Smart Growth Hall Of Fame 2001
Ten Examples Of Good Planning Decisions In Colorado

News Release

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As more people move to Colorado, we are faced with the challenge of how to grow without sprawling. According to a report released today by the Colorado Sprawl Action Center, a project of CoPIRG, some local governments and developers have succeeded in meeting that challenge. The report, titled the Smart Growth Hall of Fame, recognizes ten developments and planning decisions across Colorado that exhibit good growth management and smart growth principles. The ten chosen for the report were selected to display a variety of growth management tools that are available to local governments and decision -makers.

"The planning decisions and developments in the Smart Growth Hall of Fame demonstrate that Colorado can indeed grow without sprawling," said Michelle Kramer, CoPIRG's Colorado Sprawl Action Center Coordinator. "These projects will clearly improve the quality of life in Colorado and could not have been accomplished without the cooperation of local officials, planners, and developers. If we choose to redirect Colorado's growth back into already developed areas, or simply plan better for future growth, we can create healthier and more cohesive communities," Kramer continued.

The ten developments or planning decisions highlighted in this year's Smart Growth Hall of Fame are (listed in alphabetical order):

• Boulder Valley Comprehensive Plan
• CityCenter Englewood
  
• FasTracks- RTD
  
• Larimer County's Rural Land Use Process
  
  • Swift Ponds RLUP
    
  • Douglas Farms Exemption
    
• Stapleton Redevelopment Steel Yards Mixed-Use Redevelopment
  
• Town of Nederland
  
• Town of Windsor and Town of Severance Tax Revenue Sharing Program
  
• Upper Blue Basin Transfer of Development Rights Program
  
• Wellington Development, Affordable Housing Community

The report was released in front of CityCenter Englewood, a transit oriented redevelopment highlighted in the report. Speaking at the event were Englewood Mayor Beverley Bradshaw, Englewood's Community Development Director, Robert Simpson, and Michelle Kramer with the Colorado Sprawl Action Center.

Planners, developers, local elected officials and citizens agree that smart growth makes sense. "We have to abandon the pursuit of growth for its own sake, because the endgame is in sight: an environment that is wrecked by sprawl. But there are examples of smart development within the state and we need to celebrate them, to say thanks to those who are responsible, and to replicate the good features of these projects elsewhere," said Macon Cowles, a local lawyer and planner.

The report highlights responsible developers, such as Coburn Development, who are taking the initiative to implement smart growth and redirect growth to infill developments. "Developers need to be more creative and open their minds to different opportunities; they need to get away from the formula mentality that has resulted in sprawl across Colorado," said Peter Weber, Creative Director for Coburn.

Larimer County's Rural Land Use Process was also highlighted in the report for several of its projects in which rural land owners are able to creatively develop on part of their land while protecting a majority of their land in conservation easements. "This is indeed an honor for Larimer County's Rural Land Use Center and a testament to the courage and commitment of Larimer County landowners: for their courage to break with tradition and try a new way of developing their land and for their continuing commitment to land stewardship. Mostly the Process works because of far-sighted landowners who truly believe that less is more," said Jim Reidhead, Director of the Larimer Rural Land Use Center.

In light of continuing public concern over growth, the Smart Growth Hall of Fame report was designed to highlight places where Coloradans are growing responsibly. The report's authors hope that other local governments and developers will follow suit and plan for smart growth.

After a public request for nominations, over 30 city and county officials, developers, and planners submitted nominations to the Sprawl Action Center to be considered for inclusion in the report. The nominations were selected based on a number of criteria including the efficient and/or appropriate use of land, transportation options, community character enhancement, consideration for the environment, use of taxpayer dollars, inclusion of affordable housing, amount of public participation, and the use of incentives for smart growth.

For a complete copy of the report and photographs of the sites, visit www.sprawlaction.org.

The Colorado Sprawl Action Center is a CoPIRG project dedicated to providing citizens with the tools and information they need to advocate for quality development in their communities. (www.sprawlaction.org)

CoPIRG is a non-partisan advocacy group that works to protect the environment, stop consumer rip offs, and strengthen our democracy. (www.copirg.org)

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