Golden Horizons: The Community's Vision For the Future

Public Engagement Feedback Summary

Below is a summary of the feedback and conversations City staff had at each event. This includes the more formal listening sessions and informal pop-up events at community events and locations. A total of four listening sessions and seven pop-up events were held between October 2024 and January 2025.

This feedback will be used to inform Phase II of the Comprehensive Plan Update. The public is encourage to review this document to ensure City staff have accurately captured their feedback and can contact planningshared@cityofgolden.net with any additional ideas, questions or concerns.

Miners Alley Listening Session: Wednesday, October 16^th

What makes you feel Connected to Golden?

• Festive atmosphere (homecoming, sports games, events, etc.)
• People walking around (walkability)
• College town aspect (youthful energy, positive)
• Convergence of creek and parks (walkability)

Do you feel like you can engage in the Development Review Process?

• Trouble navigating the new website
• Provide more renderings so people can understand without engineering background (avoid technical jargon)
• 3D models that show shading, viewshed impacts, visualization of traffic patterns and behaviors
• If you are a little engaged, the information is out there (City Newsletter is very helpful)
• Fine line about sending out too much information because then people ignore it
• Chamber newsletter is a great way to learn about information
• Penalties vs incentives to encourage developers to develop vacant/unsightly land
• What about interim uses for vacant buildings

Housing

• Need senior communities with amenity spaces
• Need more small commercial pockets so everyone is not forced to go Downtown
• Diverse housing options (need more townhomes)
• More micro transit and micromobility options
  1. Allows people to choose to live closer to downtown and move around without a car
• Barriers to renting?
  1. Inventory and cost
  2. Need smaller townhome options
• Barriers to Buying a Home?
  1. Also inventory
  2. Things need to be smaller for first time home buyers, but that is not the suburb mentality

Community Character:

• With Coors, Clayworks, Heart of Golden, Wire Transfer building, Wells Fargo site, Goosetown, municipal building, Golden is transforming to a small “City” feel and that is good!
• Small town can mean closing Washington Ave for homecoming
• Feel like I can be involved and make a difference

Go Farm Pop-up: Friday, October 18^th

Community and City Character:

Housing:

Transportation:

• Safe ways to cross and walk across intersections outside of downtown
• Walking and biking trails that connect downtown
• More G line access
• Transit offerings do not match non-commuter needs

Mines Campus Pop-up: October 23

Community and City Character:

Housing:

Transportation:

• Light rail stop within walking distance from downtown
• More bike lanes and bike path connections
• More GS bus service (more frequent times)
• Market based parking pricing
• Reliable, timely transit

Golden Fire Station 24 Listening Session: October 28^th

What makes you feel connected to Golden?

• Love the trail system and that we do not have to cross any streets to get Downtown!
• Love the western feel and the character of the town
• Recreation Center is wonderful
• Fossil Trace and Tony Grampsas Pare are amazing amenities.
• Right next to the foothills. Can access nature via the trail network. Walkable downtown.
  1. Cohesive community
  2. People walking around, children out and about
  3. Shelton Elementary is a neighborhood hub
• Keep it small town, reduce tourism
  1. 19^th street is too congested
  2. Students impacting the experience in a negative way
• Want virtual options for meetings that are recorded and then posted for people to watch back.
• Parking restrictions downtown for residents are too strict. People do not go downtown because of the paid parking.
• More community gardens near Golden Terrace.
  1. There is a community garden at Shelton elementary school
• Guiding Golden website is hard to get to and I have trouble providing feedback using that tool. Do not like how you must sign in every time you go to the site. City is relying too much on Guiding Golden.
• More retail options that serve the local community. Large focus on bringing in visitors.

Do you feel like you can engage in the Development Review Process?

• No, not sure.
• Not sure the process or where it is posted.
• Want more opportunities to engage virtually (YouTube channel)
• What is the notification radius?
  1. Topography can impact the 500-foot notification radius boundary (viewshed can be impacted)
  2. How do we better alert the entire neighborhood?
     • Signs, mailers, etc.
     • City has found that signs are the best way to notify the neighborhood
     • A lot of mail is sent back to the City
     • City can extend the boundary on a case by case basis
• Materials need to be in digestible amounts. Give people ample time to review documents so they can provide valuable feedback.

