The unfunded capital improvement projects being approved by voters in the extension of the .5 cent sales tax were developed as a direct result from resident feedback and deliberate planning.
Planning and outreach efforts included the following:
NRS Update (2019)
The Neighborhood Revitalization Strategy (NRS) began in the early 2000s with the goal of facilitating a healthy housing market, attracting commercial investment, and supporting a vibrant community. The 2019 NRS was a report card or checkup on that progress. The city looked at the data and took the temperature of residents.
The NRS raised the bar in terms of public engagement. Led by the steering committee, feedback relied on small group meeting, one-on-one conversations, open houses, and 1000 survey responses.
More details here: https://www.ci.wheatridge.co.us/276/NRS-Update
Resident Survey (2021)
Currently, the city is soliciting feedback from randomly selected residents for the 2023 Resident Survey. The 2021 survey, assessed resident satisfaction with community characteristics and amenities, evaluated Wheat Ridge local government and employees, and helped the city further understand resident’s priorities regarding city government services.
Learn more here: https://www.ci.wheatridge.co.us/258/Resident-Survey
Let’s Talk (2021-2023)
This program documents neighborhood-specific issues and opportunities by collecting resident feedback through community meetings, neighborhood pop-ups, and surveys. The process asks open-ended questions and builds trust with residents. So far over 1,500 residents have engaged.
Goals established at the onset:
• Develop a thorough, well documented understanding of the issues and opportunities at the neighborhood level
• Build trust between city staff and neighborhoods through demonstration that the city is listening and being responsive;
• Better empower neighborhoods to take initiative and work effectively with the city for positive outcomes that respond to neighborhood changes;
• Ensure that all neighborhoods in the city have an opportunity for focused listening and responsive actions from the city within approximately two year cycles; and
• Ensure that the feedback received during the engagement "blitz" is robust and represents a diversity of opinions in each neighborhood.
Learn more about the Let's Talk Program here: https://whatsupwheatridge.com/lets-talk
Lutheran Subarea Plan (2022)
The Lutheran Legacy Campus master plan document reflects the vision of the community and was created using a market study to ensure that the plan is realistic and has the best possible chance of coming to pass. The document outlines a framework for future development. It is not a site plan, it does not prescribe specific uses, nor is it a zoning document. It describes what the community likes and dislikes, it articulates goals and desires, and it creates guardrails for future development. Ultimately, it communicates to future owners the community’s expectations, without which the property could be developed in a way that runs counter to community wishes. To review the plan please visit: https://www.ci.wheatridge.co.us/1788/Lutheran-Campus
Affordable Housing Strategy (2023)
The Wheat Ridge City Council adopted the Affordable Housing Strategy and Action Plan on January 9, 2023, as a guiding document to address housing affordability in Wheat Ridge. The process started in early 2022 and included opportunities for public input, discussions with over 20 housing developers, and four City Council discussions in 2022. The plan can be viewed here: https://whatsupwheatridge.com/housing
44th Avenue Subarea Plan (2023)
This plan includes land use recommendations and identifies areas appropriate for commercial, mixed use, and residential development. Through public input it was identified there is a clear desire to protect the character of the existing lower density neighborhoods, a willingness for townhome and newer development on the corridor, and an understanding that attracting retail and dining options will require more rooftops.
The most well supported recommendations relate to mobility improvements including, wider, safer, shaded, continuous sidewalk, improved access within and into the corridor, improved tabor bridge, and improved access to the creek.
The full plan can be viewed here: https://www.ci.wheatridge.co.us/1821/44th-Avenue
Open Space Management Plan (2023)
The purpose of the Open Space Management Plan is to create a bold vision for the future of the Wheat Ridge Greenbelt, Clear Creek Trail, and open space assets. It balances recreation use with resource protection, while incorporating strategies for long-term sustainability and stewardship.
The plan incorporated community engagement, an evaluation of existing conditions and future opportunities, and the identification of alternatives and solutions to existing challenges.
For more information visit: https://whatsupwheatridge.com/open-space-management-plan-2022-update
Facilities Master Plan (2023)
(I'm not able to find this) Results from this internal document have found that city own facility needs have exceeded available space, many components are at or beyond expected service life, improvements will require significant financial investment, and there is opportunity to reimagine spaces.
Major Themes Developed As a Result of the Above
Corridors
The City of Wheat Ridge has repeatedly heard that corridors are an issue requiring attention. Specifically, there’s interest in giving attention to local streets—not state highways—to 44th and 38th and Youngfield, 32nd and 29th.
It’s interesting because in the NRS survey in early 2019 among these corridors, 38th Avenue east of Wadsworth received the highest marks among other primary corridor segments, but the neighborhoods east of Wadsworth certainly expressed through Let’s Talk a sense that the Main Street vision on 38th Avenue still feels incomplete.
The segment west of Wadsworth has long been a priority across a few of these efforts. The 38 West or 38 Walk project will come to Council for contract award and budget supplemental to kick off a conceptual design process.
The NRS survey ranked 44th Avenue as second to worst among the corridors. There are a range of improvements that have come up, both linear and targeted including, conditions east to west on 44th and even on the frontage road, improved crosswalks on 44th, improved crossing of i-70—the tabor street bridge as long been mentioned as a barrier with a lack of bike/ped facilities, and targeted medians near the truck stop.
Youngfield – not only aesthetic improvements for which design is underway, but sidewalk improvements along Yougnfield – a sense that it connects or could connect the neighborhood to Applewood Village, CCC, and the creek in a better way.
Mobility
We’re seeing interest city wide and through Let’s Talk feedback in pedestrian mobility access for localized projects. While there is certainly some disagreement at the local street or block level as to whether there should be sidewalks, we see significantly more consensus in public feedback when we take a broader view.
There is a common theme in a desire for improved sidewalk connections city wide --- particularly on collectors and arterials. This has been expressed through the bike ped master plan and in Let’s Talk.
During the Lutheran plan, that was a key conversation related to surrounding streets, including Dudley and 32nd Avenue – part of the recommendation for Transportation Demand Management in the Lutheran area is to invest in multimodal infrastructure.
Floodplain & Drainage
One of the highest priority areas for floodplain mitigation is near the Clearvale neighborhood. This area has many homes within the floodway and the 100-year floodplain which not only raises insurance rates, but also inhibits investment in properties.
With the current mapping, a project could remove 48 houses from the floodway and an additional 55 houses and seven multifamily buildings from the floodplain.
During the Anderson Park Let’s Talk Blitz the highest ranked action item was to Improve Clear Creek North of 44th Avenue to Reduce Flood Impacts on Property. The same project was raised as part of 44th planning.
Parks & Open Space
Results from parks and open space studies and resident impacts concluded that general access to Clear Creek Greenbelt be increased. This includes formalizing some social trails and installing a trail head at Otis St. A need for a crosswalk at Kipling to the Clear Creek Trail was identified. Resident feedback also stressed the need to balance amenities with access, habitat restoration.
Public Facilities
Identified projects include a Parks and Recreation Center expansion to support new fitness/gym facilities and a additional space for camps. This plan does not include an additional pool. It also identified a need for a reimagined City Hall, a cultural center, and a public works building to support materials and vehicle storage.
Discussion on .5 Cent Sales Tax Projects
This city council study session held a public hearing on the proposed ballot language to extend or expire the existing .5 cent sales tax. Council unanimously approved adding the language to this November's ballot.
During this meeting city council voted to hold a public hearing on the proposed ballot language on August 28.
In this meeting results of the first survey exploring the extension of the .5 cent sales tax were discussed.
During this session council reviewed the results of the second survey exploring voter interest in extending the existing .5 cent sales tax.
