The Comprehensive Plan is a guide used by the Board of Trustees and town staff. It guides them in making decisions that best facilitate new growth in the town while preserving its historic, small-town feel. The plan begins with the community’s vision for the future. This is followed by a series of broad goals, specific policies, and detailed strategies to achieve that vision over time.
Specific topics addressed by the plan include economic development, transportation, land use, culture, and other elements that impact a community. The vision, mission, and major goals of the plan are provided below, along with links to each complete plan section.
Frederick is at an important crossroads in its history. As the 2006 Comprehensive Plan correctly identified, growth is coming. These future changes will impact the character and quality of life of the Carbon Valley. Beginning in April 2015, the Town of Frederick began the process to update its existing Comprehensive Plan.
Community Profile
A firm understanding of Frederick’s past and present is crucial to the Comprehensive Plan process. The Community Profile provides an overview of the existing conditions in the town as well as current plans and policies. It also analyzes market and demographic influences that have shaped and will continue to shape Frederick’s built environment. It summarizes key points presented in the Existing Conditions Reports. It also establishes the foundation for the vision, goals, and objectives of the Comprehensive Plan.
Community Outreach
Community outreach and public input are the cornerstones of the Comprehensive Plan process. This chapter provides a summary of the issues and topics discussed throughout the public outreach process. This public input shaped the vision, goals, and objectives that guide the Comprehensive Plan.
The Vision, Goals, and Objectives establish an overall vision and direction for the future of Frederick. They serve as the cornerstone of the process to build agreement and provide focus and direction for subsequent plan recommendations.
Frederick is defined by its historic downtown, well-maintained residential neighborhoods, and large open spaces, which all contribute to its small-town atmosphere. As a growing community, future land use and development patterns will have broad implications for the character, form, and future of the Town of Frederick. Given the projected growth of Frederick, it is important to know that the Town has the available undeveloped land to accommodate new households while maintaining its rural, agrarian character.
Frederick’s transportation system includes a network of roadways, trails, and sidewalks that provide access to local goods, services, employment, and recreation. This system is critical in supporting land use and development as well as residential quality of life. The Transportation & Mobility Chapter outlines the Town’s existing system. It also provides both short- and long-term recommendations to allow for projected traffic growth while expanding non-motorized transportation options.
Community facilities include the service and structures that support development, community investment, and overall quality of life. They include Town government, the Frederick Police Department and Frederick-Firestone Fire Protection District, local schools, health providers, and public utilities. The Community Facilities and Infrastructure Plan seeks to ensure that high quality community facilities are available to current and future residents and businesses. It also ensures that appropriate measures are taken to address future growth and opportunities for community partnerships. It is important to note that many facilities and services are not under the control of the Town. Therefore, this plan stresses cooperation with other agencies, and partnerships to achieve mutually beneficial goals.
Parks and open space areas contribute greatly to Frederick’s local quality of life, community character, recreational opportunities, and tourism. Proactive protection and enhancement of important environmental assets, as well as the expansion of the existing park system is a priority for the community. This chapter presents policies and recommendations aimed at preserving the environment and open space areas while expanding the Frederick park system. It also includes opportunities for active and passive recreation.
The rural character of Frederick and its high quality of life are the premier draws of the Town. Residential developments are set against the background of the Front Range. They are close to parks and large expanses of undeveloped open spaces. This chapter identifies strategies to define Frederick as a community that celebrates its agricultural heritage and maintains a small town atmosphere. These strategies take advantage of its natural and agricultural resources, location within the North Front Range, and built environment.
The Town of Frederick Comprehensive Plan presents a road map for growth and development within the Town. It also serves as a guide for Town staff, officials, resident, and local stakeholders. This chapter assists to translate to Comprehensive Plan’s policy and land use recommendations into direct action. This chapter outlines specific steps to assist the Town in setting the stage for achieving the Plan’s long-term vision. It also includes an action matrix with more specific strategies and recommendations to achieve the Plan’s objectives. It also identifies a variety of potential funding sources to support such efforts.