Grand Junction, CO 2010 Comprehensive Plan

For comprehensive and regional plans, a variety of existing tools are available to engage the public in a workshop setting or to develop scenarios of different development alternatives. The scenarios help test policies and prioritize strategies. Scenarios can also be utilized to demonstrate to stakeholders how key future conditions could impact their community and to consider which approaches may be most robust across a variety of potential future conditions.

In 2007, the City of Grand Junction initiated a process to update its comprehensive plan, using CommunityViz as part of the public engagement process. The city hosted 27 citizen planner "chip games" during which residents used "chips" to indicate on a map where and at what density they would like to see growth occur. The need for compact development was a theme echoed in each game. The results were collected, digitized, and analyzed with CommunityViz, and then shared with the public in subsequent workshops. As alternative land use plans were developed during the process, CommunityViz could dynamically update information into the regional database to allow the testing of impacts on the transportation system. This iterative process eventually revealed a preferred alternative scenario, and Grand Junction's comprehensive plan was adopted in 2010.

CommunityViz is a 3D analysis and planning extension for ArcGIS created by the Orton Family Foundation in 2001. This tool provides scenario planning, analysis, and 3D visualization to help groups make better planning decisions. The software helps communities and regions understand the implications of planning decisions and scenarios. It offers a range of tools for community design and planning, including development of realistic 3D models, build-out analysis, suitability analysis, impact assessment, and growth modeling. Public participation is a key focus, and the software includes numerous features to support public workshops and interactive sessions with diverse audiences.

Additional information on this case study:
Opening Access to Scenario Planning Tools (Policy Focus Report)
CommunityViz
PlaceWays Grand Junction Case Study

Category: Visioning
Issue: Scenario Planning Processes
Community Type: Urban
Location: Grand Junction, CO
Contact: Lisa Cox, Planning Manager This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it 970-244-1448

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