Although Clifton has long had a distinct identity, with its own water and sanitation district, Clifton is not incorporated as a town. Mesa County oversees long-range planning for the community and is working with the citizens to create a desirable place in which to live and work.

One of the most visible projects the county would like to see addressed is the downtown Clifton area, along F Road, east of 32 Road. They are hoping for grant money to hire a consultant to create a more pedestrian-friendly area.

"We want to make it inviting for people to park and walk," says Michael Warren, senior planner with Mesa County, "And retain the historic feel to the area."

The county is identifying areas for potential business park development, too, in hopes of encouraging more commercial and light industrial employers to take another look at Clifton. They would like to see development that resembles the Foresight Business Park in Grand Junction.

The county is also identifying areas where parks and trails are needed, including a location at D Road and 32 1/2, where the county has already applied for GOCO money to build a nature center, interpretive trails, and a link to the Colorado Riverfront Trail. When completed, the park will be similar in size to Corn Lake.

"Hopefully, if we get a grant for it we'll start right away," says Warren, "Meaning some time this year."

The county isn't the only organization making plans for Clifton. Both the sanitation district and the water district are trying to stay one step ahead of growth. The sanitation district is in the process of building a new facility that will enable the district to handle 2.5 million gallons of wastewater per day and possibly expand its service area to include 900 acres that could be developed into residential lots if the zoning is changed.

A new one million gallon water tank is in the bidding process with the Clifton water district. Currently, the district has an 8 million gallon capacity in three different storage tanks.

"We just need additional storage in the southern portion of our distribution system," says Dale Tooker, manager for the district.

Clifton is also seeing an increase in the amount of commercial development. A three-acre site at the corner of 32 Road and the business loop will soon be the home for an Autozone and a Sonic Drive-in, with room for several more businesses, too. Across the street, a stand-along Starbucks has opened next to Blockbuster Video.

"There isn't that much undeveloped/developed C-I commercial zoned land in that area," says Sam Suplizio with Bray/commercial. "We've made some attempt to get the larger retailers out there, but they tend to want to stay on the west side of town."

Clifton Elementary and Rocky Mountain Elementary both serve Clifton students. The majority of students at both schools live close enough to walk, although once students reach middle school and high school, they're bused to Mt. Garfield Middle School and Palisade High School.

"I feel like we make a difference with our kids here," says Steve States, Clifton Elementary assistant principal. "We work hard to include parents as part of our community and to meet their needs."

Rocky Mountain Elementary also tries to meet the needs of parents, hosting a Food for Though dinner several times a year, where parents can enjoy dinner at the school and attend a parental coaching class afterwards. The program has been successful, with such a good turnout that the school limits attendance to parents of kids in specific grades to keep the numbers of attendees down to about 50.

"One of the great things here is that we're combined with Rocky Mountain Elementary Park," says Principal David Fricke. The park offers an additional five acres that teachers can use for special occasions and that neighborhood residents use anytime. A separate playground area lies closer to the school for recess. In the summer, the park is utilized for soccer day camps and other recreational uses.

There is more multi-family housing available in Clifton than in other parts of the valley. Much of it was built in response to the oil shale boom of the late 1970s and early 80s. Some of those boom duplexes can be purchased for well under $200,000 and have attracted investment buyers who are looking to rent out one or both sides of the duplex.

Generally, newer properties have higher price tags, but buyers can still buy a single unit in a newer duplex for less than $150,000. Small acreage building lot closer to the buffer zone between Palisade and Clifton and outside of the sewer district offer incredible views of Mt. Garfield and Grand Mesa, and can be found for less than $200,000.

Residents in Clifton have resisted attempts to incorporate more than once, leaving the county in charge of its future. The county isn't taking the responsibility lightly, however, and hopes to create a more cohesive community, with desirable places to live, shop, work and play.