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Planners & Managers Roundtable News

News & Information on Planning
in the Roaring Fork & Colorado River Valleys

January, 2003

The Planners and Managers Roundtable is an informal collaborative effort to exchange information and resources, and develop shared analysis tools and management frameworks in the Roaring Fork and Colorado River Watershed.

- NEXT ROUNDTABLE -

January 31, 2002

2-5pm

Garfield Courthouse Annex Building, Glenwood Springs

(108, 8th street, right across the street from the old Courthouse)

GUEST SPEAKERS

§         Caroline Bradford, Eagle River Watershed Council

Eagle County has had some strong successes working together in a watershed mode over the past few years, and Caroline will share some of those with us as well as her sense of challenges in sustaining watershed level activity in our valleys.

§         Martha Cochran, Aspen Valley Land Trust

Martha will present the result of AVLT’s Greater Roaring Fork Valley Green Printing Project, which is an effort to collaboratively track conserved portions of the greater Roaring Fork Valley and identify areas that should be actively pursued as conservation assets.

Agenda Topics

§         Community and agency updates

§         Collaborative discussion about use of remaining funding and following up on Costs of Growth Workshop.

NEWS BRIEFS

§         November 6th Workshop a great success
§         Gene Reetz discusses sustainable water management
§         Garfield County calling areas expanded
§         City of Rifle receives Smart Growth Grant
§         Northwest Colorado Council of Governments to test CommunityViz™
§         Garfield County undertakes regulatory rewrite
§         Garfield County continues its transportation planning process
§         BLM prepares land use plan amendment for Roan Plateau

§ Glenwood Springs narrowly approves Red Feather Ridge annexation

§ Crystal River Marketplace approved 5-2

§ Eagle County Data On-line

§ Eagle County adopts Wildfire Regulations

§ Miller Ranch in Edwards begins housing sales

§ Pitkin County ups fees for developers

§ RFTA buses to get greener down the road

§ Forest Service ponders changes for Aspen & Carbondale

§ Revamped planning, building departments draw raves

PEOPLE IN PLANNING

§ New Planner in Snowmass Village

CONFERENCES & EVENTS

§ Land Conservation and Watershed Groups: Working Together to Conserve Land and Water, January 29-31, Denver

§ Regional Trails Summit, February 21, 8:30am-12noon, Carbondale Town Hall

§ Scenic Summit, August 3-6, Denver

TOOLS & RESOURCES

§ Colorado Watershed Protection Fund

§ Measuring Sprawl and Its Impacts: The Character & Consequences of Metropolitan Expansion

§ Mountain Town News tracks issues in the West’s Ski Country

FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES

§ Active Living by Design RFP due January 31

NEWS BRIEFS

November 6th Workshop a great success

"Calculating the Costs of Growth" turned out to be a topic that resonated with a wide variety of elected officials, managers, planners and other interested parties in our watershed, and an attendance of about 120 at the half day workshop on the 6th of November was evidence of that.

Presenters from the Sonoran Institute, Rural Planning Institute from Durango, and Clarion Associates in Denver walked participants through growth issues in budget formulation and fees and exactions that must now meet state statute requirements. Presenters from the Forest Service, BLM, DOW, the Roaring Fork Conservancy, CDOT and Local Government rounded-out the morning in reminding us all that "Growth leaves a footprint on all of us," with an emphasis on collaborative planning being one important solution to growth issues.

Presentation slides, presenter bios, workshop attendees, workshop evaluations, and many of the materials presented are captured on our web site for your review (www.hmccolorado.org/costsofgrowth/costsofgrowthinfo.htm)

The Watershed Collaborative put this effort together as a team, and it is a prime example of how we can work together to bring in educational, informative and cutting edge current information to our region. We were frankly overwhelmed by the response to a workshop we thought might attract only 40-50 attendees. Everyone hustled to make that work, it was a great team effort, and we can provide this kind of service to ourselves and our constituents on demand in the future.

