With consultants in town, Monument moves into community engagement for the update of its comprehensive plan.

The Town of Monument has embarked on an update to its comprehensive plan, emphasizing community involvement in shaping the town’s future with a presentation during the regular meeting of Town Council, March 3 at town hall. Andy Cross, a representative of the Lakota Group, the firm contracted to facilitate the update, presented the process and next steps to the council.

Cross said a comprehensive plan isn’t something to be “farmed out” to a group out of state but rather it should be a community-driven process. The comprehensive plan aims to establish a shared vision for the town’s development, addressing various aspects, including housing, infrastructure, mobility and quality of life elements such as open spaces, parks, and trails. Cross emphasized the document would provide a framework for policy direction and decision-making that reflects the input of Monument’s residents and business owners.

The update process is to be conducted in three phases, Cross said. The first phase focuses on assessing existing conditions. The Lakota Group will engage with residents and stakeholders to understand their perceptions of the town’s strengths, assets and areas for improvement, Cross said.

“To figure out where you want to go, we need a shared understanding of where we’re starting,” Cross said.

The second phase will involve defining goals and strategies based on community input. Residents will be asked to consider Monument’s future, with planners working to refine growth strategies that align with the town’s values. The questions posed to residents would be about growth and what growth means, but Cross said the answers are going to differ. “If you ask five people what makes a downtown great, you’ll get five different answers,” he said.

The final phase will synthesize the gathered information into a formal comprehensive plan. The document would integrate housing, transportation, economic development, and environmental considerations into a cohesive strategy for Monument’s future. Public engagement will be a crucial component throughout the process, Cross said. A series of structured discussions, pop-up events, and focus groups are planned to ensure broad participation.

“We’re taking a more formalized, structured approach,” Cross said. “Instead of just having people cycle through open houses, we’re going to have focused discussions.”

Outreach efforts will include meetings with community groups, high school students, business owners and municipal neighbors such as Palmer Lake. The discussions aim to gather diverse perspectives and encourage residents to think critically about Monument’s long-term development.

“We’re very excited that you guys are all here,” Mayor Mitch LaKind said to the consultants.

Later in the meeting, town planning director Dan Ungerleider presented to council an ordinance to approve the final Planned Unit Development (PUD) for Monument Marketplace North 2. The proposed development includes a new retail building featuring a Subway and a Dairy Queen, with Dairy Queen being the only restaurant with a drive-thru. The new Subway location would replace a recently closed store under the same ownership.

The property is situated at the north end of Cinematic View, near Jackson Creek Pkwy, with adjacent properties including the existing Kentucky Fried Chicken to the south and self-storage facility to the east. The site plan includes ample parking and a sidewalk connection to Jackson Creek Parkway, meeting local development standards. The landscaping plan, initially deemed excessive, was adjusted to comply with municipal requirements, Ungerleider said.

Architectural renderings indicate a design accommodating up to four retail spaces, with the potential for interior modifications to merge units. Monument Planning Commission unanimously approved the finding previously, confirming the project’s compliance with zoning and development codes.

Councilman Kenneth Kimple questioned the cosmetic design of the new retail development as to its cohesiveness with the previously approved Ziigy’s Coffee development, and Panda Express, as well as the existing KFC and even Whataburger to the north. After discussion, it was inferred the exterior designs may not match perfectly but remain arguably similar to designs of other retail developments along the parkway.

“At some point, we should have design standards,” Mayor Pro Tem Steve King said. “We’ve talked about this for a while, but I know it’s a long process and we are getting built out. By the time we get them done, we won’t have anything to use them on.”

Ungerleider said those conversations were going to be taking place during the efforts to update the comprehensive plan, especially as they refer to Jackson Creek Pkwy.

“I think we’re going to get ahead of a lot of stuff, but it’s going to require the community to come together and have that conversation,” he said. Town council approved the ordinance 7-0.