RIDGWAY – The Town of Ridgway has a vision for its future, and a plan for how to get there. At its May 13 meeting, the Ridgway Town Council formally approved a strategic plan that includes three-year performance objectives and one-year action plans on a multitude of initiatives that will shape the future growth of Ridgway.

Town Manager Greg Clifton, who spearheaded the creation of the document, said it would be reviewed on a regular basis to make sure community goals are being met.

“It is a working document and it will be revisited on a yearly basis,” Clifton told council. “The intention here is to help us identify what are going to be targeted polices and projects for the upcoming year. It goes beyond budgetary planning, it is a comprehensive plan that will give us guidance on many fronts.”

The community vision created to determine the specific goals of the plan states that: “Ridgway is a welcoming, community-minded rural town situated in a beautiful mountain valley. We support learning, creativity and culture. We share a deep connection to the outdoors. We are committed to being economically sustainable and ecologically responsible.”

With that vision in mind, Clifton, town staff and various community stakeholders defined 10 goals for the town, individual action plans for each goal and a timeframe for completion.

“This is going to be very much a collaborative effort,” Clifton told members of council. “We will always be able to check back on the community vision and that will be our reality check. Are we in line with the vision statement as we go forward in these things.

“This was very much a community project and an organizational project,” he said. “The reason it was a good and thorough project was because we had so much buy-in and stakeholder input.”

Following are the action plans for the 10 goals, beginning in 2010, with a brief description of the projects included with each goal.

Goal 1 – Growth and Development

The town will manage growth and development in Ridgway by utilizing land use policies that are consistent with the Ouray County Intergovernmental Agreement and the town’s comprehensive plan in a manner that is sustainable to the community and its infrastructure and is consistent with its small town character.

Goal 1 includes the preparation of a community survey prior to updating the town’s comprehensive plan regarding land use and parks and trails. It also includes an evaluation of the outcomes and 2009 Study Group Analysis of the 2008 Theobald and 2006 RPI Studies in relation to regional land use policies.

Goal 2 – Water Resources

The town will continue to develop its water resources in a manner that will sustain existing and future populations within the Ridgway community, addressing storage and collection, healthy treatment, distribution, promotion of conservation efforts, and the protection of the town’s water rights.

This includes the pursuit of preparatory steps toward augmentation of the town’s raw water supply, focusing on improvements to reservoir, diversion and collection systems. Goal 2 also includes the exploration of acquiring additional water rights to help address ongoing growth demands, formulating policies related to private use of non-potable town irrigation water and enacting water conservation incentives that may include an updated rate structure to ensure conservation and sustainability.

Goal 3 – Transportation

The town will purse the incremental development and improvement of street and multi-modal transportation infrastructure consistent with the comprehensive plan, with a focus on key linkages and Highway 62.

This includes the engineering and design of Highway 62 improvements, a complete Railroad Street realignment and the construction of key linkages of pedestrian infrastructure on those roadways. Goal 3 also includes town participation in the current transit study to pursue enhancements of a park and ride facility and the paving of town streets, prioritizing collector streets and key local connectors.

Goal 4 – Community Enhancement

The town will promote and nurture community by implementing the Streetscape Plan and through aesthetic enhancement, arts and cultural events, and improvements to public facilities, parks and trails.

This includes the formulation and enactment of regulations related to commercial, industrial and residential development. Event planning strategies related to cultural, arts and music events are included in this goal with consideration of private/public partnerships and oversight committees.

Goal 4 also addresses the completion of phase II improvements to the Regional Athletic Park for completion of drainage infrastructure, and the pursuit of funding for phase III improvements. It also includes planning and design for a new park located along Green Street.

Town staff will perform necessary utility work in preparation for the Historic Business Streetscape Plan and develop strategies for finding funding.

Goal 5 – Environmental Responsibility

The town intends to implement sound environmental stewardship through sustainable growth and development; employ wise use of resources; promote conservation, green building, alternative energy, protection of habitat, and open spaces; and pursue and protect good air and water quality.

Steps to reach Goal 5 include the development and implementation of policy to incentivize green building, the evaluation of a micro turbine project on the town’s water delivery system and the possibility of a hydro power plant at Ridgway Dam. Town will institute a committee to evaluate a town-wide lighting plan, and formulate a community composting program. Goal 5 also includes a policy program related to commercial recycling and taking proactive measures to improve the town’s air quality – focusing on dust and airborne particulates.

Goal 6 – Economic Development

The town plans to foster a diverse and vibrant business community that is locally sustainable and community oriented. This will be inclusive of commercial uses, professional services, tourism, outdoor recreation, light industry, nonprofit entities, and innovative entrepreneurship.

Resource sharing opportunities related to tourism promotion in Ouray County will be explored, while actively promoting outdoor recreation tourism in Ridgway and formulating a parking policy within the Historic Business Core to ensure adequate parking for customers and visitors.

Goal 7 – Affordable Housing

The town, with the assistance of the Ouray County Regional Housing Authority and other entities, intends to provide/create affordable housing for residents utilizing effective and workable methodologies that encourage and support conservation and energy-efficiency in new and existing structures.

Goal 7 includes evaluating the findings of the 2009 housing authority countywide action plan. The town will develop an affordable housing element for the town’s comprehensive plan to utilize existing resources such as state-funded home weatherization and rehabilitation programs.

Goal 8 – Organizational Development

The town will develop an efficient, responsive organization focused on forging effective partnerships, providing friendly service, retaining high morale, and preserving the public trust.

The actions for this goal include the development of “core staff” to facilitate collaborative issue solving; evaluate the use of partnerships to assist in various organizational tasks; and consider improved methods of public outreach and public accessibility.

Goal 9 – Safety

The town will provide effective law enforcement and emergency response preparedness, which includes the finalization and adoption of an inter-jurisdictional hazard mitigation plan and improving the effectiveness of law enforcement in all areas including code enforcement and animal control.

Goal 10 – Utility Infrastructure

The town plans to institute improvements to water distribution and wastewater systems that are inclusive of an upgraded treatment facility and implement a municipal storm water plan.

A feasibility study will be conducted on the replacement/upgrade of the wastewater treatment facility, the creation of a town-wide storm water plan with a storm water enterprise utility and securing funding for the implementation of replacement water polybutylene service lines throughout Ridgway. Goal 10 also includes a complete upgrade to the wastewater lift station east of the Uncompahgre River.

Click here to view the complete strategic plan, including the 2009 action plans.