South Broadway Area Wide Plan

About the Project

In 2024 the City of Cortez conducted the South Broadway Area Wide Plan (AWP) study as part of the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Statewide Brownfields Assessment Grant (SWAG). The grant provides funding for local communities to fund environmental site assessments and cleanup, site reuse and area wide planning activities that support brownfield reuse (and lead to potential cleanup and redevelopment). The EPA defines a brownfield as “a property, the expansion, redevelopment, or reuse of which may be complicated by the presence or potential presence of a hazardous substance, pollutant, or contaminant.” 

The AWP study resulted in the reports linked below that were adopted by the Cortez City Council on May 27, 2025 as guiding documents for the City.

Download the South Broadway Market Analysis (March 2025) by clicking this link: /DocumentCenter/View/5086

Download the South Broadway Area-Wide Plan and Revitalization Strategies (March 2025) by clicking this link: /DocumentCenter/View/5087

You can also watch the overview of the report during the Council Work Session on May 27, 2025 at this link. 

SBroadwayAWP-SurveyareaThe Focus Area of the AWP is ~145 acres along the South Broadway corridor (Highway 491). The AWP study is meant to define a vision and action plan for the area. The overarching goal is to define a series of strategies that would improve quality of life, support property reuse/redevelopment, and put underutilized sites/brownfields back into productive use.

The project was discussed at the City Council Meeting on March 12, 2024. You can view this discussion at: https://Tcortez.ompnetwork.org/sessions/286748?embedInPoint=3010&embedOutPoint=4215&shareMethod=link

More Information about the Statewide Assessment Grant

Please visit https://www.cortezco.gov/863/Revitalization-Initiatives to learn more about the Statewide Assessment Grant.

Community Survey

From April 10 - April 28, 2024 the City of Cortez conducted a community input survey concerning the South Broadway corridor. The survey asked the community about current perceptions of the South Broadway area, including safety and cleanliness. The survey also asked participants what future developments they would like to see or not see potentially on South Broadway.

Over 973 people responded to the survey, 932 of which were either Cortez residents, property owners, business owners, or part of a non-profit organization. Over 95% of the respondents were from Cortez or the larger community (Montezuma County).

You can view the aggregated survey results of non write-in questions in this document. Some general themes that emerged from the write-in questions included a desire to clean-up the corridor (particularly in regards to graffiti), to improve safety for both motorists and pedestrians, to add sidewalks, improve the streetscape, add parks, paths, and trails, and add more youth and family activities. 

When asked about ideas for the brand or identity of the South Broadway Corridor, respondents' main themes could be grouped into four categories: 

  • Recreation / Adventure / Outdoors
  • History / Culture / Mesa Verde
  • Southwest
  • Gateway

Timeline

There are, typically, six stages of an area wide plan. Those stages are shown below in the image, but including: a) existing conditions analysis, b) brownfields / property inventory, c) vision & local priorities, d) urban framework plan & projects, e) revitalization strategies / initiatives, and f) action plan matrix. Throughout the process there will be community engagement activities (including the community survey) and the project will culminate in an AWP report that outline suggested actions the City can take as a next step.

A graphic depicting the six outlined steps of an area wide plan study.

Get Involved / Questions

If you are interested in getting involved in the AWP study, or have questions, please contact Helen West.

Phone: 970 - 331 - 0213

Email: hwest@cortezco.gov