Gene Reetz discusses sustainable water management

On December 5, over 20 people attended a Watershed Collaborative sponsored meeting with EPA’s Gene Reetz to discuss watershed approaches to water quality and quantity management. Gene shared resources on water quality and quantity and how they are affected by issues such as drought and climate change. He then engaged local planners and officials in a discussion of the elements necessary to create a sustainable water management plan.

Participants felt it was critical to get a better understanding off the current water quality and quantity conditions in the Roaring Fork and Colorado River Valleys in order to further the discussion of sustainable water management at the local/regional level. For more information on next steps contact Jeanne Beaudry, Roaring Fork Conservancy, 927-1290 / director@roaringfork.org or Cindy Houben, Pitkin County, 920-5097 / cindyh@co.pitkin.co.us.

Garfield County calling areas expanded

Hat's off to a very committed core of folks from Parachute/Battlement Mesa that led the charge to get unified calling in Garfield County. No long distance charges will be applied for calls to and from the area from Carbondale to Parachute when the new system takes effect in about 120 days. In addition, the folks in the Parachute area will still be able to call into Mesa County toll free. The Colorado Public Utilities Commission accepted the recommendation of the Administrative Law Judge and approved the request from Qwest, Garfield County, the Town of Parachute and others just recently in this P.U.C. process. Margaret Wierenga, who lives in Parachute/Battlement Mesa, but works for the City of Glenwood Springs Police Dept., spearheaded this effort, and credits local residents Dave Beasley, Eva Vanhoose, Alan Thulson; county legal staff Carolyn Dahlgren and administrative staff Dale Hancock, planning staff, GIS wizard Rob Hykys, and John Martin and the BOCC as just some of the people who helped with this two-year effort to make communications in our watershed easier. Interestingly, the Study of Local and Regional Travel Patterns that showed commuting patterns from Aspen to Parachute conducted by HMC in 1997-98 was a key piece of supporting documentation showing the interrelationships of the region!

City of Rifle receives Smart Growth Grant

The City of Rifle, partnering with Carbondale, Glenwood Springs, New Castle, and Silt, obtained a $20,000 Smart Growth Planning Grant to develop Park and Open Space Planning Standards. The grant will help the communities establish a methodology for determining parks and open space service level standards and costs for small towns, thereby enabling small communities to develop fair park land dedication requirements and/or impact fee schedules

Any examples or resource leads would be greatly appreciated. For information regarding the project, contact Matt Sturgeon (matt@rifleco.org) with the City of Rifle (970) 625-6253.

Northwest Colorado Council of Governments to test CommunityViz™

The Town of Dillon, in partnership with NWCCOG and its member jurisdictions received a $70,000 Smart Growth grant to help communities build GIS capacity. The grant will also help model CommunityViz™, a 3-D visualization tool developed by the Orton Family Foundation (www.communityviz.com), to evaluate proposed development proposals. Contact Linda Venturoni, NWCCOG, (970) 262-0739 / lindav@nwc.cog.co.us for more information on the project.

Garfield County undertakes regulatory rewrite

One of the recent flurry of "Smart Growth Grants" that this watershed was successful in obtaining was a $50,000 grant to Garfield County for a total overhaul of its regulatory framework for Zoning and Subdivisions. An RFP is being developed for consultant assistance over the next 18 months to complete that process. Part of the grant is to have that work and analysis result in a 'Model County Code’ that would serve as a resource and example 'bank' for all counties in Colorado. A review and updated presentation of 'definitions' and processes should help everyone as they review their own regulatory and codification structures. Your participation in that process is welcome - contact Randy Russell at Garfield County Planning at 945-8212 or rrussell@garfield-county.com.

Garfield County continues its transportation planning process

Traffic counts representing ADT on all county road segments are now complete and are being GIS'd. The County also GPS'd its entire road system and all of the related elements (thousands of culverts, signs, bridges, guard rails, etc.) over this past summer by location and condition!

