City of Dacono City Center Vision Plan Approval with DTJ
Success in Dacono: A Visionary Downtown
On February 24, 2025, the City of Dacono achieved a remarkable milestone with the approval of its City Center Vision Plan.
Located approximately 25-miles north of the Denver Metropolitan area, the plan establishes an exciting new downtown core, centered around a dynamic Main Street designed to serve as both a central corridor and flexible festival space. This innovative approach creates a multi-functional city center, anchored by the new Dacono City Hall and municipal services, while seamlessly integrating walkable neighborhoods, parks, and open spaces through an extensive network of pedestrian-friendly streets and trails.
“The new city center could be the beginning of people choosing to spend time in Dacono versus simply driving to close cities with better options.”
– Dacono Resident
DTJ’s Proven Method to Community Planning
The success of this initiative stems from DTJ’s comprehensive two-phase methodology. First, the team developed a detailed Community Needs Assessment (CNA) to guide future decision-making across residential, commercial, and public development.
Through collaboration with RCLCO and JVA, DTJ conducted thorough site analyses that transformed community aspirations into actionable priorities. Partnership with CivicBrand developed the project branding and messaging, customized website tool, and print collateral.
“[A] focus on health, wellness, community, recreation for all ages, opportunities to support a variety of local businesses.”
– Dacono Resident
Between July and November of 2024, the team gathered public input at local events such as The Dacono Music & Spirits Festival, Hispanic Heritage Celebration, and the Potluck at Glens Coalition. This allowed direct community feedback on program elements and preliminary concepts, ensuring the final plan reflected a shared community vision.
“I would love to have improvements made to Dacono that help foster the small-town community feel without growing too big.”
– Dacono Resident
This foundation led to the creation of a Vision Plan that truly represents Dacono’s future. By combining community desires with current market analysis and existing site conditions, DTJ delivered a well-rounded plan designed to evolve with the community’s needs.
Setting New Standards for Inclusive Planning
A cornerstone of the project was its commitment to embracing Dacono’s diverse community. Recognizing that over 35% of residents identify as Hispanic and/or Latinx, DTJ implemented a comprehensive bilingual engagement strategy. The partnership with the Glens Coalition (Pride of the Glens) enabled focused outreach through Spanish-speaking community groups that provided essential insights into local needs and aspirations.
To ensure genuine accessibility, the project team made every aspect of the project available in both English and Spanish, including:
- Event signage and materials
- Community outreach materials
- The project website
- Online surveys for community input
A Blueprint for Future Development
Dacono’s City Center Vision Plan, set for implementation over the next several decades, demonstrates how municipalities can plan for growth while maintaining community character and ensuring all voices are heard. Its approach – from detailed needs assessment to inclusive community engagement illustrates how thoughtful planning and authentic community engagement can transform a vision into reality, creating vibrant, sustainable urban centers that truly serve all residents.
Ultimately, the plan stands as a testament to what communities can achieve when they combine bold vision with comprehensive planning processes.
For more information and to read the complete Vision Plan, visit ElevateDacono.com.
Congratulations to the Dacono City Council for embracing this bold plan and trusting DTJ to guide it!
BACK TO BLOG