Colorado Springs: City hosts digital open house on proposed changes to neighborhood zoning and design standards

Trending...
Subdivision and zoning update, RetoolCOS, to share the revised drafts March 24

The public is invited to learn about RetoolCOS, the City's process for updating Chapter 7, the current Zoning and Subdivision Ordinance, and the Modules 1 & 2 draft focusing on Zoning Districts, Permitting Uses, and Development and Design Standards, at a digital public meeting Wednesday, March 24. The City's Zoning and Subdivision Ordinance, which guides how property owners can use their land, is being updated to provide the tools to carry out the vision and goals of development within in the City, based on PlanCOS, the City's adopted Comprehensive PlanA comprehensive plan is a guiding document that provides a framework for city policies and priorities regarding the physical development of the city. It is a long-range vision of what we want our city to become and is a tool for making decisions about how that vision should be achieved. It outlines strategic steps to make the vision a reality and provides targeted and strategic planning of the physical development of the city..

What:          RetoolCOS, an update to the City's Zoning and Subdivision Ordinance

Module 1: Zoning Districts & Permitted Uses

Module 2: Development and Design Standards

More on Colorado Desk
When:          Wednesday, March 24, 5:30 – 6:30p

Where:        Digital Public Meeting on WebEx

On November 17, 2020, a digital public open house was held to discuss the Module 2 draft of RetoolCOS.  The draft did not reflect staff's intent regarding existing residential development.  The intent of this meeting is to reintroduce the RetoolCOS project and will provide the public an opportunity to discuss the revised Modules 1 & 2.  The Modules have been updated to reflect the project goals, and encompass the proposed changes to zoning districts and their permitted uses (Module 1) and development and design standards (Module 2).

Zoning districts and their uses include what use types are appropriate for properties, such as residential, commercial, or industrial.  Development and design standards include landscape and parking requirements, architectural standards, dimensional standards such as building setbacks and lot size, and subdivision regulations including block length.  This draft includes the first and second of three draft "Modules" of the proposed Unified Development Code (UDC), which is intended to replace Chapter 7 of City Code – the City's current Zoning and Subdivision Ordinance.

More on Colorado Desk
The public will learn from City Staff and the RetoolCOS consultant team about changes to the current zoning and subdivision regulations.  Throughout the draft of Module 2, the proposed changes have been intended to improve the quality of development, provide a more efficient land development process, and meet the goals and objectives of PlanCOS.

City staff and the project team will share the overall goals of the project, basic land use and zoning issues and processes, types of changes that may be made to the Zoning and Subdivision Code, and provide input on the City's current regulations as they pertain to the implementation of PlanCOS.

RetoolCOS and PlanCOS background

PlanCOS, the City's guide for the future physical development of Colorado Springs over the next 20 years, was adopted by City Council in January 2019. Focused around six themes: vibrant neighborhoods, unique places, thriving economy, strong connections, renowned culture and majestic landscapes; PlanCOS establishes the City's land-use vision and directs how the City will accommodate future growth and change while building upon the strengths of existing communities.

The City's subdivision and zoning code must be updated to carry out the technical provisions for implementing the vision of PlanCOS. RetoolCOS will update the Zoning and Subdivision Ordinance, Chapter 7 of City Code, which has not been comprehensively updated since the late 1990s, with the goal of establishing a new, modern and more user-friendly Unified Development Code (UDC).

For more information about RetoolCOS visit:  ColoradoSprings.gov/RetoolCOS

Filed Under: Government, City

Show All News | Report Violation

0 Comments

Latest on Colorado Desk