Agenda Date: 12/10/2018
Subject:
Title
An update to the recreation definition and shooting ranges in the zoning code
Body
|
Presented By: |
Steve Kemp, City Attorney and Jocelyn Mills, Community Development Director |
REQUESTED COMMISSION ACTION:
The study session is to discuss a proposed code amendment to address shooting ranges, and obtain planning commission feedback.
BACKGROUND:
The recreation definitions address a number of unrelated uses in Littleton’s zoning code. As with many of the definitions in the code, they do not relate to the actual uses or define uses that should be addressed separately. As staff brings to the council amendments to the code, we recommend correcting these definitions.
An example of this problem is the definition of gun ranges. Currently indoor gun ranges are treated as an indoor recreation use. Outdoor gun ranges have no standards and are treated as outdoor recreation.
These definitions have been carried over into planned developments throughout the city that allow recreational uses in general without reference to the city’s definitions. This has resulted in a number of incompatible uses being principal permitted uses with no further review. Staff has done an analysis of the recreation definitions and the conditional use portion of the code and recommends a number of amendments.
A similar study session was held with city council on November 27, 2018.
STAFF ANALYSIS:
The mixture of uses in the zoning code’s recreational definitions and the lack of definitions under the recreational section for some uses such as sexually oriented businesses is a critical problem that needs to be addressed. Most cities, such as Lakewood and Fort Collins provide specific definitions for these uses and identify the uses by definition in the land use chart. This was also a recommendation of Clarian Associates when they reviewed the definitions of the Littleton Code in 2015.
Staff proposes to create specific definitions for a number of the recreational uses in the zoning code and to place those uses in the land use chart. Where possible, the existing designations were carried over to the new definitions. This includes making indoor gun ranges and outdoor gun ranges conditional uses.
The staff will be presenting a powerpoint on this proposal and the justification of making these uses conditional uses, including a requirement that they be a conditional use in existing Planned Developments unless the Planned Development was amended to provide for the use.
The staff recommends addressing the land use issue through this process in order to provide appropriate guidelines for such uses in the future. The proposed ordinance also adds clarification and a revocation provision to the conditional use permit process.
Staff also recommends separate to the code an administrative process that would require the Police Department to review all applications for retail gun stores and firing ranges with the purpose of making recommendations for safety and security of such facilities.
NEXT STEPS:
The proposed code amendments will be posted on LittletonPlans.org for community input and comment, and the proposed regulations will be presented formally to planning commission for recommendation to city council on January 14, 2019.