This project was completed as a Capstone Project was submitted in partial satisfaction of the requirements for the degree of Master of Urban and Regional Planning, College of Architecture and Planning, University of Colorado Denver. The objective of this Capstone Project is to provide the Town of Dillon a visual framework to guide its community engagement and redevelopment. The Town of Dillon is in the process of redeveloping 1.59 acres of the Core Area, and wants to be careful to make sure redevelopment enhances views from public areas. A viewshed analysis was completed with ArcPro from valued observation points in public spaces and a model was created for four scenarios: no development, existing conditions, zoning buildout, and development with no constraints. A height analysis provided the existing conditions model, using Lidar data calculated elevation points at the ground level and at the top of buildings to find their elevation and placed on top of a basemap displaying ground elevation. The zoning height models were created using the same building footprints as currently exist, but extruded to the height allowed in the Town of Dillon zoning code. The constraints removed was created by adding large building footprints or multiple building footprints on every developable parcel. Each new building footprint was extruded to a height above the height allowed in the Town of Dillon zoning code.

1. Envisioning Redevelopment in
Dillon: A Viewshed Analysis
Meghan McCloskey Boydston, MURP
www.meghanmccloskeyboydston.com
boydston.meghan@gmail.com
GIS in the Rockies Conference
September 19, 2018

2. Introduction
Project completed as a
Capstone project in partial
satisfaction for the
requirements of the Master’s
of Urban and Regional
Planning for University of
Colorado Denver.

3. The Town of Dillon is
located in Summit
County and has a
population of
approximately 1,000
people.
Dillon, Colorado

4. • The objective of the project was to provide the Town of
Dillon a visual framework to guide its community
engagement surrounding redevelopment.
• Dillon has prioritized redevelopment and wants to add
more retail and housing, including workforce housing.
Source: Summitdaily.com

5. DILLON’S CORE AREA
Redevelopment
will be
concentrated in
Dillon’s Core
Area, which
includes 1.59
acres.

6. Core Area Vision Statement
The purpose of Dillon Town Core
Revitalization is to create a vibrant,
mixed-use destination that reflects our
Mountain Lakestyle identity; is the
preferred location for new and existing
businesses, residents, and guests, and
enhances the quality of life for all who
venture here. In order to diversify our
existing business base, drive density, and
solidify Dillon as a year round destination
with a lively, pedestrian atmosphere and a
preferred location for community
experiences; we encourage the addition
of year-round residential units,
commercial amusement uses such as
indoor play and entertainment, taverns,
restaurants, retail, education and
community centers. Source: Summitdaily.com

7. A survey with community members and businesses showed that
95% of residents and second home owners and 86% of business
owners found the scenic/visual quality of the town to be
important.

8. How can Dillon redevelop and densify its
Core Area while preserving the scenic and
visual quality of the town?
Problem Statement

9. • Olympia,
Washington was
used as a case
study.
• Through
community
engagement, the
city identified
valued observation
points from public
spaces, de-
emphasizing
preserving views
from private
property.
Prioritizing Views
Source: Livability.com

10. Observation Points
• Government officials
identified valued
observation points in a
survey.
• The observation points
were on the exterior
of the Core Area.
• These points became
the basis for the
viewshed analysis and
the focus for the
models.

11. Methodology
1) Preparing Input Data
• Using recent orthorectified aerial imagery, I created
building footprints in GIS by tracing over the images of
buildings.
• I then interpolated a 10-foot cell size bare-earth DEM and a
10-foot cell size first return DEM from Lidar data.

12. Methodology
2) Scenario 1: Existing Conditions
• To create the existing conditions layer, I calculated the
existing height of each building.
• I used Lidar data and selected ten random points within
each building polygon.
• For each point, I found both the bare-earth elevation and
the first-return elevation at the top of the building, and
averaged the 10 points resulting in one figure for ground
elevation and another for the top of the building.
• I used the difference to find the approximate height of
each building.

