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HomeMy WebLinkAbout06/13/2025 - Planning and Zoning Commission - AGENDA - Work SessionPLANNING & ZONING COMMISSION WORK SESSION 281 N. College Ave, 1st Floor Conference Rooms Zoom – See Link Below •CALL TO ORDER •ROLL CALL 1.Draft Minutes for P&Z April 17, 2025 Hearing 2.Pickleball Ventures – FDP250001 (Redd) 3.Accessory Building – 5335 S County Road 7 – NA (Schumann) 12:00 – 12:45 Discussion: 5.Pedersen Toyota Filing One – MJA250001 (Schuman) 6.Touchmark Fort Collins – PDP250001 (Kleer) 12:45 – 1:45 Policy and Legislation: •Land Use Code Updates (Keith, Tatman-Burruss, Beals) •Tree Mitigation Policy (Milewski, Boot) 1:45 – 2:45 Participation for this Planning & Zoning Commission Work Session will be in person at 281 N. College Ave, 1st Floor Conference Rooms. You may also join online via Zoom, using this link: https://fcgov.zoom.us/j/94653158022 Online Public Participation: The meeting will be available to join beginning at 11:45 am, June 13, 2025. Participants should try to sign in prior to the 12:00 pm meeting start time, if possible. No public comments are allowed at the Work Session. If you’d like to make a public comment, you may participate at the Regular Hearing, June 13, 2025. To participate: •Use a laptop, computer, or internet-enabled smartphone. (Using earphones with a microphone will greatly improve your audio). •You need to have access to the internet. •Keep yourself on muted status. Masks Strongly Recommended in Indoor Public Spaces While there are currently no public health orders in place, Larimer County Public Health officials strongly recommend that well-fitting, high-quality masks are worn in crowded indoor spaces. For more information, please visit fcgov.com/covid Packet Pg. 1 PLANNING & ZONING COMMISSION WORK SESSION Commission Topics: • Upcoming Hearing Calendar (Frickey) • Commission Updates (Frickey) • Public Engagement Updates (Myler) 2:45 – 3:10 • ADJOURNMENT Packet Pg. 2 Headline Copy Goes Here • June 13, 2025 Planning & Zoning Commission Work Session Update Land Use Code Updates: Commercial Corridors & Centers Headline Copy Goes HereFocus Groups Round #2 • The City hosted a second round of focus groups, inviting the same participants from round one in January/February 2025 • Focus Groups included topics: • Change of Use Process – June 4th • Transit-Oriented Development Overlay – June 4th • Harmony Corridor and Employment Zones – June 4th • Building Types and Design Standards – June 5th • Overview Session – June 10th • Participants included local business owners, consultants (planners, designers, architects, engineers, etc.) real estate professionals, and others. 1 2 LAND USE CODE UPDATE Packet Pg. 3 Headline Copy Goes HereFocus Group Structure 3 Initial Focus Group Feedback:How does this translate to draft code? Recommended Land Use Code Changes: Summary statements of focus group conversation. Additional specificity for how these changes could be translated into draft code. This column shows the language presented to City Council and Planning and Zoning Commissioners previously. The following slides capture feedback from the focus groups by topic area. They are structured as follows: Headline Copy Goes HereRecommended Land Use Code Changes 4 Draft Guiding Principle: Enable more housing and mixed-use buildings, especially along roads with frequent bus service. Initial Focus Group Feedback:How does this translate to draft code? Recommended Land Use Code Changes: • Support for incentivizing more standalone residential. • Get residential development into the corridor and commercial will follow • Support for limiting auto centric uses in the TOD overlay was tepid overall. • Some interest to support minimum distances between gas stations in the TOD or limiting where on the street they can locate • Support for removing some uses like boat sales and enclosed mini-storage • Support for eliminating parking minimums for non-residential uses • Support for maximums on surface parking. Minimize or hide the impacts of surface parking through form and design (e.g.: parking structures, underground parking, landscaping, parking lots bound by public/private streets) Update Land Use Code to allow 5-story standalone residential within the