Barriers to Housing?

• Availability and cost are the biggest burdens
• Needs to be a balance between rentals and owners
• Home values are increasing a lot
• Topography creates a bowl that limits growth opportunities
• Do not build the Gateway Village, micro-unit, kitchenette model. It is not a long-term model to meet evolving housing needs
• Allow ADU construction on SFR / Smaller or tiny home developments or villages
• Need more information about how to build ADU’s in Golden
• Can’t just meet the housing needs for the affluent- need options for all, especially regarding parking.
• City shouldn’t provide any financial incentives- market will take care of it.
• Think about the larger “Golden” community- unincorporated Jefferson County, Wheat Ridge, Arvada, etc

How will your housing needs change in the next 5-10 years?

1. Probably nothing if Golden Terrace doesn’t change- no idea where I would live if it were to sell.
2. Need to speak up for veteran housing needs

Bonfire Burrito Pop Up: November 5^th

Community and City Character:

• Anything the City can do to support our wildlife?
• Spread out affordable housing so it doesn’t impact property values
• The natural beauty and values diversity seem like two different things (for small-town feel).
• Talk to landlords at a listening session.
• Protect viewsheds- height of buildings are blocking views. Keep buildings shorter.
• Defunding the senior buses and trips shows a lack of respect for seniors.
• Maximize infill to preserve green spaces
• Natural beauty and diversity are different topics. Separate them out.
• Neighborhood, commercial, and mixed use. How do they all interact?
• Excellent education keeps home values vibrant. Schools are important!
• Advisory board for 50 plus people. Fous on keeping affordable housing for the aging population.
• My family avoids downtown during big events because it is so crowded
• I don’t see a role for the city in promoting careful, respectful neighborhoods.
• More enforcement of drinking, smoking, and littering along the creek
• State of the sewage treatment and water treatment for PFAS? Biogas? Investment for the future!
• Seems like this connected theme has a trail connectivity aspect to it since connected trails do bring us together. It could also appear in the transportation value category.
• Monthly lecture series (could be implemented by the sustainability committee and partner with Mines).
• Need method to connect landlords to local employees
• Environmental Goals? Why are they not here?
• Multigenerational opportunities
• I do not see a role for the city in ensuring diversity
• Unique small-town character. Promote local businesses, not chains.
• Would love a more vibrant music community. Have Miners Alley and would love a classical/Jaz venue.

Transportation:

• Promote electric vehicles- make Golden friendly to EV’s. Fast chargers are needed.
• Protected bicycle lanes would be great
• Integrate electrification transportation plan into these goals.
• Support transportation electrification including charging stations and e-bikes.
• Improved pedestrian access between Mines Park and Campus.
• Please do not use bike paths as an excuse to eliminate parking
• Growth is attached to bike and ped improvements- prioritize

Summit View Village Listening Session: November 12^th

What do you love about Golden?

• Unique business- get to know the owners
• Don’t feel isolated as a one-car household because it is walkable and bikeable
• Unique architecture
• Not too much traffic- can ride a bike easily and love the trails
• Golden Informer has great content
• More comfortable than a big city

Do you feel like you can engage in the Development Review Process?

• Do not feel like the yard signs are very effective
• The mailer for Comp Plan meeting was great!
• Online survey options are great! However, recent example where the recycling survey map links were broken (not very accessible).
• Love the evening meeting option. Be aware of when you hold meetings. A lot of hourly workers cannot make afternoon meetings.
  1. Diverse times allow you to engage with more residents of varying income levels

Barriers to Housing?

