Agenda Date: 02/24/2020
Subject:
Title
Downtown Phase I Changes to the Littleton Downtown Design Standards
Body
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Prepared By: |
Jennifer Q. Henninger, Community Development Director |
PURPOSE:
To discuss precursor changes to the Downtown Littleton Design Standards.
PRESENTATIONS:
Staff Presenter(s): Jennifer Q Henninger, Community Development Director;
Michael Sutherland, Deputy Director, Community Development
Additional Presenter(s): N/A
SUMMARY:
Prior to the 2018 launch of Envision Littleton, the need for a new Land Use Code was identified. The next step in planning for Littleton’s future is the two-year process to create a new Unified Land Use Code (ULUC) for the city. Since the adoption of the Comprehensive Plan in 2019, staff identified the policies and goals that specifically apply to downtown development. As a precursor to the kick- off of the ULUC process, staff identified potential Phase I conflicts/inconsistencies in the code and Littleton Downtown Design Standards that may be addressed with precursor modifications to the following categories:
• Public engagement requirements and practices
• Inconsistent allowed uses
• Lot-development regulations
• Parking regulations and recommendations
• Height
After the December 10, 2019 city council study session, staff drafted several proposed changes to address the conflicts as set forth above that include changes to the Littleton City Code, the Downtown Littleton Design Standards (design standards), as well as administrative operating standards. At their January 7 study session, council directed staff to continue with the proposed changes and initiate discussions with both planning commission and city council regarding the changes in a series of study sessions over the next three months. Planning Commission was slated to discuss the proposed changes to the downtown design standards on January 27th but the public hearing ran long, and we rescheduled the study session to February 3rd, which was snowed out. The purpose of the February 24th planning commission study session is to discuss the proposed changes to the design standards and discuss council comments on the changes in detail. Summaries of the proposed changes to the design standards are attached.
PRIOR ACTIONS OR DISCUSSIONS:
October 15, 2019: Adoption of Comprehensive Plan
December 10, 2019: Study Session - Downtown Development Mitigating Conflicts Between Regulations and New Policies•
January 7, 2020 Council Study Session-Discussion of Pre-cursor changes to Downtown Design Standards
January 13, 2020: Study Session - Preserving Character through Changes to Code, Design and City of Littleton Operational Standards
January 31, 2020: Council Retreat-Discussion of Phased approach to pre cursor Code and Design Standard changes
February 11, 2020: Joint Study Session- Downtown Code Changes
ANALYSIS:
Staff Analysis
This study session will focus on the recommended changes to the design standards which affect only properties within the downtown area. The proposed changes to the design standards included modifications to development regulations, and parking (two of the five areas of conflict identified in prior study sessions). There are no recommended changes related to the design standards for height, public engagement, or allowed uses. The development regulations which staff originally recommended to Council at their January 7th study session include:
• Clarifying façade requirements
• Adding several new architecture related definitions
• Clarifying utility appurtenances locations
• Guest parking for multi-family structures
• Parking allocation by number of bedrooms
• Massing for upper story side stepbacks (recommend to move to ULUC)
• Massing for upper story front setbacks (recommend to move to ULUC)
• Explicitly prohibiting “slot homes” (requested by council)
Since the Council study session in January, several concerns have been raised about the economic and character implications of massing and parking changes. Due to the need for further analysis, staff recommends not addressing massing and parking space calculations at this time. A more detailed analysis of the remaining proposed changes is attached along with a “blue-lined” version of the actual design standard showing the proposed language changes. This version also contains red highlighting indicating the original changes that staff now recommends addressing at a later date.
Council Goal, Objective, and/or Guiding Principle
One of council’s 2019 goals was to update the code in a process that will extend into 2021. This is directly related to the code update goal and relates to the Envision Littleton objective.
Fiscal Impacts
None at this time; discussion only. Depending on outcomes, staff will prepare a fiscal analysis for alternatives as necessary.
Alternatives
Do not recommend adoption of proposed changes to Design Standards.
• Risk: continues to allow downtown development that may not meet character expectations set by the Comprehensive Plan
STAFF RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends moving forward with the more narrowly focused proposed Phase I changes to the design standards.
Proposed Motion
N/A