TOD Recalibrate incentives: Easier to achieve height bonuses for standalone residential • Introduce proximity standards for spacing certain uses in the TOD like gas stations (for example, ¼ mile, ½ mile, etc.) • Introduce additional form-based design standards • Remove some uses from permitted use list in TOD Adjust permitted uses: Limit additional low- intensity or excessively auto-centric uses • Retain maximums, but lower for some uses • Lower parking minimums for some uses Recalibrate non-residential parking: consider lowering surface parking minimums and/or maximums for commercial uses No associated Land Use Code changes Leverage other City incentives outside of the LUC to encourage desired TOD development 3 4 LAND USE CODE UPDATE Packet Pg. 4 Headline Copy Goes HereRecommended Land Use Code Changes 5 Draft Guiding Principle: Create resilient commercial and employment centers that are adaptable to future needs. Initial Focus Group FeedbackHow does this translate to draft code? Recommended Land Use Code Changes: • Support for adjusting primary/secondary use ratio. • Participants had differing opinions on how far to adjust • Support for additional secondary uses (particularly housing) • Participants suggested that clarification in the LUC for how to calculate primary/secondary use ratios would be hugely beneficial • Adjust the primary/secondary use ratio to 50:50 in both Harmony Corridor (HC) and Employment (E) zone districts Adjust the primary/secondary use ratio to allow for a greater mix of uses, including housing. • Introduce additional flexibility for mixed use buildings in HC and E zones Adjust primary use requirements in mixed-use buildings. • Introduce additional flexibility for mixed use buildings in HC and E zones Allow more secondary uses as part of a multi- story, mixed-use development. • Pair adjustment to primary/secondary ratios with other applicable incentives Allow standalone secondary uses to be developed if replacing an existing surface parking lot. Headline Copy Goes HereRecommended Land Use Code Changes 6 Draft Guiding Principle: Draft Guiding Principle: Create clearer building and site design standards that promote transit use, walking, and rolling along roads with frequent bus service Initial Focus Group FeedbackHow does this translate to draft code? Recommended Land Use Code Changes: • Supportive of adding clarity and consolidating standards between Articles 3 and 5 • Discussion around how to retain flexibility for creative architecture while also not being overly prescriptive • Contextual standards are critical (mixed- use buildings downtown are different than mixed-use buildings in midtown) • Consolidate and organize standards addressing non-residential buildings • Create Division 3.2 Non-Residential Building Types • Refine mixed-use building type Develop new Non-Residential Building Types to be added to the LUC • Update and clarify standards in Division 5.15, Building Standards to promote pedestrian- oriented design that is calibrated to existing context and lot conditions. Consolidate and organize standards addressing non-residential buildings. Convert text standards to illustrations and graphics • Update Block Requirements and Connectivity Standards to better promote pedestrian-oriented development. • Orientation to a Connecting Walkway - clarify standards and acceptable modifications based on typical lot configurations • Block Requirements - require smaller blocks in pedestrian-oriented areas, and/or consider regulating the number of intersections for greater flexibility Update pedestrian-oriented design standards: • Connectivity and site circulation • Frontage and ground floor activity • Building massing and articulation 5 6 LAND USE CODE UPDATE Packet Pg. 5 Headline Copy Goes HereRecommended Land Use Code Changes 7 Draft Guiding Principle: Create resilient commercial and employment centers that are adaptable to future needs. Initial Focus Group FeedbackHow does this translate to draft code? Recommended Land Use Code Changes: • Support and excitement for Route 1 (reduce amount of change of use applications required), noting that it will greatly help small businesses • Emphasized the need to add clear definitions for what constitutes minor/major amendment • Flexibility and proportionality were highlighted 1. Reduce the amount of change of use applications required: • If no site changes are occurring or intensity of the site is not greatly increasing, site upgrades not required. Projects advance to building permit. 