Harrison Park Master Plan Community Survey

Thank you for taking the Harrison Park Master Plan Community Survey! This is a project to create a plan for the Lake County-owned 12-acre open area adjacent to the Lake County Elementary School. The plan will incorporate housing, recreation, and open space uses. For more information about the project, see the project website  https://harrisonparkmasterplan.com/ which includes the materials from the December 10th Open House. 

Continue to click "Next" or the arrow buttons at the bottom of the screen to access the survey. 

Why this project?
Lake County is working to improve the availability of affordable and attainable housing in our community. The county is also working to provide park space, recreation amenities, and high-quality public spaces for residents – this project will explore ways that Harrison Park can transform from a vacant parcel to a place to live and play.

Who’s involved?
This project is being led by Lake County and involves a diverse group of stakeholders, including Lake County Build a Generation, the Lake County Housing Authority, Lake County Elementary School, and residents who live close to the project area. The consultant team for this project consists of SE Group (planning, landscape architecture, and project management), Shape Architecture (architecture), TetraTech (engineering) and Fox Tuttle (traffic study).

Why Harrison Park?
Harrison Park is owned by Lake County and represents an excellent opportunity for infill development and new public amenities. Infill development refers to development that occurs within already developed areas, as opposed to greenfield development, which occurs outside of already developed areas. Infill development often requires only minor changes to utilities and services, which is more cost effective than greenfield development. Infill development is also more sustainable that greenfield development, since it can help create more walkable neighborhoods. There are no restrictive covenants on the property. Title Company of the Rockies and the County Attorney have reviewed the vesting deed and title history to confirm no legal restrictions were ever placed on the property. 

While a 1962 Board of County Commissioners meeting discussed using the land for recreation, a playground or picnic area if acquired, no motion nor action was taken. The land was transferred to the County without restrictions in 1964.

How to be involved
This Community Survey is a key opportunity to provide your input on the future of Harrison Park. Stay tuned to the project website and subscribe to our mailing list to learn about upcoming engagement opportunities.
 

Project Timeline & Development Process
What does a typical development timeline look like for affordable housing? It can take between 3-6 years to complete the process of developing affordable housing and recreation amenities. The timeline to the below is an adaptation of a typical development timeline created by the Colorado Department of Local Affairs.



What’s the timeline of this project? We are at the visioning and planning stages of this project. These stages of the project help identify the main goals and challenges of the project and will conclude in a draft plan concept for the site’s development. This stage of the project began in November 2024 and will conclude by March 2025 with the submittal of a Sketch Plan PUD. A sketch plan PUD is essentially an application to the County for a development approval for the site. The application includes a concept for the site, including the scale and type of development for the site, as well as a public hearing process.

What comes after the master planning process? As shown in the second timeline graphic to the right, the development process requires several rounds of approvals for funding and design. The Master Plan is intended to finalize what will be on the site.

Key Terms & Definitions: PUDs, or Planned Unit Developments, are master-planned communities with flexible zoning and design standards. LIHTC stands for Low-Income Housing Tax Credit, a federal program to incentivize affordable housing development. Design Development, or DD, means refining design concepts into detailed plans with materials, systems, and layout specifications. Construction Documentation, or CD, means finalizing detailed drawings and specifications for building permits and construction. Site Plan Review refers to the approval process to evaluate a proposed site’s layout, use, and compliance with zoning regulations. Financing Closing is the finalization of legal and financial agreements to secure funding for a development project.