Superior Comprehensive Plan

On December 30, 2021, the Marshall Fire dramatically reshaped portions of Boulder County, Colorado, including the Town of Superior. The fire led to widespread evacuations and significant property losses, with 394 homes destroyed in one of the town’s oldest neighborhoods. In the years that followed, the community embarked on an unprecedented recovery effort while also looking ahead to a more resilient future.

The Superior Comprehensive Plan update provided an opportunity to continue the town’s long-term recovery and ensure a disaster like the Marshall Fire never happened again. Drawing on expertise in comprehensive planning, hazard mitigation, sustainability, and community engagement, the Cushing Terrell team worked closely with residents and stakeholders to integrate resilience throughout the plan, rather than treating it as a standalone topic.

This interdisciplinary approach required balancing immediate rebuilding needs with long-term community goals. Through data-driven analysis, scenario evaluation, extensive public engagement, and collaboration across departments, our team helped develop a plan that treats resilience as a community-wide responsibility versus a regulatory requirement. Policies and actions were designed to strengthen emergency preparedness, support environmental stewardship, improve infrastructure resilience, and guide future development in a manner that acknowledges both natural systems and evolving risks. The result was a plan that not only supported rebuilding but also provided a practical framework for helping Superior adapt, thrive, and remain resilient for years to come.