Agenda Date: 08/31/2020
Subject:
Title
PC Resolution 05-2020: Recommending Approval of Phase II Amendments to Title 10 of the City Code Relative to Downtown Development
Body
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Prepared By: |
Jennifer Q. Henninger, Director Community Development Department |
PURPOSE:
To recommend approval of Phase II Amendments to Title 10 of the City Code relative to Downtown Developmentby City Council
PRESENTATIONS:
Staff Presenter(s): Jennifer Henninger, Community Development Director and
Kathleen Osher, Community Services Director
Additional Presenter(s): N/A
SUMMARY:
Over the last six months, Staff has been working closely with our consultant KKC to create the Phase II Amendments relative to Downtown development. These Amendments continue to address concerns related to development regulations, integrate the Downtown Littleton Design Standards into our existing Code and align the adopted Comprehensive Plan goals and policies to the City’s Code.
PRIOR ACTIONS OR DISCUSSIONS:
City Council, Planning Commission, and the Historical Preservation Board have held several study sessions related to the Phase I and Phase II changes to the existing City Land Use Code. Two Envision Studios have been held and attended by over 70 people at each studio who provided input that is now a part of the Phase II Amendments. The public draft of the Phase II Amendments was available to the public for the entire month of July. Staff received comments via email, online survey, and calls. On Monday July 27 Planning Commission and the Historical Preservation Board met to provide comments on the draft Phase II Amendments which were integrated into the attached Final Phase II Amendments.
The Historical Preservation Board met on August 24 and recommended City Council approve the Phase II Code Amendments with the following additions: 1) Add a definition for sustainability; 2) Clarify how step-backs will be implemented; and 3) add the Columbine Mill to the list of historic assets to be considered for view corridors.
The City Council and Planning Commission met on Tuesday, August 25th for a briefing by the consultant Kendig Keast Collaborative to clarify any questions and review the amended Title 10 relative to Downtown development.
ANALYSIS:
Staff Analysis
The draft of the Phase II Amendments was available for public comment for a period of 30 days-July 1 to July 31 of this year. Staff also spent over 100 hours combined of time reviewing, editing and adding to the draft. All the public and staff comments were shared with KKC and integrated into the amended Title 10 that is before you on Monday. Between the time the draft was released on July 1 to now, there have been several changes made. The attached presentation outlines these changes.
Council Goal, Objective, and/or Guiding Principle
One of Council’s top goals for 2020 and 2021 is the adoption of a Unified Land Use Code. The proposed changes are intended as a bridge to allow land development projects to continue while the Unified Land Use Code engagement, formulation, and adoption process continues. The proposed code changes address several specific goals and policies related to:
• Land Use and Character
• Housing and Neighborhoods
• Transportation Master Plan
• Environment
• Economy and Tax Base and
• Special Areas and Design
Public Engagement
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
Fiscal Impacts
N/A
Alternatives
• The Planning Commission may recommend approval of the Phase II Amendments to Title 10 of the City Code relative to Downtown developmentwith conditions or
• The Planning Commission may recommend denial of the Phase II =Amendments to Title 10 of the City Code relative to Downtown development
STAFF RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends approval of proposed Planning Commission Resolution 05-2020
PROPOSED MOTION:
I move to approve PC Resolution 05-2020, recommending approval of Phase II Amendments to Title 10 of the City Code relative to Downtown development.