National Association of Counties

County Examples & Solutions

The District Plan

Jun. 23, 2017
Tags: Community & Economic Development
  • Document

    The District Plan

    Adams County, Colo.

    In an innovative collaboration, Adams County and the City of Brighton developed a district plan (The District Plan) that encourages smart growth, sustainability, innovative economic development, agritourism, and farmland preservation. The plan promotes agritourism through a new land use category, Local District Mixed Use, which encourages food cultivation (and food systems) and processing alongside compatible mixed use development. Implementation activities are already underway, including establishing a joint District Plan implementation citizen commission, the funding of a joint employee to carry out the Plan’s action items (Ag Innovation Specialist), and the acquisition and preservation of prime farmland by the City of Brighton. Additional implementation activities include preliminary work to develop a joint new zone district to compliment the Local District Mixed Use future land use category, evaluation of a multi-jurisdictional transfer of development rights (TDR) program, Adams County’s new employee community supported agriculture pilot program utilizing farms in the District Plan area, implementation tours for elected officials and legislators, and other supportive policies and programs both in the City of Brighton and county-wide.

    Contact: 
    Ms. Rachel Bacon 
    Sr. Long Range Planning Strategist 

    Adams County, Colo.
    2017-06-23
    County Examples & Solutions
    2017-07-31

Adams County, Colo.

In an innovative collaboration, Adams County and the City of Brighton developed a district plan (The District Plan) that encourages smart growth, sustainability, innovative economic development, agritourism, and farmland preservation. The plan promotes agritourism through a new land use category, Local District Mixed Use, which encourages food cultivation (and food systems) and processing alongside compatible mixed use development. Implementation activities are already underway, including establishing a joint District Plan implementation citizen commission, the funding of a joint employee to carry out the Plan’s action items (Ag Innovation Specialist), and the acquisition and preservation of prime farmland by the City of Brighton. Additional implementation activities include preliminary work to develop a joint new zone district to compliment the Local District Mixed Use future land use category, evaluation of a multi-jurisdictional transfer of development rights (TDR) program, Adams County’s new employee community supported agriculture pilot program utilizing farms in the District Plan area, implementation tours for elected officials and legislators, and other supportive policies and programs both in the City of Brighton and county-wide.

Contact: 
Ms. Rachel Bacon 
Sr. Long Range Planning Strategist 

About 100 Brilliant Ideas at Work

Counties play an essential role in keeping America’s communities healthy, vibrant and safe. With public and private sector partners, we pursue innovative approaches to advance public health and well-being, protect public safety and foster economic strength and resiliency. Counties anticipate and adapt to challenges by thinking outside the box and demonstrating local leadership that makes a difference in people’s lives.

Under the leadership of NACo Immediate Past President Bryan Desloge, NACo embarked on an initiative to identify and share 100 examples of visionary county leadership that results in improving residents’ quality of life. Through this initiative, NACo worked with county leaders and partners to share best practices that bolster our nation’s ability to thrive county by county.

See All 100 Brilliant Ideas

Related News

Related Resources