• State laws regarding landlords and tenants will make smaller properties more challenging to maintain. The new state laws favor larger landlords.
• Not enough ADA compliant properties
• Don’t push out small landlords
• Find ways to reduce regulatory burdens for smaller landlords (reeds, rules, etc.)
• Appreciate Summit View- more affordable but close to amenities
• As renter, always scared that landlord will hike up the rent. Are there rental protections provided by City of Golden?
• Be open to more options than rent or buy (co-ops or land trusts)
• Missing middle form types (2-bd, smaller condos)
• Accommodate family needs
• Permit fees and “add-ons” make development expensive and deter developers
• Moved last year and cannot afford to own, so we rent
• More starter homes and smaller homes
• Need more diverse housing types to keep families/kids/diversity in our neighborhoods (only had 2 trick or treaters this year)

How will your housing needs change in the next 5-10 years?

• Will be retirement age and will be looking to downsize
• Will be looking for larger space as my family continues to grow. Currently renting and want to buy 2 bed or larger apartments
• No one has heard of the thriving community’s effort to connect open rooms to tenants
• Colorado and Golden do not crack down on bad landlords and unsafe units
• Tenants have no legal protection
• Need more ways for tenants to protect themselves and recoup costs
• Ways to support transit?
  1. Shelters and benches
     • No more sign only bus stops
  2. Better advertise bus routes and Ore Cart schedule
  3. PSA about public transit
• Roundabouts are not great. Need to better design the one at Johnson and S Golden Road
• More ADA accessible sidewalks for strollers and wheelchairs

Golden Community Center Pop Up: November 19^th

Community:

• Continue to be good fiscal stewards and be transparent
• Don’t build high rise and dense buildings
• Small towns do not have high rises and parking problems or buses
• Love hearing support equip at Council Meetings
• No high-rise buildings. Keep small town feel. Tall buildings are out of place.
• Can find parking very easily!
• Too many tubers- I do not like them!
• We have already lost the small-town feel
• Would love to see a post-election statement from the City about supporting migrants
  1. Post resources online about how to support/help migrants
• Love Golden’s Events! Movies, festivals, candlelight walk, etc.
• Wider pedestrian walkways to accommodate pets, peds, slow walkers.
• Nore intra-neighborhood community events like block parties
• Housing code to plan for older adults and their needs (handrails along stairways)

City Character:

• Want more heads up on Mines projects in print and newspapers
• Make Washington for pedestrians only
• Proximity to nature, fund downtown, parks and trials
• “Collaboration” includes defining our relationship in the metro area
• More events for 20’s-40’s without kids to get to know neighbors, go on dates, etc.
• Many existing events don’t unite the community but are used to raise money from those outside the community (like most Chamber events).
• Redefine relationships with Mines through statutory change if necessary
• Losing our “antique store” destination status
• Would love another rec center! The one we have is great, but it gets too crowded.
• Would love to see a state of the art, family friendly, library.
• Love the City newsletter with museum events. Could you add library events and concerts?
• Separate out each concept rather than putting multiple concepts in one question. This applies to the entire set of questions.

Housing:

• Home retrofit programs and funding support
• Keep the plan’s manufactured housing language
• Make sure zoning allows universal design in housing
• “Growth” is not a value in itself. How about “Economic Health”
• Keep existing affordable housing in place
• Preserve Golden Terrace for affordable housing
• Retrofit existing leaky homes to be more sustainable
• I do not support increasing density
• I support increasing density
• End outdated and restrictive NIMBY laws and ordinances that block smaller homes and starter homes from being built.
• Stop investment firms and corporations from buying homes
• Prioritize single family housing “small town feel”
• Need more creative high density housing solutions (too much NIMBYism)
• Need tenant protections against predatory landlords and investment firms

Transportation:

• How much does the Ore Cart cost per rider? Other than connecting Mines to light rail, is it worth it?
• Please support our cyclists and commuters with safe bike lanes
• Family friendly means recognizing that not all can get everywhere on foot or on a bike. Stop sacrificing accessibility to just bikes.
• Love that Golden promotes walking and biking. Like the slow pace of traffic.
• Parking signs are too high, hard to scan the code
• We need more traffic enforcement. People are driving too fast and no police around making traffic stops.
• Diverse Transportation Options do not necessarily need to include cars downtown.

