.H: Consider design standards for
commercial development in downtown,
highway corridors, and gateways to Estes
Park. Consideration should be given to design
guidelines that enhance historic preservation
and that do not preclude or restrict beneficial
and high-quality attainable housing projects.
»BE 3.I: Encourage redeveloping commercial
centers to create a vibrant public realm though
gathering spaces, placemaking features, and
focal elements such as outdoor dining and
public art.
»BE 3.J: Conduct regular audits to ensure
permitted uses are consistent with the desired
future land use mix and account for new uses
that result from changes in market forces and
technological advancements.
»BE 3.K: Minimize the visual impact of large
parking lots by requiring new development and
redevelopment to locate parking at the rear or
side of buildings and converting unneeded and
underutilized paved areas into neighborhood-
enhancing features that improve walkability.
CONTINUED TOWN’S ACTIONS:
»BE 3.L: Work with partners to increase the
visibility and accessibility of arts and culture as
a means of diversifying resident engagement
and participation.
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