Berthoud planners begin work on state‑mandated strategic growth element; timeline aims for December adoption

Berthoud planners described early steps to produce the strategic growth element the state requires for comprehensive plans and asked the Planning Commission for input on schedule and priorities.

Lincoln Dixon, the town planner, said the element comprises three parts: cataloguing existing policies and tools; analyzing vacant and underutilized sites (especially near transit and jobs); and assessing undeveloped land being considered for future growth, including fiscal feasibility. “The overall goal of this requirement is to create a strategy for discouraging sprawl and promoting the development or redevelopment of underutilized parcels to ultimately address housing needs,” Dixon said.

Staff told commissioners they are coordinating with DOLA and the neighborhood centers pilot program and plan to focus early work on town‑owned parcels such as the old Town Hall site where redevelopment may be feasible. The state‑set deadline is December 31, 2026; staff proposed returning to the Planning Commission by August for further review and then to the Town Board later in the month. Commissioners raised questions about the fiscal analysis (mill levy impacts, infrastructure extension costs) and whether the element will meaningfully alter the land‑use map; staff said DOLA’s guidance is still evolving and that the element will try to align with the adopted comprehensive plan.

The commission discussed process and agreed staff should develop methodology for the fiscal analysis and return with draft materials for review. The state’s evolving criteria and a compressed schedule were noted as constraints; staff and commissioners said they will prioritize feasible, town‑led redevelopment opportunities and coordinate with Larimer County as appropriate.