Coffee with Councilors Listening Session: December 7^th

What do you love about Golden?

• That we have Coffee with Councilors! Feels very accessible to our City Council
• Very welcoming (lots of committees and we are encouraged to get involved)
• The weather
• Unique location
  1. Locked in between plateaus (mountains) and therefore there is limited development/growth opportunities
• Clear Creek Trail is very accessible (ADA) as well as larger downtown area
• The views!
• Grow does seem to be well planned/through (building height, use allowances)
• Willing to experiment within guardrails (trying to manage creek visitation for example).
• City is fiscally responsible
• Connection to history (combination of old and new)
• Kids can get around town without the need to cross major streets

Do you feel like you can engage in the Development Review Process?

• Feel powerless when it comes to Mines and their projects
• Gave supportive comments at meeting but then subsequent conversations made me feel like my comments didn’t matter.
  1. How can the City make people feel heard regardless of outcome?
• Not sure how to find development review projects
• Make using the zoning code easier. Beyond here’s your zone on a map
  1. What can I do to influence the decision?
  2. Basic overview of regulations would be helpful.
• Create a feature on Guiding Golden that allows you to get a notification of anything within a certain boundary or neighborhood.
• Overview of specific requests vs. what is allowed or up for Planning Commission or City Council approval (or what is by right)
• Take the basic information from Council Memos and put it front and center for people to see on Guiding Golden
• Better signage on site
  1. Exiting signs are small and requires stopping car and reading (which people do not do)
• Too many steps to get to information
• Dispensary case of extended notification made neighbors feel like their input didn’t matter
  1. It was a question of retail vs marijuana

What are housing barriers in Golden? And what are potential solutions or programs to help add additional affordable housing options?

• Deed restrictions or housing trust to preserve affordable housing.
• Often scrapping the small, more “affordable” homes to build the bigger new homes or duplexes
• Stress test the Comp Plan policies similar to what we did with the zoning code
• How much can we manage when we say something is “compatible” with the zoning code?
• Need to understand the impact Mines has. More information about Mines’ projects
• Can we determine out-of-town owners?
  1. Is there value in reducing the number of out-of-town owners?
• Focus on getting data to make data-driven decisions
• Program for long-term residents to pool home sales towards a community housing goal

Golden Holiday Parade Pop-Up: December 14^th

Community and City Character:

• I am worried downtown will become just for tourists and forget what local needs exist (haircuts, pharmacy, food shop, wine shop, etc.). Please don’t push them all out for restaurants.
• Protect viewsheds
• Like the historic feel
• Seems like this ‘connected’ theme has a trail connectivity aspect to it since connected trails do bring us together. It could also appear in transportation value category.

Transportation:

• Make sure streets can handle denser development
• For the biking/walking issue- need to consider/emphasize connectivity of regional and local trails/paths
• Expand the Golden High School permit parking zone to longer hours/days
• Free parking for Golden residents

Cannonball Brewery Pop-Up: December 18^th

Community and City Character:

• More emphasis outside of downtown – north Golden feels neglected
• Make the development review process easier to understand
• Senior housing complex (west of SH93) architecture is ugly
• Development blocks mountain views
• Mining has impacts to our health

Housing:

• Increase zoning for more ADUs to increase density
• Prices are vastly outpacing inflation
• Workforce housing! Affordable housing for today and tomorrow
• Keep affordable housing consistent with neighborhood market
• How can we keep non-historic housing that’s affordable in place (especially single family homes)?
• Golden’s blue collar history needs more blue collar housing to keep the history alive
• Preserve existing affordable housing
• More high density, creative housing that matches existing neighborhood
• More walkable neighborhoods would be great. I support higher density housing to help here and with affordability.
• How can we keep housing, especially rentals, in good repair?
• Reduce permits and fees to encourage smaller builds! It’s cost prohibitive to build small, quaint, charming homes

Transportation:

• It would be great to resurrect the discussion of bringing the light rail line to the new city hall location
• When in doubt, more bike lanes!
• Make Washington Avenue walk-only like during COVID. Cars can go on the outer streets.