2. Graduated Approach concept: • If building expansion or site changes are proposed: • Minor Amendment: Upgrades are limited to a percentage of the cost of the project or limited to a list of high-priority upgrades. • Major Amendment: Site is brought into compliance with current standards 1 & 2 would be applied together Design an approach that makes requirements clear from the beginning and is commensurate with the impact of the proposed changes: • Decrease the threshold for change of use requirements when a site is not undergoing intensification. Delay site upgrades until larger redevelopment occurs. • Allow lower priority site upgrades to occur on a more graduated basis. Headline Copy Goes Here Questions? 8 7 8 LAND USE CODE UPDATE Packet Pg. 6 PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT UPDATE Community Development & Neighborhood Services Planning & Development Services 281 North College Avenue P.O. Box 580 Fort Collins, CO 80522.0580 970.221.6376 970.224.6111- fax Date To From Re MEMORANDUM June 13, 2025 Chair Sass and Members of the Planning & Zoning Commission Em Myler, Neighborhood Development Liaison June 2025 Public Engagement Update The purpose of this memo is to provide the Commission a monthly review of staff efforts to engage the public in Development Review as well as preview upcoming work of interest. May Public Engagement •Neighborhood Meetings – 2 o Rezoning at SWC Mulberry and Taft Hill o Prospect Ridge Lot 4 Staff Update Checking in – Public comment rules for hearings Our current rules: Written comment •Accepted at any time in the Development Review process •Initial packets include all comments up to the date of publishing •Comments after that are added to an updated packet published 24 hours before the hearing •Comments that come in within 24 hours of the hearing are read aloud at the hearing for the record (we don’t advertise this option) •No limit on length or number of comments one person can write to us In-person spoken comment •No prior sign-ups required •Time limit – 3 minutes per person o Chair can shorten comment time if there are a lot of people •Commenters go in the order they line up at the podiums with •State name and address for the record Online spoken comment •Commenters go in the order they raise their hand Time donations • Packet Pg. 7 City Forester, Forestry Division Kendra Boot Update on Land Use Code Tree Preservation and Mitigation Policies June 13, 2025 Headline Copy Goes Here 2 Background – Prior Studies 1 2 TREE MITIGATION POLICY Packet Pg. 8 Headline Copy Goes HereTree Canopy Condition 3 Canopy Condition Fort Collins has a healthy tree canopy Tree canopy has increased overall in last 10 years Potential Threats Commercial and high-density mixed-use areas have lost canopy coverage Reduced tree canopy anticipated with increased intensity of development patterns (infill, ADUs) Current code does not incentivize protecting existing trees with development How can we maintain canopy coverage and incentivize protecting existing trees? Headline Copy Goes Here 4 Tree Mitigation Goals Key Goals: Support protection of existing trees on both public and private property to maintain current canopy coverage Prioritize protection of larger trees Incentivize tree preservation with development Support tree-health infrastructure improvements (silva-cells, structural soils, rain gardens, wider parkways) Balance mitigation requirements (new tree plantings) with other City goals: Support new mixed use and affordable housing Support small business owners 15-minute city – commercial and transportation corridors and centers, active modes usability and comfort 3 4 TREE MITIGATION POLICY Packet Pg. 9 Headline Copy Goes Here 5 Current Tree Mitigation Requirements Land Use Code Section 5.10.1(F) Tree Preservation and Mitigation •Inventory - existing trees over 6” caliper, to be preserved where feasible •Mitigation - where not feasible to protect or transplant on-site, trees must be replaced: 1-6 replacement trees for each tree