NEDERLAND — With 2025 coming to a close, the Nederland Downtown Development Authority (NDDA) spent their final meeting of the year, on Wednesday, December 10, reviewing their organization’s newly adopted Plan of Development and 18 Month Plan, derived directly from the Town of Nederland’s Downtown Subarea Plan (DSP). 

On May 6, 2025, the Nederland Board of Trustees (BOT) voted unanimously to approve Resolution 2025-09, officially adopting the DSP, a final component to the year-long process of updating the Town’s Comprehensive Plan.

The BOT approved contracting with the firm SE Group for $200,000 to create the Comprehensive Plan in September of 2023.

During the early stages of development, the BOT requested SE Group to include the associated firm Studio Seed to develop the DSP in conjunction with the Comprehensive Plan, with the intention of focusing on the growth of Nederland’s Central Business District through boundary expansion, housing development, and code changes.

The DSP details recommendations for action on four “pressing topics” regarding the downtown area. Those topics include: Economic Development and Housing; Growth and Character; Circulation, Gateways, and Parking; and Recreation, Tourism, and Placemaking.

“Catalytic Projects” are also listed within the DSP, such as East 1st Street redevelopment considerations, redesigned intersections at the Town’s major gateways, a potential second bridge across the creek, and waterfront recreation and amphitheater development. 

Given that the majority of the NDDA’s district falls within the purview of the DSP, and in line with the Town’s attempt to synchronize the NDDA with their priorities, the Authority approved adopting the DSP as their official Plan of Development (POD) during their meeting in October of 2025, 

According to the description within the DSP, the plan builds upon previous recommendations from the Authority’s 2017 POD that had yet to be implemented.  

The portion on “Economic Development and Housing” features several objectives with corresponding strategies. The first objective, to “support and stabilize existing businesses,” features recommendations for action, including the creation of a Downtown Economic Vitality Advisory Board, conducting a survey of businesses to understand their needs and concerns, and providing businesses with grant opportunities.

It also supports “pathways” to commercial property ownership, provides relocation options for certain scenarios, and promotes businesses through marketing and social media.

The second objective, to “recruit new businesses that are needed and desired in the community,” includes the recommendation for the Town and the NDDA to “work together to actively recruit new businesses to fill vacancies and provide desired services.”

Under “Circulation, Gateways, and Parking,” it is recommended that the NDDA install wayfinding signage, convert sidewalks in the downtown area from crusher fine to concrete, and to create a Downtown Parking Management Plan and a Downtown Parking Map.

Under “Recreation, Tourism, and Placemaking,” it is recommended that the NDDA work with the Town and with private property owners on implementing “desired improvements” to the downtown area, that the Authority implement a Public Arts Master Plan, and that the Authority create a Downtown Maintenance District and a Trash Maintenance Plan. 

One of the suggested “Catalytic Projects”—under the objective of creating “unique outdoor placemaking experiences in Downtown Nederland—is the development of an amphitheater near Barker Reservoir.

Other recommendations under this objective include providing a series of “small plazas and pocket parks,” and continuing to fund public art initiatives. 

In terms of implementing the recommendations made within the DSP, an 18 Month Action Plan has been developed to “prioritize all elements of the plan into actionable next steps.”

The DSP, and therefore the Authority’s POD, is also fully integrated with the Town’s Comprehensive Plan and the Multimodal Transportation Plan. 

The NDDA Board reviewed the several objectives and recommendations for action that will be a major focus in 2026, in preparation for an upcoming but as-of-yet unscheduled joint work session with the BOT about ensuring synchronization between the two entities regarding prioritization of those actions.  

The Nederland Downtown Development Authority meets the second Wednesday of every month. Their first meeting of the new year is scheduled for Wednesday, January 21, 2026, at 6 p.m. and will be held online as well as in person at the Nederland Community Center. 

For more information go to: https://townofnederland.colorado.gov/downtown-development-authority.