North Clear Creek neighborhood voices heard in city planning process

As future priorities are set for the North Clear Creek Neighborhoods, residents reinforce the importance of sharing their views with city officials.”It’s important that the voices of the residents are heard,” said Gunnar Tande, who has lived in Golden for about six years, because the end result of a large project should be a collaborative effort between the city and its residents.Tande was one of about 40 people who attended the second open house concerning the North Clear Creek Neighborhoods’ Plan on March 9 at the Golden Community Center.Open houses are the initial step in the public engagement process, city planner Amber Wesner said. In this case, the city wants to know what residents believe are top priorities for the north Clear Creek area. A public workshop will take place on April 13 to help the city prioritize goals, and input from the workshop will be incorporated in the shaping the draft plan.Sometimes, it can take awhile to absorb big changes in a city, said Virginia Bottolfson, who has lived in Golden since 1969. It’s good the city reaches out to the community before going forward with any major project, she said.Her husband, Richard Kovach, added he, too, appreciates the city’s diligence in long-term planning.”Golden is very good with keeping the community informed,” said Vicki Wagner, a resident since 1969. But, she added, “we all need to be proactive.”Wagner encourages all Golden residents to attend community meetings, learn about city projects and provide input when opportunities arise.Jennifer Zacker, a Clear Creek neighborhood resident for about eight years, agreed. “It’s your best chance to know what’s going on, and have your voice heard.”Zacker believes some change is good, but her concern, when it comes to city planning, is making sure more than economics is considered in the decision-making.Not many people oppose growth, Tande said, but everybody wants to protect Golden’s assets.”There are many reasons why we choose to live here,” he said. Residents value the walkability, the energy that Clear Creek brings to the community, the parks, small businesses and local restaurants, among other things.”Golden residents “have a long-term interest in its sustainability because we live here,” Tande said. “Visitors have more of a short-term perspective because they enjoy it, then leave.”