removed •Off-site Mitigation or Payment in Lieu – when not feasible to plant required mitigation trees on site Results:working well for new and greenfield sites, but existing trees are not being protected in infill areas with mature trees Headline Copy Goes HerePotential Land Use Code Changes to Support Goals 6 Incentivize Protection of Existing Trees • Increase tree mitigation requirements • Reduce mitigation when existing trees are protected • Reduce mitigation when tree health infrastructure improvements are incorporated into development plans 5 6 TREE MITIGATION POLICY Packet Pg. 10 Headline Copy Goes HerePriorities for LUC change considerations 7 Priorities for Tree Mitigation (when existing trees cannot be protected with redevelopment): 1. Mitigate with new trees on-site 2. Provide tree health infrastructure improvements to support tree/landscape longevity 3. Pay fees to support off-site mitigation Headline Copy Goes Here 8 Land Use Code Changes Under Consideration Land Use Code Section 5.10.1(F) Tree Preservation and Mitigation •Inventory - existing trees over 3” caliper, to be preserved where feasible •Mitigation - where not feasible to protect or transplant on-site, trees must be replaced with new trees: •Mitigation determined by size class: (1-4 trees for 3-16”, 5-14 trees for 17-29”, 15 trees for >30”) •Mitigation requirements are reduced by 50% for all trees that are saved/protected with development •Payment in Lieu – when not feasible to plant required mitigation trees on site •Payment in Lieu for off-site tree plantings can be reduced by up to 25% if tree-related infrastructure improvements of equal value are added and/or mitigation trees are planted on site Supports tree canopy protection and priorities as well as promotes tree health infrastructure improvements 7 8 TREE MITIGATION POLICY Packet Pg. 11 Headline Copy Goes HereRelated Policies 9 Other Considerations Expanding the exemptions for tree mitigation to include Russian Olive, Ash, and Siberian Elm species under 11” Provide early input in development process to offer education in site design to support tree protection Maintain street rights-of-way size and standards to allow for healthy street trees Enhanced measures for tree protection during construction Establish Commercial Tree Permit program – to help address removal of large trees outside the development review process Education on canopy value for residential tree preservation 3-year establishment period for Street Trees Headline Copy Goes HereLand Use Code Tree Preservation and Mitigation Policies 10 Next Steps • Stakeholder outreach (June) • Planning and Zoning Commission (July 17) • City Council Work Session (August 26) • City Council Regular Meeting (Sept 16) 9 10 TREE MITIGATION POLICY Packet Pg. 12 LIBERTY COMMON - RESPONSE LETTER TO PZC Packet Pg. 13 LIBERTY COMMON - RESPONSE LETTER TO PZC Packet Pg. 14 PRELIMINARY TRANSIT-ORIENTED COMMUNITY ASSESSMENT REPORT JUNE 2025 PRELIMINARY HOUSING OPPORTUNITY GOAL MEMO TO PZC, ATTACHMENT 1 Packet Pg. 15 Page 1 of 10 BACKGROUND & PURPOSE In 2024, the Colorado Legislature passed House Bill 24-1313, Housing in Transit Oriented Communities (‘TOC Bill’) which requires subject jurisdictions to create a transit-supportive zoning framework near existing or planned high frequency transit. The legislation includes a reporting and implementation structure spanning several years to ensure communities can conduct stakeholder engagement and prepare any necessary code and zoning changes to comply with the legislation. The primary components and reporting timelines of the TOC Bill include: • By June 30, 2025, subject jurisdictions must submit a preliminary Housing Opportunity Goal to the Department of Local Affairs (DOLA). The Housing Opportunity Goal represents a target for zoned capacity of 40 dwelling units per acre within all Transit Areas of the community. o Transit Areas are designated by DOLA and correspond to areas within close proximity to existing or planned rail stations and/or high frequency bus service. • By December 31, 2026, communities must submit a final Housing Opportunity Goal report which identifies Transit Centers and supporting data that zoning capacity within Transit Centers meets or exceeds the communities’ Housing