13. Existing Conditions

14. Methodology
3) Scenario 2: Zoning Height Buildout
• To create the zoning height layer, I attributed the zoning
heights from Dillon’s zoning code to the building footprints
overlaying each of the nine zoning districts. There are four
different height limitations in Dillon’s zoning code,
including 30ft, 35ft, 40ft and 50ft, depending on the zoning
district.

15. Zoning Height Buildout

16. Methodology
4) Scenario 3: Constraints Removed
• I drew in additional building polygons where buildings don’t
currently exist and where development is not currently
allowed per zoning.
• I also included higher building heights in certain districts,
up to 70 ft. This was based on the town’s consideration to
allow buildings above the zoning height or to amend the
zoning code in some areas.

17. Constraints Removed

18. Methodology
5) Building Massings in ArcPro
• In ArcPro, I created 3D models by extruding each polygon
layer to the building heights attributed to each building.
• I added “building skins” to the building massings, which
were photographs from buildings at Copper Mountain
resort, to incorporate mountain architectural features.

19. Methodology
6) Scenes
• I created a scene from each of the eight valued observation
points for each buildout scenario.
• Each scene is viewed from a human scale observation point,
from 5-6.5 feet from the ground.

20. Lake Dillon Drive and Highway 6
Looking SouthEast

22. NO BUILDINGS
Lake Dillon Drive and Highway 6
Looking Southeast

23. EXISTING CONDITIONS
Lake Dillon Drive and Highway 6
Looking Southeast

24. ZONING BUILDOUT
Lake Dillon Drive and Highway 6
Looking Southeast

25. CONSTRAINTS REMOVED
Lake Dillon Drive and Highway 6
Looking Southeast

26. Town Park
Looking NorthEast

28. NO BUILDINGS
Town Park
Looking Northeast

29. EXISTING CONDITIONS
Town Park
Looking Northeast

30. ZONING BUILDOUT
Town Park
Looking Northeast

31. CONSTRAINTS REMOVED
Town Park
Looking Northeast

32. Town Park
Looking Southwest

34. NO BUILDINGS
Town Park
Looking Southwest

35. EXISTING CONDITIONS
Town Park
Looking Southwest

36. ZONING BUILDOUT
Town Park
Looking Southwest

37. CONSTRAINTS REMOVED
Town Park
Looking Southwest

38. Lake Dillon Drive and La bonte
Street
Looking NorthWEST

40. NO BUILDINGS
Lake Dillon Drive and La Bonte Street
Looking Northwest

41. EXISTING CONDITIONS
Lake Dillon Drive and La Bonte Street
Looking Northwest

42. ZONING BUILDOUT
Lake Dillon Drive and La Bonte Street
Looking Northwest

43. CONSTRAINTS REMOVED
Lake Dillon Drive and La Bonte Street
Looking Northwest

44. Lake Dillon Drive and La bonte
Street
Looking South

46. NO BUILDINGS
Lake Dillon Drive and La Bonte Street
Looking South

47. EXISTING CONDITIONS
Lake Dillon Drive and La Bonte Street
Looking South

48. ZONING BUILDOUT
Lake Dillon Drive and La Bonte Street
Looking South

49. CONSTRAINTS REMOVED
Lake Dillon Drive and La Bonte Street
Looking South

50. Conclusion
• For many scenarios, the current zoning buildout did not differ
much from existing conditions, and it didn’t drastically impact
viewsheds or change the character of the town. Dillon could
accommodate additional density but should be cautious about
allowing development at additional height above zoning. Some
of the constraints removed models demonstrated that views
would be blocked.
• These scenarios can be very effective in starting a conversation
and engaging with the community about how they envision
Dillon’s redevelopment.

51. “Following the presentation, town residents
had a chance to inject their own values and
ideas into the conversation surrounding the
future of the town core. Though few specifics
were discussed, residents were clearly able to
form something of a consensus in terms of
what they want to preserve in town, and
what they hope to see in the future town
core”

52. Thank you!
Meghan McCloskey Boydston, MURP
www.meghanmccloskeyboydston.com
boydston.meghan@gmail.com