Agenda Date: 12/15/2020
Subject:
Title
Ordinance 43-2020: An ordinance on second reading rezoning approximately 180 acres in the Downtown Neighborhood from various zoning districts to the Downtown (DT) District and amending the official Zoning Map accordingly
Body
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Prepared by: |
Jennifer Q. Henninger, Director of Community Development |
PURPOSE:
To approve an amendment to the official zoning map that is reflective of the recently adopted Title 10 amendments. This is a city-initiated rezoning application which requires a public hearing.
PRESENTATIONS:
Staff Presenter(s): Jennifer Henninger, Director of Community Development
Michael Sutherland, Deputy Director of Community
Development
Additional Presenter(s): N/A
SUMMARY:
In accordance with 10-12-1: Declaration of Public Policy for Rezoning - the official zoning map should only be amended if it is consistent with the goals and policies of the Envision Littleton Comprehensive Plan and promotes the general welfare of the community. On October 6, 2020, council adopted Ordinance 34-2020 creating the DT (Downtown) zone district and amending various sections of Title 10 of the Littleton City Code to incorporate the new zone district. On October 8, 2020, city staff made an application to rezone approximately 180 acres in the downtown area (as defined by attached map) from various zoning districts including CA, CA-PDO, B-2, B-2 PDO, R-5, R-5 PDO, PD-R, I-2, I-2 PDO, B-3, and OS to the DT zone district and amend the official zoning map accordingly. Both actions are consistent with the goals and policies of the Envision Littleton 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 Envision Littleton Comprehensive Plan is to update the city’s regulatory framework and transition to a Unified Land Use Code (ULUC). The ULUC kicked off during the February 10, 2020 community event hosted at Town Hall Arts Center and the February 11 joint leadership session of council and planning commission.
The first Envision Studio focused on downtown was held in March after which council amended KKC’s contract 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 ULUC in enCodePlus set for release in June 2021.
Council adopted Phase I amendments to the city code relative to downtown in May of this year. 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 in May and June 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 were held the entire month of July. In August, 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 Envision Littleton Comprehensive Plan and recommended city council approve with three conditions. In August, city council and planning commission held a joint study session to discuss the revised draft Phase II amendments. On August 31, 2020, the planning commission adopted Resolution 5-2020 recommending approval with conditions of the Phase II amendments to the Littleton City Code, including the creation of the DT zone district. City council adopted Phase II amendments to Title 10 with conditions on October 6, 2020.
On November 9, 2020, the Littleton Planning Commission conducted a public hearing to consider the proposed rezoning. Following the hearing, the planning commission adopted a resolution recommending approval of the ordinance, with no conditions, by a 7-0 vote.
This ordinance passed on first reading on December 1, 2020.
ANALYSIS:
Staff Analysis
The downtown Littleton area (W. Church Avenue north to W. Belleview Avenue, the BNSF Railroad west to S. Santa Fe Drive) contains approximately 180 acres of which 121.3 acres are parcels/lots, and the remaining 58.7 acres are public right-of-way. There are 448 parcels/lots in the downtown Littleton area. The following tables describe the existing zoning and the proposed DT zoning.
The proposed rezoning is an early step toward the ULUC, which will align the historic, development, and subdivision codes with the adopted Envision Littleton Comprehensive Plan. This early step is designed to bring the principles of the ULUC to the downtown area, which has been subject to significant growth and character changes in the recent past.
Adoption of Title 10 amendments and the subsequent proposed rezoning necessitating a map amendment are being done in accordance to 10-12-1: Declaration of Public Policy for Rezoning. According to this section, the official zoning map should only be amended if it is consistent with the goals and policies of the Envision Littleton Comprehensive Plan, as well as promotes the general welfare of the community. In staff’s opinion, the proposed zoning map for downtown is consistent with the goals and policies of the Envision Littleton Comprehensive Plan and promotes the general welfare of the community.
Since first reading of this ordinance, staff identified a small error in the map that inadvertently showed a sliver of property in the DMU 3 story limit area adjacent to Hwy 85/Santa Fe that was not supposed to be. This correction has been made and is reflected in Exhibit B. Also since first reading, staff has updated the public comment memo to reflect the number of calls as well as emails that have been received in response to the notification of the DT Rezone.
Council Goal, Objective, and/or Guiding Principles
Goal 1: Envision Littleton.
The top priority identified in the Envision Littleton Comprehensive Plan is to transition to a ULUC and implement additional code enhancements, respectively. The proposed rezoning of the downtown area applies the adopted DT zone district to the 180-acre downtown area and these changes will carry forward into the ULUC effort.
Fiscal Impacts
Not applicable. The DT zone district allows similar uses in similar densities to the existing zoning.
Alternatives
Council may deny the proposed ordinance. This alternative will retain the existing zoning of the downtown area.
STAFF RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends approval of Ordinance 43-2020.
PROPOSED MOTION:
Proposed Motion
I move to approve Ordinance 43-2020 on second reading rezoning approximately 180 acres in the Downtown Neighborhood from various zoning districts to the Downtown (DT) District and amending the official Zoning Map accordingly.
REFERENCES:
10-12-1: Declaration of Public Policy for Rezoning
https://codelibrary.amlegal.com/codes/littletonco/latest/littleton_co/0-0-0-9853#JD_10-12-1 <https://codelibrary.amlegal.com/codes/littletonco/latest/littleton_co/0-0-0-9853>
Envision Littleton Comprehensive Plan
<https://www.littletongov.org/home/showdocument?id=21312>
4 Character Areas, Rezone FAQ, Rezone Map, Rezone Calendar, Rezone - New Title 10
<http://online.encodeplus.com/regs/littleton-co/index.aspx>