Opportunity Goal. o Transit Centers are locally designated areas where zoning capacity permits a minimum of 15 dwelling units per acre. In aggregate, the zoning capacity of all Transit Centers must meet or exceed the community’s Housing Opportunity Goal. Jurisdictions have flexibility regarding where Transit Centers are located but they generally must be designated within or in close proximity to DOLA designated Transit Areas or Optional Transit Areas. o Transit Centers must permit residential development through an administrative approval process without a requirement to conduct a public hearing. o Communities must also review and select several displacement and gentrification measures for implementation. DOLA has provided sample strategies for implementation or communities may design their own. • By December 31, 2027, communities must have implemented any necessary zoning and/or code changes to meet the community’s Housing Opportunity Goal for zoned capacity within Transit Centers and apply an administrative approval process to residential development in Transit Centers. This report is intended to summarize the key requirements of the TOC Bill, illustrate the analysis and methodology for developing Fort Collins’ Housing Opportunity Goal, and discuss future actions necessary to comply with the legislation’s final enforcement period in late 2027. Fort Collins’ preliminary Housing Opportunity Goal report to DOLA will be comprised of GIS and parcel level data – this report is intended as a companion document for a wider audience. PRELIMINARY HOUSING OPPORTUNITY GOAL MEMO TO PZC, ATTACHMENT 1 Packet Pg. 16 Page 2 of 10 TRANSIT AREAS Fort Collins’ Housing Opportunity Goal is based on Transit Areas within the community as designated by the Colorado Department of Local Affairs (DOLA). Eligible Transit Areas are portions of a community within ½ mile of a Transit Station, such as light-rail station, or within a ¼ mile buffer along high-frequency bus routes. Both existing and near-term planned services identified in a Transit Master Plan are included in the identification of Transit Areas. Within Fort Collins, Transit Areas are comprised of bus routes where existing or planned service frequency is 15 minutes or greater. This includes the area along the MAX Bus Rapid Transit Corridor, as well as North College Avenue, West Elizabeth Street, Centre Avenue, and large portions of Drake and Harmony Roads. Fort Collins’ Transit Areas are illustrated in Figure 1 below and represent a total area of 6,159 acres. PRELIMINARY HOUSING OPPORTUNITY GOAL MEMO TO PZC, ATTACHMENT 1 Packet Pg. 17 Page 3 of 10 Figure 1 - Fort Collins Transit Areas PRELIMINARY HOUSING OPPORTUNITY GOAL MEMO TO PZC, ATTACHMENT 1 Packet Pg. 18 Page 4 of 10 TRANSIT AREA EXEMPTIONS The final size of Transit Areas used for the Housing Opportunity Goal calculation occurs after exempting parcels or parts of parcels that are unsuitable for higher intensity development. The most common eligible exemption criteria include: • Parks, Natural Areas, Designated Open Space • Public Schools • Ownership by Local, State, or Federal Governments • Existing Industrial Land Uses or Industrial Zoning • Cemeteries • Mobile Home Parks • Natural Hazards (Floodplains) • Conservation Easements • Gas/Transmission Power Line Easements • Areas Lacking Utility Infrastructure and/or Adequate Water/Sewer Capacity In total, eligible exemptions within Fort Collins’s Transit Areas amount to approximately 2,779.6 acres, reducing the size of Transit Areas in the community to 3,379.4 acres. The largest categories for exempt parcels include areas designated for open space, property ownership by local, state, or federal governments, and public school sites. Figure 2 below highlights the location of exempt areas within Fort Collins’ Transit Areas. Hatched areas represent parcels with partial exemptions, such as floodplains or easements for high voltage power lines. PRELIMINARY HOUSING OPPORTUNITY GOAL MEMO TO PZC, ATTACHMENT 1 Packet Pg. 19 Page 5 of 10 Figure 2 - Exempt Parcels within Fort Collins Transit Areas PRELIMINARY HOUSING OPPORTUNITY GOAL MEMO TO PZC, ATTACHMENT 1 Packet Pg. 20 Page 6 of 10 FORT COLLINS HOUSING OPPORTUNITY GOAL The Housing Opportunity Goal for Fort Collins is 