Englewood council to discuss comprehensive-plan update options
The city must add water-supply and strategic-growth elements by Dec. 31, 2026. Staff recommends appending them to the current plan, while broader updates could cost up to $200,000.
Published at
Englewood City Council will discuss Nov. 2 how to update its comprehensive plan to meet state requirements due by Dec. 31, 2026. Options range from adding two appendices to replacing the plan at an estimated cost of up to $200,000.
Staff recommends adding the required water-supply and strategic-growth elements to the existing 2017 plan without otherwise revising it. Council members are being asked for information and direction on that approach and two broader alternatives: a targeted supplement that resumes work begun in 2024, or a complete replacement. The study session is not a vote. The city’s staff memo and presentation describe the options.
State law requires both elements by Dec. 31, 2026, and calls for plan updates at least every five years. For the water-supply element, staff proposes using Englewood’s 2023 Water Efficiency Plan, updating population projections through 2050 and documenting water-policy changes since that plan. The strategic-growth element would assess vacant and underused land, housing needs, redevelopment opportunities, and the infrastructure and policies needed to support growth.
Staff estimates the appendix-only approach would take four to six months and require no additional budget, though it would use staff time. The targeted supplement could take 12 to 18 months, with up to $35,000 for outreach depending on its scope. A full replacement would require a consultant and cost an estimated $150,000 to $200,000.
Delay could affect the city’s standing in future state grant competitions. Staff says compliance is a scoring and prioritization factor for 34 state grant programs, not a condition of basic eligibility or a reason funds would automatically be withheld. State law makes completion a prioritization factor for certain grants, including some supporting land-use planning or housing, beginning Dec. 1, 2027.