Location

PlaceMatters worked with Civil Resources, LLC to update the comprehensive plan for the Town of Ault, Colorado. PlaceMatters’ “Community Future by­ Design” ­process allowed citizens to experim­ent with various land uses and densities on maps of the community and see the impact results in CommunityViz. 
The combination of printed maps, keypad polling, and CommunityViz made it possible to analyze various aspects of the different scenarios, such as proximity of residences to schools, fire stations, etc., and provide residents with an understanding of the tradeoffs inherent in planning and decision-making.

PlaceMatters brought experience in public engagement and planning tools to bear in Ault to create a successful comprehensive plan update process. PlaceMatters and Civil Resources held several community workshops using keypad polling, hands-on mapping exercises, and CommunityViz (a powerful GIS-based analytical tool) to obtain and quantify citizens’ opinions.  The public process used in the Town of Ault highlights PlaceMatters’ visioning work, impact analysis, and our focus on informed and collaborative decision-making. The Town of Ault Comprehensive Plan was approved by the Town Board in February of 2009.

Project Goals

• Create a comprehensive plan that reflects the vis­ion of the entire community
  
• Engage youth in the engagement process to gather their input and educate them about the planning process
  
• Use the "Future by Design" process to help participants understand tradeoffs and make informed decisions
  

Project Partners: Civil Resources
Website for More Info: www.townofault.org