This information provides a background for re-doing the County's Capital Improvements Plan, and development fee structures related to growth costs. Increasing pressure by CDOT to participate in highway intersection improvements is also contributing to a reexamination of development fees or exactions by the County. Consultant services will be solicited shortly for an update of the traffic Origin and Destination Survey (Aspen to Parachute) and capital costs and modeling internal to Garfield County.

BLM prepares land use plan amendment for Roan Plateau

To comply with direction provided by Congress, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Glenwood Springs Field Office is preparing a land use plan amendment for public lands located northwest of Rifle for an area known as the Roan Plateau. Passed by Congress in 1997, Public Law 105-85 directed the transfer of the former Naval Oil Shale Reserves 1 and 3 from the Department of Energy to the Bureau of Land Management. The Act directs the Secretary of the Interior to enter into leases with one or more private entities for the purpose of exploration for, and production of petroleum (oil & gas). Any such leases are to be made in accordance with the requirements of the Mineral Leasing Act. The Act further directs the Secretary of the Interior, acting through the Director of the BLM to manage the transferred lands in accordance with the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (FLPMA), and other laws applicable to the public lands. The planning area includes public lands nearby and adjacent to the transferred lands to ensure consistent management of the contiguous landscape. Both federal surface and subsurface estate is being included in the planning process. Some of the issues being addressed include oil & gas leasing and development, visual aesthetics, recreation, travel management, wilderness recommendations, biological diversity, grazing, wildlife, and fisheries.

BLM will make resource management decisions that identify allowable uses, and actions needed to achieve desired resource outcomes. These decisions will consider reasonably foreseeable economic, ecological, and social circumstances and opportunities. The planning process also considers public input. BLM has held several public meetings over the past two years to gather input on the issues to be addressed in the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) that is being prepared as part of the Resource Management Planning (RMP) process. BLM has also invited Garfield County, and several other local government entities, to participate as cooperating agencies in preparation of the plan. This collaboration provides an opportunity for communities affected by BLM’s land management decisions to play an active role in the decision making process for public lands that are often in their “backyard”.

For more information about how BLM manages public lands, or opportunities for collaborative involvement in BLM’s planning process, please contact Greg Goodenow, Planning and Environmental Coordinator, Bureau of Land Management, Glenwood Springs Field Office, 970-947-2824 / greg_goodenow@co.blm.gov.

Glenwood Springs narrowly approves Red Feather Ridge annexation

The Glenwood Springs City Council voted 4-3 to extend the city’s Urban Growth Boundary and approve the Red Feather Ridge annexation. During the development’s latest application process, Councilmen Don Gillespie and Larry Emery changed their opinions from opposing the development to backing it. During Red Feather’s first incarnation last summer, comments from each council member made it clear the development would be defeated. So before a vote was taken, the developers withdrew the project from the table.

Red Feather Ridge is planned for 149 houses, park land, space for a municipal cemetery, and affordable housing. It is located about a half mile south of the Midland Avenue and Airport Road intersection, on the east side of Four Mile Road. The main change since the first application is the developer’s offer of land for a much-needed city cemetery. The cemetery land would take the place of a 17-acre passive recreation area. Other changes include $400,000 to help fund a roundabout at Four Mile and Airport roads; $2,500 per lot for transportation improvements; and $100,000 toward the construction of a park. The development also will include 23 affordable housing units built by MidFirst Bank and possibly some lots set aside for Habitat For Humanity to build some houses. Park land will also be included in the package.

Twenty of the 25 citizens who spoke on the topic at a public hearing in front of the Glenwood Springs City Council opposed the project for reasons ranging from increased traffic on Four Mile Road, stress on city infrastructure, visual concerns and worries about more dense development up the now-rural Four Mile Road.