135,176 dwellings. This number is based on the eligible Transit Area size of 3,379.4 acres, multiplied by 40 dwelling units per acre as set in the TOC Bill. The Housing Opportunity Goal represents a target for allowable zoning capacity and not future or ‘realized’ construction. Based on research by the state legislature pertaining to the TOC Bill, most communities only build an equivalent of 10- 20% of their allowable zoning capacity. The Housing Opportunity Goal is the primary component of the first reporting requirement for the TOC Bill due to DOLA by June 30, 2025. TRANSIT CENTER ZONING The preliminary Housing Opportunity Goal report to DOLA must also include the current zoning map for the community, and optionally, information about which zone districts may qualify as Transit Centers. Transit Centers must permit residential development at a density of 15 units per acre or greater, be located within or nearby Transit Areas or Optional Transit Areas and allow residential development through an administrative approval process. Most residential development in all Fort Collins zone districts currently require approval after a public hearing. Under these existing standards, no zone district would likely qualify as a Transit Center without subsequent process review changes. Based solely on density standards, the following zone districts may qualify for designation as Transit Centers:  Old Town, Medium  Old Town, High  Medium Density Mixed-Use Neighborhood  High Density Mixed-Use Neighborhood  Neighborhood Commercial  Community Commercial  Community Commercial, North College  Community Commercial, Poudre River  General Commercial  Service Commercial  Limited Commercial  Downtown (excluding the River Corridor subdistrict)  Harmony Corridor  Employment Figure 3 below is the current Fort Collins zoning map as of May 2025 and Table 1 highlights all zone districts in Fort Collins, their eligibility as part of a future Transit Center designation, and notes on density limitations and standards. PRELIMINARY HOUSING OPPORTUNITY GOAL MEMO TO PZC, ATTACHMENT 1 Packet Pg. 21 Page 7 of 10 Figure 3 – Fort Collins Zoning Map (May 2025) PRELIMINARY HOUSING OPPORTUNITY GOAL MEMO TO PZC, ATTACHMENT 1 Packet Pg. 22 Page 8 of 10 Table 1 – Fort Collins Zone Districts: Transit Center Eligibility ZONING DISTRICT [SUBDISTRICT] TRANSIT CENTER ELIGIBLE? PERMITS RESIDENTIAL? PERMITS 15 UNITS/ACRE NOTES ON DENSITY REQUIREMENTS Rural Lands No Yes No Min. lot size of 10 acres Urban Estate No Yes No Min lot size of .5 acres Residential Foothills No Yes No Min. lot size of 2.29 acres Low Density Residential No Yes No Min. lot size of 6,000 sf Manufactured Housing No Yes No Exempt Transit Area parcel (Existing mobile home park) Old Town [Low]No Yes No Min. lot size of 6,000 sf Old Town [Medium]Yes Yes Yes 4-plexes permitted on min. 6,000 sf lot Old Town [High]Yes Yes Yes Apartments permitted on min. 4,500 sf lot Low Density Mixed-Use Neighborhood No Yes No Only affordable housing projects may exceed 12 units per acre Medium Density Mixed-Use Neighborhood Yes Yes Yes Max. density governed by 3-story height limit High Density Mixed-Use Neighborhood Yes Yes Yes Min. density of 21 units per acre; max. density goverened by 5-story height limit Neighborhood Commercial Yes Yes Yes Max. density governed by 4-story height limit Community Commercial Yes Yes Yes Max. density governed by 4-story height limit Community Commercial North College Yes Yes Yes Max. density governed by 4-story height limit Community Commercial Poudre River Yes Yes Yes Max. density governed by 3-story height limit General Commercial Yes Yes Yes Max. density governed by 4-story height limit Service Commercial Yes Yes Yes Max. density governed by 3-story height limit Limited Commercial Yes Yes Yes Max. density governed by 3-story height limit Dowtown [Historic Core]Yes Yes Yes Max. density goverend by height (varies, but at least 3 stories permitted) Dowtown [Civic]Yes Yes Yes Max. density goverend by height (varies, but at least 3 stories permitted) Downtown [Canyon Avenue]Yes Yes Yes Max. density goverend by height (varies, but at least 3 stories permitted) Downtown [Campus North]Yes Yes Yes Max. density goverend by height (varies, but at least 3 stories permitted) Downtown [Entryway Corridor]Yes Yes Yes Max. density goverend by height (varies, but at least 3 stories permitted) Downtown [North Mason]Yes Yes Yes Max. density goverend by height (varies, but at least 3 stories permitted) Downtown [River]No No No Conservation area adjacent to Poudre River Dowtown [Innovation]Yes Yes Yes Max. density goverend by height (varies, but at least 3 stories permitted) Harmony Corridor Yes Yes Yes Max. density governed by height (3 stories multifamily; 6 stories mixed-use) Employment Yes Yes Yes Max. density governed by 4-story height limit Industrial No No No No residential permitted Transition No No No No residential permitted unless existing use Public Open Lands No No No Open Space / Conservation zoning River Conservation No No No Open Space / Conservation zoning near Poudre River PRELIMINARY HOUSING OPPORTUNITY GOAL MEMO TO PZC, ATTACHMENT 1 Packet Pg. 23 Page 9 of 10 TRANSIT ORIENTED COMMUNITY CERTIFICATION After submitting all required reports and enacting any necessary code and/or zoning changes to comply with the TOC Bill, the Department of Local Affairs will certify Fort Collins as a Transit Oriented Community, meeting all the requirements of HB24-1313. As a certified community, Fort Collins is eligible to grant funding through a newly established Infrastructure Grant Program. Additionally, the Colorado Housing and Finance Authority (CHFA) has implemented a new Transit Oriented Communities tax credit, eligible for use in affordable housing projects located in Transit Areas. NEXT STEPS Following the submission of the preliminary Housing Opportunity Goal to DOLA, Fort Collins will have the next year and submit the final Housing Opportunity Goal report by December 31, 2026. The final version of the report will incorporate any adjustments necessary based on DOLA’s review of the preliminary report. In addition, the City will need to include information in the final report that designates portions and zoning of the community as Transit Center. In aggregate, all Transit Centers must have zoning capacity that meets or exceeds Fort Collins’ Housing Opportunity Goal of 135,176 dwelling units. DOLA has provided communities tools and calculators to help determine zoning capacity based on common land use requirements such as standards for building height, parking requirements, setbacks, open space dedication, and more. City staff will be using these tools to determine the capacity of existing zoning and potential Transit Centers within the City’s Transit Areas. If the zoned capacity is insufficient to meet the Housing Opportunity Goal, additional outreach with the community and City Council will be necessary in order to consider potential Land Use Code and/or zoning map changes to meet the goal. In addition, staff has already identified that the review process for residential development in Transit Centers will need to be modified to require administrative level approval to comply with the TOC Bill. This change to the Land Use Code could be administered any time before and up to December 31, 2027, to comply with the TOC Bill. Finally, the state legislation also requires ongoing status reports on compliance with the TOC Bill. The first report is due several years after the final enforcement date by December 31, 2029. PRELIMINARY HOUSING OPPORTUNITY GOAL MEMO TO PZC, ATTACHMENT 1 Packet Pg. 24 Page 10 of 10 ADDITIONAL RESOURCES The Department of Local Affairs has provided a number of useful resources about the TOC Bill, interpretive guidance, and calculators and GIS datasets to help communities analyze existing zoning capacity. These tools can be found at the following links: TOC Bill 24-1313 Overview: https://dlg.colorado.gov/transit-oriented-communities TOC Bill 24-1313 Technical & Interpretive Guidance: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1p1ttR_7jBrW9MaCA1U9uvI- 0HKlETe4EvR5wcvcK3Uw/edit?usp=drive_link Housing Opportunity Goal Calculation Tool: https://drive.google.com/uc?export=download&id=1ZpCZKsz5YrZyVHffbknGm54JeoroQJpu Transit Center Calculation Model: https://drive.google.com/uc?export=download&id=1RIJXfKodJXKOJgM7l5GuMvUefmXNO-Wc Transit Areas Interactive Map (statewide): https://coenergy.maps.arcgis.com/apps/instant/basic/index.html?appid=6c747130f0664089934e 