Agenda Date: 09/02/2025
Subject:
Title
Ordinance 17-2025: An ordinance on second reading amending Title 10, the Unified Land Use Code, Chapter 9, Administration, Section 4.1, Rezoning/Zoning Map Amendment
Body
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From: |
Reid Betzing, City Attorney |
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Prepared by: |
Reid Betzing, City Attorney |
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Presentations: |
Reid Betzing, City Attorney |
PURPOSE:
To consider expanding notification requirements for comprehensive rezoning and text amendments that add, remove or change the types of residential uses that are allowed in SLR, MLR, LLR, and ACR zoning districts.
LONG-TERM OUTCOME(S) SERVED:
High-Quality Governance
DISCUSSION:
On January 7, 2025, City Council considered making changes to some of the zoning districts in the City of Littleton to allow for different types of residential units such as duplexes to be allowed uses. After consideration, City Council decided to postpone the ordinance indefinitely, which essentially had the effect of killing the ordinance.
Since that time there has been interest to make improvements to the city’s notification requirements to ensure that more people are aware of possible changes to their zoning. Some of that interest has led to a citizen initiative that would, in part, have the effect of changing some of the city’s notification requirements for comprehensive rezoning or land use map amendments.
In an effort to address some of those concerns regarding notification, City Council directed that an ordinance be prepared to increase the notification required for any city-initiated comprehensive rezoning changes including additions and removals to the types of residential uses allowed in the SLR, MLR, LLR, and ACR zoning districts.
The proposed ordinance would require that the city have delivered notification by mail through the United States Postal Service (USPS) to affected property owners if the City decided to initiate any comprehensive rezoning or land use map amendments that added, removed, or changed residential uses within the SLR, MLR, LLR, and ACR zoning districts.
At a Planning Commission meeting that was held on 8/26, the Planning Commission recommended approval 5-1 with a suggested amendment to the ordinance. That amendment is attached to the Council packet. Essentially Planning Commission wanted to ensure that residents or occupants of affected parcels were also aware outside of property owners. As current code that is referenced already requires that notice by mail go to all addresses, units and property owners, Staff believes the amendment is not necessary.
***Between first and second reading a minor grammatical change was made to the ordinance to remove some redundant language. In addition, the language that was originally proposed was also added to the text amendment section in 10-9-4.3 to ensure clarity and consistency.***
BACKGROUND:
[Describe “how we got here” in lay terms understandable by a citizen new to the issue.]
Prior Actions or Discussions
This ordinance passed on first reading on August 19, 2025.
FISCAL IMPACTS:
In the event that City Council elected to initiate any comprehensive rezoning or zoning map amendments that affected the types of residential uses allowed within the SLR, MLR, LLR, and ACR zoning districts the city would be obligated to send individual notices. The exact impact is unknown but is likely to be several thousand dollars for a public hearing in notification costs.
STAFF RECOMMENDATION:
Staff supports efforts to increase notification of changes to the types of residential uses that are allowed in the SLR, MLR, LLR, ACR zoning districts.
ALTERNATIVES:
Council can choose not to adopt any changes to its current process for comprehensive rezonings.
PROPOSED MOTION:
Proposed Motion
I move to approve Ordinance 17-2025 on second reading amending Title 10, the Uniform Land Use Code, Chapter 9, Administration, Section 4.1, Rezoning/Zoning Map Amendment.