Senate Bill 24-174 requires DOLA to create two statewide reports: the Strategic Growth Report (due October 30, 2025) and the Natural Land and Agricultural Opportunities Report (due December 31, 2025). Thank you to everyone who has contributed feedback so far to help shape these important documents.
DOLA is excited to release the technical foundations for the Strategic Growth Report, the draft Transect and Scenario Analysis.
This legislation directs the Department of Local Affairs (DOLA) to develop a report that analyzes policy-driven land use scenarios, the impact of existing state policies and programs, and regional context. This will inform recommendations that encourage environmentally and fiscally sustainable growth.
Draft Document for Review
The draft document (developed with the support of our consultant, ECOnorthwest) can be found below and on DOLA's Statewide Reports webpage. Below is a brief description and a link to a feedback form.
Statewide Strategic Growth Report - Transect and Scenario Analysis (DRAFT)
This draft of the Strategic Growth Report presents a summary of a transect analysis for place types across Colorado and a scenario analysis of two land use scenarios.
The intent of this draft is to provide stakeholders an opportunity to review the technical analysis of the report, and to gather stakeholder feedback to inform the future versions of the report. The table below describes the major required elements of the Strategic Growth Report and their current status:
Final Deliverable of Report in Progress | Status (September 2025) |
|---|---|
| Colorado Policy Context: Summary of the impact of existing state policies and programs on land use development patterns and the encouragement of sprawl. | In June 2025, the project team released a first draft of the Strategic Growth Report’s Introduction and Colorado Policy Context. The team is synthesizing comments collected through July 31, and will release updated versions of this section of the report later in September 2025. |
| Refine Policy Recommendations: Summary recommendations for state policies that "encourage environmentally and fiscally sustainable growth." | With a first round of stakeholder feedback on the Initial Policy Scan, the project team is refining recommendations and conducting targeted outreach with topical experts, state agencies, statewide organizations, and local/regional governments. |
| Final Report and Summary Document | Drafts of the final document and executive summary will be made available later in September 2025 for public comment and feedback, including policy recommendations. |
As you review these draft report sections (Transect and Scenario Analysis), we encourage you to consider the following questions in your comments:
- Are there any caveats that should be noted, or statements where wording could be improved?
- What is missing that would be worth exploring with future research?
- What are the most powerful takeaways that stood out to you?
- What do you think the implications are for potential policy recommendations?
- Do you have any additions to how the report should interpret these findings?
Provide Your Input
If you have your own input to share on the Transect and Scenario Analysis, we encourage you to submit feedback using the feedback form no later than Tuesday, September 23.
Previously Released Draft Documents
In June 2025, DOLA released the first draft documents that inform the Strategic Growth Report. These drafts also supported focus group meetings and a June 24 webinar hosted by the Rocky Mountain Land Use Institute. A webinar video is available along with an ai transcript.
Statewide Strategic Growth Report - Chapters 1 and 2 (DRAFT) [Chapters 1 and 2 (DRAFT) - PDF version] - currently under revision
This document includes an introduction and a chapter on Colorado's Policy Context for the Strategic Growth Report. These draft chapters are currently being revised based on input received by July 31, 2025 and will be re-released as part of the full report. Note that chapter numbers may change in the final report.
Policy Scan (DRAFT) [Policy Scan (DRAFT) - PDF version] - currently under revision
This draft Policy Scan provides a high-level overview of policy areas related to strategic growth in Colorado. Its purpose is to spur conversation and gather stakeholder feedback, which will inform the final policy recommendations of the Strategic Growth Report. Please note, these are not policy recommendations themselves. Some policy areas may also be relevant for a "local toolkit" that DOLA will create to assist jurisdictions in developing Strategic Growth elements in Comprehensive Plans. This draft chapter is currently being revised based on input received by July 31, 2025 and will be re-released as part of the full report. Note that chapter numbers may change in the final report.
Summary and Next Steps
The Draft Transect and Scenario Analysis (Chapters 3 and 4) represent the analyses required for the Strategic Growth Report. The full Strategic Growth Report, including policy recommendations, will be posted for public review in late September 2025. The final report will be posted on the DOLA website no later than October 31, 2025.
Again, please submit any feedback on the Transect and Scenario Analysis through the feedback form by Tuesday, September 23, 2025. For any questions, please contact Scott Williamson.