3bedb0e52e6f PRELIMINARY HOUSING OPPORTUNITY GOAL MEMO TO PZC, ATTACHMENT 1 Packet Pg. 25 Planning, Development & Transportation Community Development & Neighborhood Services 281 N. College Ave. Fort Collins, CO 80522 www.fcgov.com MEMORANDUM DATE: June 13, 2025 TO: Chairman Sass and Planning & Zoning Commissioners FROM: Ryan Mounce, City Planner RE: HB24-1313 Transit Oriented Communities Update The purpose of this memo is to provide an update on compliance efforts related to House Bill 24-1313, Housing in Transit Oriented Communities, passed by the State legislature in 2024. A summary report of HB24-1313 requirements and methodology for calculating Fort Collins’ Housing Opportunity Goal is attached and staff is able to share additional information at a future work session if desired by the Commission. Bottom Line Planning staff is preparing to submit the City’s preliminary Housing Opportunity Goal of 135,176 dwelling units to the Department of Local Affairs. The Housing Opportunity Goal is a target for residential zoning capacity near high frequency transit and the first reporting requirement for HB24-1313. Additional analysis and engagement on HB24- 1313 efforts will be ongoing through December 2026. Background In 2024, the Colorado Legislature passed House Bill 24-1313, Housing in Transit Oriented Communities (‘TOC Bill’) which requires subject jurisdictions to create a transit-supportive zoning framework near existing or planned high frequency transit. The key elements of the TOC Bill require jurisdictions to establish a Housing Opportunity Goal and to designate Transit Centers around high frequency transit which contain zoned capacity that meets or exceeds their Housing Opportunity Goal. Jurisdictions must also establish an administrative review process for residential development within Transit Centers. Fort Collins Transit Areas & Housing Center Calculation The Housing Opportunity Goal is calculated by multiplying a jurisdiction’s Transit Area by 40 dwelling units per acre. Transit Areas are set by the Department of Local Affairs based on proximity to current or planned rail or high frequency bus transit, and exclude areas unsuitable for higher intensity residential development, such as designated open space, industrial zoning, mobile home parks, schools, floodplains, government owned properties, and more. PRELIMINARY HOUSING OPPORTUNITY GOAL MEMO TO PZC Packet Pg. 26 Fort Collins’ Transit Area is a quarter mile buffer along the MAX Bus Rapid Transit route, as well as North College Avenue, West Elizabeth Street, and portions of Centre Avenue, Drake Road, and Harmony Road where higher frequency bus routes either currently operate or are proposed in the City’s Transit Master Plan. After excluding exempt parcels, Fort Collins’ Transit Area is 3,379.4 acres in size. Based on this acreage, Fort Collins’ Housing Opportunity Goal is 135,176 dwelling units. The Housing Opportunity Goal represents a target for allowable zoning capacity and not future or ‘realized’ construction. Based on research by the state legislature pertaining to the TOC Bill, most communities only build an equivalent of 10-20% of their allowable zoning capacity. Next Steps The preliminary Housing Opportunity Goal report is only the first step in meeting TOC Bill requirements. By December 2026, the City must submit a final report that also designates local Transit Centers. In aggregate, these Transit Centers must contain zoning capacity that meets or exceeds the Housing Opportunity Goal. In addition, Transit Centers must also permit residential development administratively and utilize anti-displacement and anti-gentrification strategies. While the final report is due December 2026, the City has until December 2027 to fully enact any required changes. Additional analysis is needed to understand if current zoning and Code standards are already sufficient to meet our Housing Opportunity Goal or if adjustments may be necessary. Staff anticipate undertaking the bulk of this analysis in late 2025 after the Commission and City Council review upcoming Commercial Corridor and Centers Land Use Code changes, which may impact zoning capacity along our high frequency transit routes. PRELIMINARY HOUSING OPPORTUNITY GOAL MEMO TO PZC Packet Pg. 27