Golden Horizons: The Community's Vision For the Future

Update: Feb. 11, 2026

The 2026 Comprehensive Plan public hearing draft document is now available for review. Planning Commission will conduct public hearings on February 18 and March 4 to solicit public feedback in advance of potential plan adoption on March 4. City Council is tentatively scheduled to approve the Plan at their April 14 meeting. Feedback can be given in person at the Planning Commission and City Council meetings or by emailing planning@cityofgolden.net. Meeting details are available below.

What is a "Comprehensive Plan"?

A Comprehensive Plan is a policy document adopted by City Council, with input from the community, to guide long-term decisions for the City. The plan is implemented through land-use decisions like rezonings, infrastructure investments, and programming choices. It serves as both the process and the documentation for creating a long-term vision for future land uses and the built environment. It lays the foundation for zoning codes, which are the legal means for implementing the vision of the future contained in the Plan.

Why is the Comprehensive Plan Update Important?

• Future Development: Comprehensive Plans guides growth, development and redevelopment decisions by directing public and private investments which are evaluated against the plan.
• Housing Policies: They create housing policies, which includes affordable housing policies that focus on keeping people in their existing homes as well as provide support for external partners looking to develop affordable housing.
• Capital Improvement Prioritization: Comprehensive Plans coordinate and prioritize city capital improvement projects among various departments.
• New Opportunities & Programs: They provide an opportunity to create new funding opportunities or programmatic efforts and apply for grants.

Community Engagement & Feedback Opportunities

City staff are preparing the final draft of the Plan for review and potential adoption by Planning Commission and City Council. The draft will be available in mid-January both on Guiding Golden and as part of the Planning Commission packet. Board and commission packets, agendas and meeting livestream/recordings can be viewed on the City's website.

Public feedback is being collected at any time and can be emailed to Matt Wempe, Principal Planner at mwempe@cityofgolden.net or via phone at 303-215-8884.

Project Timeline:

• Community Outreach: October 2024 - February 2025
• Draft Comprehensive Plan Released: August 2025
• Public Feedback on Draft Plan: August 13 - September 12, 2025
• Board and City Council Feedback on Draft Plan:
  • City Council Study Session: August 12, 2025
  • Planning Commission Study Session: August 20, 2025
• Public Feedback on Second Draft Plan: November 25 - December 14, 2025
• Public Hearing Process:
  • Planning Commission Study Session: February 4, 2026
  • Planning Commission Public Hearing: February 18, 2026 and March 4, 2026 (the first hearing will be focused on public input before final adoption at the March meeting)
    • Both meetings are held at City Council Chambers (911 10th Street) beginning at 5:30 p.m. In person public feedback will be accepted at both meetings. If you cannot attend, please email any comments to planning@cityofgolden.net.
    • Planning Commissions will consider formal adoption of the 2026 Plan at their March 4 meeting. Public feedback is encouraged at both meetings.
  • City Council Approval: April 14, 2026

Project Background

The City of Golden’s Comprehensive Plan (the Plan) helps set the values and vision for guiding land-use decisions and policy. The Plan was adopted in 2017 and it is time for an update! The values in the Golden Vision 2030 Plan (adopted in 2010) are the foundation for the Comprehensive Plan and set the community goals outlined in the Plan.

Since the Plan’s adoption in 2017, Golden has developed new city-wide plans including the Transportation Master Plan, Open Space and Recreation Plan, and the Heart of Golden. A part of this Comprehensive Plan Update will be to better integrate the City’s existing plans into one overarching document. Golden Vision 2030 will continue to be the basis for the Comprehensive Plan.

Additionally, this Comprehensive Plan Update is not an update to the zoning code. Learn more about the zoning code rewrite with the Phase 3 of the Zoning Code Rewrite.