The annexation will give the city control over the development — something it would not have had if the subdivision developed as approved by Garfield County, as 57 two-acre lots (with the 58th being used for a fire station). The annexation was passed conditionally, it still hinges on whether the city and Red Feather Ridge developers can come to terms on items like trail construction, a bus stop and other items. If they come to terms, it will be officially ratified at a later City Council meeting.

Based on article by Greg Masse, 1.10.2003 www.postindependent

Crystal River Marketplace approved 5-2

Carbondale trustees voted 5-2 at a special meeting January 8 to approve the controversial Crystal River Marketplace, clearing the way for what would be the largest single commercial development in town history.

Construction on the 25-acre, 252,000 square foot shopping center on Highway 133 could begin by fall of 2004, depending on tenant negotiations, including a major retailer to fill the planned 125,000 square-foot anchor space.The developer, Crystal River Development, is also in negotiations with City Market to relocate its existing Carbondale store to the Marketplace’s 58,000 square-foot secondary anchor space.

The possibility remains that citizens could petition to put the question to town voters. Trustees, however, rejected a motion by board member Susie Darrow to automatically refer the question.

The Marketplace was approved with 37 conditions attached, including that the developer pay $2.8 million toward an estimated $9 million to $10 million in Highway 133 improvements. The trustees also reserve the right to review and approve the major tenants in the project to ensure adequate sales tax revenues to pay for the highway and other off-site impacts. A formal ordinance of approval and accompanying Subdivision Improvements Agreement will be presented to the board for a final vote on Feb. 11.

Based on article by John Stroud, 1.9.2003, www.carbondaleonline.com

Eagle County Data On-line

You can amaze colleagues and friends with answers to these and many other questions through the Eagle County Profile now on the web at www.eagle-county.com/profile. The profile organizes information by topical categories, such as economic, education, employment, environment, housing, income, public health and safety, and more.

"The idea for an on-line clearinghouse of statistical information started in the community," said Arn Menconi, Board of County Commissioners. "Business and community groups told us they needed trend data and indicators for planning and decision-making. The profile responds and it's only a beginning."

The profile draws on existing sources - from local reports and databases to state and federal data. It also provides links to additional, diverse sources, from the U.S. Census Bureau to Colorado Kids Count. "As we identify more sources, we'll add them." Menconi said.

"The profile started and continues as a community effort," Menconi added. "For example, the Partnership for Social Responsibility and One Valley Leadership saw the need and identified critical indicators and sources. The Partnership prepared a foundation report. The County provided web design, development and hosting."

Based on Eagle County Press Release, 12.23.2002, www.eagle-county.com/profilenews.cfm

Eagle County adopts Wildfire Regulations

Eagle County commissioners on unanimously approved wildfire amendments to county land-use and building regulations at their December 20 meeting. The measures will apply to all new construction and additions to existing structures in unincorporated areas in the county that are close to where high potential for wildland fires exist. The commissioners also agreed to hire a consultant to complete a fire hazard rating map within one year of adopting the regulations to help rate an area according to its topography, vegetation and water availability.

A complete copy of the regulations are available on-line at www.eagle-county.com/WildfireRegs12_02.htm

Miller Ranch in Edwards begins housing sales

Miller Ranch, Eagle County’s largest public-private affordable housing development, begins sales on the first 38 units this month. The development, which broke ground last fall, represents a unique partnership between developer ASW Realty Partners, Eagle County, the Town of Vail, Eagle County School District and Colorado Mountain College.

Located on a portion of what is known as Berry Creek in Edwards, Miller Ranch will ultimately include 282 affordable housing units, ranging from loftstyle condominiums to single family homes. In order to ensure the affordability of the units now and in future re-sales, all of the properties will be deed restricted and owners will need to meet annual qualifications of being employed full-time in Eagle County or having 75 percent of their income come from Eagle County business; and they must occupy the home full-time.

