HomeMy WebLinkAboutSupplemental Materials - Futures Committee - 08/10/2011 -embrace northern colorado
exploring how our choices today shape our communities tomorrow
Our Purpose
Embrace Northern Colorado is a nonpartisan nonprofit. Our overall purpose is to facilitate a continuing
conversation about the future of our region, create a genuine process that engages the public and help the
region forge an alliance to create a vision that delivers a great future for Northern Colorado.
Our Approach
Strategic visioning is a process that uses the analysis of future alternative scenarios to empower stewards
to make wise decisions and establish robust strategies that identify and preserve the widest range of
"best" choices and future possibilities. Our role is to act as a neutral convener.
A Proven Process
Efforts like this are not new. There are numerous examples of regions acting to secure their futures in a
changing world. We have chosen to implement a model from the most successful efforts nationally.
Supporting the Health and Vitality of our Local Communities
Embrace Northern Colorado strongly supports local control and authority. We believe this is an essential
element in the successful implementation of a regional vision for the broader Northern Colorado
community.
Leadership Task Force
A 100+ stakeholder regional Leadership Task Force was established in April 2011. The task force
represents all of the interests of Northern Colorado. It will work through the fall of 2011. Its mission is to
design the approach to engaging the broader Northern Colorado community in creating its vision for the
future. See the task force’s progress at: http://www.embracecolorado.com .
Preparing for Future Growth
Population growth is inevitable when you live in such an attractive region as Northern Colorado. The
Colorado State Demographer reports that 1.2 to 1.4 million people are projected to call Northern Colorado
home by 2050, more than a 150% increase over today’s base.
Building Capacity
Northern Colorado comprises many communities—each with its own unique character and amenities.
Improving our capacity to collaboratively plan for the future as a metropolitan region is essential.
Visions of Northern Colorado in 2050 – Scenarios
- How we use our land affects our future -
Accommodate projected population growth:
+687,000 people or 275,000 housing units*
S1 - Base – zoning (8 DUA in cities)
S2 – Low density (0.1 DUA low density)
S3 – 35 ac subdivision (0.025 DUA)
S4 – Denser urban (4x S1 density <2, 2x <4 mi)
Agricultural Land
Land Consumed
Water/Reservoirs
Housing Unit
*Random assignment of development
Source: Dr. David Theobald & Dylan Harrison-Atlas, Dept. of Fish, Wildlife
And Conservation Biology, Colorado State University