Agenda Date: 10/06/2020
Subject:
Title
Ordinance 34-2020: An ordinance on second reading approving Phase II amendments to Title 10 of the City Code relative to Downtown development
Body
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Prepared by: |
Kathleen Osher, Community Services Director |
PURPOSE:
Does city council support an ordinance on second reading adopting the Phase II Amendments to Title 10 of the Littleton Municipal Code relative to Downtown development?
PRESENTATIONS:
Staff Presenter(s): Kathleen Osher, Community Services Director
Jennifer Henninger, Community Development Director
Additional Presenter(s): N/A
SUMMARY:
Phase II Amendments to the existing City Code relative to Downtown development have been the focus of staff and our consultant Kendig Keast Collaborative (KKC) after Council amended KKC’s contract on April 7, 2020. The scope amendment included drafting the contents of KKC deliverable #1 ‐ Downtown Building Block, by amending the City’s existing Title 10, Zoning Regulations; and carrying over the contents of KKC deliverable #1 from the existing Title 10 to the Consolidated Public Review Draft of the Unified Land Use Code in enCodePlusTM set for release in June 2021.
The intent of Phase II amendments is to address Council concerns related to open space requirements, building height requirements, Downtown massing/step-backs, Downtown transition zones, front setbacks, sub-division of lots, and parking relative to Downtown development. Additionally, the final Phase II amendments address needed definitions, regulations for signage, regulations for greenscaping, roof forms, and protections for historical assets in Downtown.
Historical Preservation Board unanimously recommends approval with the following three conditions:
1. Add a definition for “sustainability”
2. Clarify how stepbacks are implemented and where required
3. Add Old Columbine Mill as a key community landmark as referenced in Section 10-4-18 (U) Additional Design Standards for All Character Areas
Planning Commission in a vote of 6-1 recommends approval with the following four conditions:
1. An applicant may utilize the parking credits and reductions outlined in Section 10-2-18 (E) in calculating required parking in order to reduce the minimum off-street surface parking spaces required for an applicable development by a maximum of 20%
2. Amend paragraph 6d in Section 10-2-18 (E) to change “shared parking shall be located within 300 feet …” to “shared parking shall be located within 1,320 feet of the associated use”
3. In the DNR character area, townhomes shall be limited to 2.5 stories and a maximum height of 30 feet
4. Amend the rooftop garden credit to be full credit for meeting open space requirements can be provided through use of a rooftop garden within the DMS character area, a partial credit of 25% in the DTA and DMU character areas, and zero credit in the DNR neighborhood.
City Council held a study session on September 22 and requested staff draft five additional amendments to the proposed amended Title 10. These amendments are outlined in an attached memo and include a staff recommendation. Staff has also prepared the attached overview of input from the Envision Littleton community input process and the policy guidance provided by the Comprehensive Plan.
PRIOR ACTIONS OR DISCUSSIONS:
Envision Littleton was developed to be a multi-year and multi-milestone commitment to planning for the next 20 years of the city. The top priority identified in the Comprehensive Plan is to update the city’s regulatory framework and transition to a Unified Land Use Code. The Unified Land Use Code kicked off during the February 10, 2020 community event hosted at Town Hall Arts Center and the February 11 Joint Leadership Session of City Council and Planning Commission.
The first Envision Studio focused on Downtown was held as a virtual webinar on March 23, 2020 with 70 participants.
City Council amended KKC’s contract on April 7, 2020 to draft the contents of KKC’s deliverable #1 ‐ Downtown Building Block, by amending the City’s existing Title 10, Zoning Regulations; and carrying over the contents of KKC deliverable #1 from the existing Title 10 to the Consolidated Public Review Draft of the Unified Land Use Code in enCodePlusTM set for release in June 2021.
Staff provided a brief update to Council on the progress of the Unified Land Use Code (ULUC) project and adjusted timeline on May 5, 2020. Council adopted Phase I amendments to the City Code relative to Downtown on May 5, 2020 and approved an extension of the temporary moratorium on any new development containing more than one residential unit within the downtown area effective May 14, 2020. This moratorium is in place while Phase II amendments are considered and expires on October 9, 2020.
The second Envision Studio focused on Downtown was held on Monday, May 18, 2020 at 4:00 p.m. as a virtual webinar with 72 community attendees and about 20 staff, members of Council and Boards, and consultants. Council held study sessions on Tuesday, May 19, 2020, Tuesday, June 2, 2020, Tuesday, June 23, 2020, and Tuesday, June 30, 2020 to continue the policy discussion that provided direction for the public draft of Phase II amendments.
The public review and comment period of proposed Phase II amendments to Title 10 of the City Code was held between July 1 -July 31, 2020. On August 24, the Historical Preservation Board (HPB) held a public hearing and unanimously found the proposed Phase II Amendments relative to Downtown Littleton consistent with the vision, goals, and policies of the Comprehensive Plan and recommended city council approve with three conditions. On August 25, City Council and Planning Commission held a joint study session to discuss the revise draft Phase II amendments. On August 31, the Planning Commission held a public hearing and voted 6-1 to recommend the amended Title 10 to City Council for approval with four conditions.
ANALYSIS:
The draft of the Phase II Amendments was available for public comment for a period of 30 days. Staff also spent over 100 hours combined of time reviewing, editing, and adding to the draft. Between the public review draft and final draft attached, there have been several meaningful changes incorporated.
On July 1, 2020, staff posted the proposed Phase II Amendments relative to Downtown on the EnvisionLittleton.org website and created an online reviewers guide, a 3D interactive map with conceptual building types, and offered office hours twice daily between July 14-31. Office hours included a survey of participants that was completed by 13 attendees. Nineteen emailed comments were submitted, and 22 online surveys were completed that included 197 written comments. Given the current precautions in place for COVID-19, email blasts and social media were also used to increase awareness.
Social Media Outreach
• 5 Facebook Posts
• 5 Tweets
• 3 Posts on Next Door
• 4 Posts on LinkedIn
Email Blasts
• Weekly Emails to the Envision Contact List
• Two Emails Notices to the Go2Littleton Business Email Contact List
• eConnect blast to the City’s Contact List
• Included twice in the Littleton Report Online
Council Goal, Objective, and/or Guiding Principle
Council Goal 1 - Envision Littleton
Fiscal Impacts
N/A
Alternatives
Approve the Phase II amendments without the seven (7) conditions recommended by the Historical Preservation Board and the Planning Commission.
Do not approve the Phase II amendments to Title 10 of the City Code relative to Downtown development and consider the Unified Land Use Code in 2021.
STAFF RECOMMENDATION:
Approve Phase II amendments to Title 10 of the City Code relative to Downtown development with the three conditions added by the Historical Preservation Board and three of the four conditions added by the Planning Commission. Staff recommends restoring the parking credits and reductions outlined in Section 10-2-18 (E) in calculating required parking in order to reduce the minimum off-street surface parking spaces required for an applicable development back to a maximum of 50%.
PROPOSED MOTION:
Proposed Motion
I move to approve the ordinance on second reading approving Phase II amendments to Title 10 of the City Code relative to Downtown development with the seven conditions recommended by Historical Preservation Board and Planning Commission.