Four home styles are available in the first phase, including:

One- and two-bedroom "Mill Loft-style" condominiums ranging in size from 820 square feet to 1,072 square feet. Base prices range from the low $120,000s to the mid $160,000s. Upstairs homes have high-volume ceilings and a loft with an optional bath.
Row Houses, or two- and three-bedroom townhomes with unfinished basements and two-car garages. Sizes range from 1,158 square feet to 1,376 square feet. Base prices range from the low- to mid-$200,000s.
Two- and three-bedroom duplexes with a one-car garage. Optional basements are available on certain homes. Sizes range from 996 square feet to 1,209 square feet. Prices range from the low $180,000s to the low $200,000s.
Single-family homes with three and four bedrooms ranging in size from 1,351 square feet to 1,511 square feet. Prices range from the $230,000s to the $260,000s. Optional basements and detached garages are available.

The county will split net profits of the sales of the homes with ASW and the town of Vail.

For more information contact Ed Mallett at (970) 926-8578 or visit www.millerranchhomes.com.

Based on Eagle County Press Release, 11.31.2002, www.eagle-county.com/groundbreaking.cfm

Pitkin County ups fees for developers

With sales tax revenues in the dumps and property tax revenues stagnant, Pitkin County is increasing the fees it charges to developers and builders.

At their December 6 meeting, the Pitkin County commissioners voted to raise the cost of contracting licenses by approximately 20 percent. They also agreed to an entirely new fee structure at the community development department. The one-time increase for contracting licenses is the first in five years.

The cost to hold the broadest license in the construction industry, a general contracting license, will increase to $265 from $220. General contractors who limit their work to residential developments will have to pay $100, up from $80. Subcontractors, in trades like plumbing, roofing, concrete or drywall, will also need to pay $100 a year to work in Pitkin County.

The biggest change, however, involves land-use-application fees. Although County policy has long called for the community development department to be revenue neutral, covering labor, space and supply costs through its fee structure. In recent years, however, fee collections have fallen far short of the actual cost of running the department. Community Development Director Cindy Houben and her managers came up with the new schedule of fees to make up the difference — about $600,000 per year, according to figures presented earlier this year.

The rates are $210 per hour for services, which covers the cost of the planner, administrative support, copying and computer time, utilities, paper and other supplies involved with handling an application.

The fees vary from a high of $4,620 for the work involved with ushering a proposed subdivision through the approval process to $25 for the costs associated with public-notice requirements for public hearings. There is a provision in the fee ordinance that allows fees to be reduced or waived, at Houben's discretion, for instances where the amount of work that goes into processing an application is substantially less than anticipated.

Wednesday's vote on the fees was the first reading. A public hearing has been scheduled for the next regular meeting of the county commissioners on Dec. 18

Based on an article by Allyn Harvey, 12.6.2002, www.aspentimes.com.

RFTA buses to get greener down the road

The Roaring Fork Transportation Authority board of directors adopted a policy supporting a phased approach to converting its fleet to alternative propulsion systems at their December 12 Meeting. The policy has three goals in mind: reducing the environmental impacts of the transit system, reducing its dependence on petroleum, and providing higher-quality service to its customers.

A corridor investment study, to be released early next year, is expected to identify three alternatives for mass transit in the Roaring Fork Valley: rail (at a cost of more than $300 million); what is called Bus Rapid Transit; or continuing with the status quo. Bus Rapid Transit, is a moniker for a bus system that operates with rail-like efficiency. It could include, for example, technology that ensures buses on Highway 82 encounter only green lights at signalized intersections to keep them moving.

As for the buses within the BRT system, there are a number of evolving alternatives to the conventional diesel bus technology on RFTA's currently uses. RFTA experimented with one technology in early December by running a hybrid diesel-electric bus from Aspen to Glenwood Springs as a demonstration project. The bus reduces diesel emissions by up to 90 percent and increases fuel efficiency by an estimated 60 percent.

The hybrid impressed many with its quiet operation last week, but it costs roughly $200,000 more than the $308,000 RFTA would pay for each standard, clean-burning diesel bus.

