Following a year and a half of community outreach and engagement, the Far Southwest Area Plan was adopted by unanimous vote of the Denver City Council on Monday, December 8, after a public hearing. The process was led by city planners from Denver’s Community Planning and Development Department (CPD), in partnership with Council District 2. The plan lays out a 20-year vision for the future of Bear Valley, College View, Fort Logan, Harvey Park, Harvey Park South and Marston.
“Creating plans in areas that never had them was the reason CPD launched the Neighborhood Planning Initiative almost a decade ago,” saidCPD Executive Director Brad Buchanan. “This is a huge moment for these communities, who stepped up to do the work, and for the CPD planners whose dedication and expertise helped bring this great plan to fruition.”
“Southwest voices and vision are clearly represented in this plan’s policies, which will inform decisions on growth and change here for the next 20 years,” said District 2 Council Member Kevin Flynn. “A growing city requires that all parts absorb their planned share. This document will help guide the path so we can sustain the character that either invited or keeps us here, while welcoming the changes this plan anticipates.”
Previously, the plan was approved by the Denver Planning Board and reviewed by City Council’s Community Planning and Housing Committee last month, ahead of full council’s final vote and hearing. The plan is the eighth to be adopted as part of Community Planning and Development’s Neighborhood Planning Initiative.
About the plan
The Far Southwest Area Plan puts in place policies that will guide city decision-making in this corner of the city for the next twenty years. It aligns city goals with priorities identified by community members during the planning process, organized around six key principles:
- Complete Community Centers: By 2045, Far Southwest areas like Federal Boulevard, Evans Avenue, Sheridan Boulevard, and Wadsworth Boulevard, will grow thoughtfully with high-quality design and be better connected to nearby neighborhoods.
- Quiet Suburban Neighborhoods: By 2045, Far Southwest will maintain its peaceful residential feel, while nearby social and commercial areas help neighbors stay connected.
- Local Businesses: By 2045, Far Southwest existing businesses will be thriving, and new, locally owned businesses will be able to grow and succeed.
- Safer Streets: By 2045, the Far Southwest area will have no serious traffic-related injuries or deaths. Resiliency will be increased, climate impacts will be reduced, and people will be able to make many of their daily trips without needing a car.
- Transportation Options: By 2045, streets and trails will be designed for people of all ages and abilities, with better transit, wider sidewalks, safer crossings, trees, and sustainable landscaping.
- Social Community Spaces: By 2045, public plazas, open spaces, and local businesses will serve as cultural hubs where people gather, build relationships, and celebrate community.
Read the newly adopted plan here.
