West 44th Avenue is one of the City's primary east-west corridors, and the 44th Avenue Subarea Plan will provide a long-range planning document for the western portion. The City of Wheat Ridge has hired a planning consultant, MIG Inc., to assist with the W. 44th Avenue Subarea Plan throughout 2022.

The plan will focus on W. 44^th Avenue between Youngfield Street and Clear Creek (near Field Street) and will more broadly include the portion of the City between Clear Creek and I-70. This western segment of W. 44th Avenue is not simply a corridor; it is the connection between the eastern and western portions of the City, for the transit-oriented development (or TOD) at Wheat Ridge · Ward Station, for Clear Creek Trail, for the Clear Creek Crossing development at the City’s far western edge, and for numerous adjacent residential neighborhoods. The Envision Wheat Ridge Comprehensive Plan, adopted in 2009, classifies W. 44th Avenue as a Neighborhood Commercial Corridor and the primary east/west corridor for the City.

Per the community input gathered through the recently updated Neighborhood Revitalization Strategy and the ongoing Let’s Talk resident engagement program, the community wants to see improvements made to the aesthetic of its primary corridors, and W. 44th Avenue is a priority among those. Today, W. 44th Avenue has a mix of conditions that create a unique context for future planning and redevelopment. Although the sidewalks, curbs, pavement, and lighting in the public right of way are in fairly good condition, there is, broadly speaking, inconsistency in private property investment and maintenance that undermines the overall visual appeal of the corridor. The City has taken some important steps, such as updating the Streetscape Design Manual to require trees along the street behind the curb, among other improvements, to enhance the overall user experience along the corridor, and enhancing the corridor will be a key part of this subarea plan.

How can I get involved?

The subarea planning process relies heavily on public input to inform the vision for the site. Public engagement will include a variety of in-person and virtual events. Register and subscribe on What’s Up Wheat Ridge to stay informed. Refer to the Public Process Timeline on this page to see what events are upcoming.

Why should I get involved?

We often see the public speaking up during zone changes or site planning, but by that point, approvals are based on their compliance with an adopted plan. That’s why it’s important that you be involved in the creation of the adopted plan. This chart shows how the subarea plan relates to development approvals, and why it’s important to get involved now.

What is a subarea plan?

A subarea plan is a long-range planning document that articulates a vision for a specific area. Unlike the City's Comprehensive Plan which outlines a vision for the entire City, a subarea plan describes more specific goals for the land use, design and transportation for a specific area. A subarea plan is sometimes called a master plan, small area plan, or station area plan.

Refer to the process information handout which explains how a subarea plan fits into the processes of planning and development and how it relates to the more general comprehensive plan and more specific development approvals.

Change will not happen tomorrow – this is a twenty-year plan that will be delivered over a long period of time—and your voice is important to this process.

Why do we need a subarea plan?

While portions of W. 44^th Avenue were included in the Fruitdale Subarea Plan, the plan is outdated and does not take into consideration the market conditions of today. The recently completed Neighborhood Revitalization Strategy identified W. 44^th Avenue as a priority for planning efforts. City officials recognize the need to develop a plan containing strategies to promote revitalization and attract investment to the W. 44^th Avenue corridor that would enhance the adjacent neighborhoods and the City as a whole. There are significant opportunities for redevelopment and reinvestment, while maintaining the unique character of W. 44^th Avenue. The plan will deliver a series of strategic initiatives and projects within the plan to assist implementation.

The plan will take into consideration the City’s priority needs, concerns, and opportunities along 44^th Avenue, including:

• Opportunities for reuse/redevelopment of properties.
• Disinvestment in buildings. Consider incentives to potential investors and current owners in the corridor to start/expand businesses and improve buildings.
• Upgrade of infrastructure to address safety issues and community connections.
• Transportation improvements needed, particularly to facilitate reuse/redevelopment of key properties.
• How to take advantage of growth opportunities from changing demographics and markets favoring urban, walkable communities.
• Target locations and objectives for development, land use, community character, and design that will guide future revisions to the zoning ordinance.

What are the boundaries of this plan?

The plan will focus on 44th Avenue, and the project area will include the portion of the City between Clear Creek and Interstate 70. The boundaries of this plan were chosen to align closely with the Fruitdale Subarea Plan, but extend out to the creek as a natural boundary. Further east are established neighborhoods where change is not anticipated, and the Wadsworth improvement project has already addressed the commercial corridor.

How am I affected by this plan?

The subarea plan will identify a land use strategy forward that is more in line with today's market conditions. The plan will not change the zoning or site in the near term, but the plan is intended as an overall guide for future development.

If your property or business falls within the planning area boundaries or if you use the corridor for travel, business, or leisure, please be sure to get involved.

Will zoning change?

No. A subarea plan is a vision document that helps guide future entitlements. While it does set the stage for development, it does not address specifics of exactly what can be developed. Zoning and site development/redevelopment would come later, as property owners decide to take an active approach to move the plan direction forward. The plan will help us to establish action items to help incentivize and realize goals of the plan. All will be subject to future public processes.

How are we addressing traffic on 44th? Will this plan include changes to the street section?

A broader rethinking of transportation and circulation may be appropriate through this planning process.

Generally, traffic along 44^th Avenue will be guided by a Traffic Analysis that is included in the subarea plan scope. In relation to streetscape, there are no curb-to-curb changes expected along the corridor. Sidewalks, curbs, pavement and lighting in the public right of way are in fairly good condition. The City has taken some important steps, such as updating the Streetscape Design Manual to require street trees behind curb. The City anticipates recommendations of the plan to be geared towards enhancing the pedestrian environment, improving traffic movements, and increasing connectivity.

What's happening with the Clear Creek floodplain?

The City is undergoing a floodplain map update to Clear Creek to reflect lower regulatory flows. The revised maps are currently being reviewed by the State and then will be forwarded to FEMA for review and approval. This process will take about 1 ½ years to complete. The good news is that several properties will no longer be in the mapped floodplain which could encourage reinvestment.

For more information, visit the remapping project website is at: Clear Creek FHAD Study (iconeng.com)