Based on an article by Janet Urquart, 12.9.2002, www.aspentimes.com.

Forest Service ponders changes for Aspen & Carbondale

The U.S. Forest Service is exploring whether it should build or lease a new visitors center in the Aspen area and combine its administrative offices with Carbondale. The federal agency is looking at all administrative properties in the White River National Forest to determine what can be sold and what should be improved for future use. Aspen District Ranger Jim Upchurch, who is working on the study in the Roaring Fork Valley, said that any course of action will be set only after extensive community discussions.

Some of the issues to be studied include:

Relocating the Aspen and Sopris administrative offices to a central location near Basalt or El Jebel in a combined facility." The Sopris Ranger District office is in Carbondale.
Disposing of all or a portion of the existing Aspen and Sopris administrative sites."
Constructing/leasing of a new visitors facility/conference room in the Aspen area."
Constructing of employee housing units and warehouse facilities on the Mount Sopris Tree Nursery property.

The Forest Service will continue to maintain a presence in Aspen due to the tremendous tourist appeal of the Maroon Bells, Ashcroft, Independence Pass and surrounding wilderness. However, the current facilities, which were built in the 1950’s, are too small to accommodate the 150 to 250 people per day visiting during the summer months. The agency also faces a developing crisis in attracting a

Based on an article by Scott Condon, 12.10.2002, www.aspentimes.com.

Revamped planning, building departments draw raves

From all indications — from customer comments to worker satisfaction — the breakup of the joint county and city planning and building department and the new setup on the third floor of City Hall is working better than anticipated.

For years, the home to the planning and building departments of both Pitkin County and the city of Aspen had been a cramped and harried place. For the uninitiated, it could be utter confusion.

Now, when builders and landowners step through the door, they enter an open lobby with the city's desk on the left and the county's straight ahead.

There is space for landowners and developers to spread out plans, even multiple sets of plans, on large counters. And for several hours each day everyone they need to consult is available to answer questions. Right next to the front desk on the county side, there is a suite of two offices occupied by the planning, zoning and building officials who can answer most people's questions. And when it gets busy or an especially difficult question is asked, several employees — including Community Development Director Cindy Houben — are now within a few steps.

Houben said the county's new system for classifying building permit applications based on their complexity has made it easier to expedite those that should be quick and easy. Many applicants receive their permits in less than seven days — lightning quick by the standards of the past.

The increased efficiencies will be needed this spring when the building permits start to pour in.

"Right now we're keeping up, but we'll have to wait and see with the busy season," Houben said.

Based on an article by Allyn Harvey, 12.27.2002, www.aspentimes.com.

People in planning

New Planner in Snowmass Village

Carolyn Poissant has recently joined the Planning Department of the Town of Snowmass Village as a Senior Planner and is currently working on the Snowmass Center PUD. Carolyn was previously with the Town of Breckenridge Community Development office, the City and County of Denver, and the City of Ann Arbor, MI. She currently serves as the Western Director of the Colorado Chapter of the American Society of Landscape Architects. Carolyn obtained a B.S. in Natural Resources and a Master's degree in Landscape Architecture from the University of Michigan. Her hobbies include photography, painting, volunteer trail work, and other outdoor activities. You can contact her at 970-923-5524 ext. 247 and cpoissant@tosv.com.

Conferences & Events

Land Conservation and Watershed Groups: Working Together to Conserve Land and Water, January 29-31, Denver

January 29th – Land Conservation Organizations & Watershed Groups Collaboration and Partnerships

January 30th – Legislative and Policy Conference

January 31st – Policy Issues (GOCO 2003 and Beyond; Colorado Tax Credits, Easement Defense and more).

Sponsored by the Colorado Coalition of Land Trusts and LTA-SW Strategic Alliance. Visit www.cclt.org for more information.

Regional Trails Summit, February 21, 8:30am-12noon, Carbondale Town Hall (Parachute to Glenwood Springs to Aspen)

The idea has been kicking around for some time about bringing together all of the organizations in our region involved with planning, maintaining, constructing and using trials. Regional Trails Summit organizers believe that given the extraordinary number of players, the extensive trail systems in place, and the exceptional number of projects in development there is value in trail related groups communicating and collaborating.

The Regional Trails Summit is designed to be an informative and open ended to accomplish several goals:

Networking - a chance meet others and to learn a little about what everyone is doing;
Discuss the value and identify the beneficial elements of regional collaboration on trails;
Identify any next steps worth pursuing.

So, save the morning of Friday, February 21 for this event. Invitations will be sent out over email and snail mail next week.

Your hosts for this Regional Trails Summit are:

Carbondale Trails Committee John Hoffman

Town of Carbondale Larry Ballinger

Garfield County Randy Russell

Pitkin County Open Space & Trails Dale Will

Red Hill Council Davis Farrar

Roaring Fork Outdoor Volunteers David Hamilton

Roaring Fork Transportation Authority Mike Hermes

Please contact David Hamilton with any questions or to make sure you are on the invitation list. Email is preferred, rfov@sopris.net or 927-8241

Scenic Summit, August 3-6, Denver

For more info visit www.scenicsummit.org.

Tools & Resources

Colorado Watershed Protection Fund

A new funding source has emerged for protecting Colorado’s watersheds. Colorado taxpayers now have the option to voluntarily contribute to the Colorado Watershed Protection Fund through the tax checkoff program. This fund’s proceeds will be used in a new small grant program created to fund river and stream restoration projects and to assist local community based watershed groups in planning and implementing watershed protection efforts. Please spread the word. More information is available at www.cowaterfund.org.

MEASURING SPRAWL AND ITS IMPACT: The Character & Consequences of Metropolitan Expansion

This ground-breaking, three-year study by researchers at Rutgers and Cornell measures sprawl in the most comprehensive way yet and confirms that, in sprawling places, people drive more, breathe more polluted air, face a greater risk of traffic fatalities, own more cars and walk and use transit less. Get a pdf version of the full report at www.smartgrowthamerica.org.

Mountain Town News tracks issues in the West’s Ski Country

Mountain Town News is a weekly electronic newspaper summarizing the issues, trends, and players that shape the West’s mountain towns and valleys from Whistler to Winter Park. Get it delivered to you computer while its free by sending an email to Allen Best, bestallen@earthlink.net, or give him a call at 303-463-8630

Funding Opportunities

Active Living by Design RFP due January 31

Active Living by Design is a $16.5-million national program of The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation® (RWJF) designed to establish and evaluate innovative approaches that support active living has release a request for proposal due January 31.

"Active living" is a way of life that integrates physical activity into daily routines. The goal is to accumulate at least 30 minutes of activity each day. Individuals may do this in a variety of ways, such as walking or bicycling for transportation, exercise or pleasure; playing in the park; working in the yard; taking the stairs; and using recreation facilities.

The purpose of Active Living by Design is to promote changes in local community design, transportation and architecture that make it easy for people to be physically active. Grants of up to $200,000 total over five years will be awarded to 25 interdisciplinary, community-oriented partnerships. These partnerships will develop and implement strategies in their communities that will increase opportunities for and remove barriers to routine physical activity. For more detailed information, visit www.activelivingbydesign.org.

Newsletter contributors

Randy Russell, Greg Goodenow, Kristine Crandall, David Hamilton, Colin Laird

Planning Links

Local

Eagle County
www.eagle-county.com

Garfield County
www.garfield-county.com

Gunnison County
www.co.gunnison.co.us

Pitkin County
www.pitkingov.com

City of Aspen
www.aspengov.com

Town of Basalt
www.basalt.net

Town of Carbondale

City of Glenwood Springs
www.ci.glenwood-springs.co.us