And the Code Word is - part one: background
What's happening and why you should know
Well, dear readers, I am taking a short turn away from my focus on House Bill 24-1313 because the time has come to pay attention to this topic with such an enticing name “The Lafayette Land Use Code Update”. Hey, was that you screaming “Get away Karen, I don’t want to know about this incredibly boring topic”. I feel ya. I don’t really want to write about it. But here’s the thing, what happens with this update will affect your life, your neighborhood, and the entire city. It’s kind of a big deal.
So come take the journey with me, learn what’s being proposed, and be prepared to add your input when asked because again, this will have an impact on your city going forward. Snag a cup of coffee, a glass of wine, a bottle of home brew, or a puff or two of some fine ganga, or anything that will steel you to follow along.
MY SHAMELESS COPY AND PASTING
City staff will be providing information online in meeting agenda packets and on the Lafayette Listens page. I expect I will often use their words to help guide this along. They are the experts I am merely along for the ride so let’s see what they have to tell us.
You’ve probably seen me mention Philip Kleisler from our planning department, he’s our long-range planning manager. He’s running the show for this update. He’s also the planner currently going property by property to find exemptions from House Bill 24-1313 regarding transit-oriented communities. You might recall my February 4th report An update on: "72,000 more housing units in Lafayette?" That bill dropped on the city while this update was happening and it’s very much related.
WHAT IS THIS BORING LAND USE CODE ANYWAY? (snore)
Over on the Lafayette Listens page, we learn what it is.
“A land use code is a set of regulations that govern how land can be used in a city. They are also known as a zoning code. These codes are based on a community vision for the future and are intended to encourage orderly development (typically on private property) and aid in the creation of livable, vibrant communities. A code typically includes regulations like the use, height, and location of buildings, and the location of roads, parks, and other facilities.”
WHY ARE WE DOING THIS?
THE VISION THING: THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN
You might have noticed I often mention our comprehensive plan. I served on the Community Advisory Committee (CAC) for a complete rewrite of the plan finished in 2021. And because I am a glutton for punishment I also served on a similar committee for the previous update finished in 2013. This document was written with input from the community and is the closest we get to the residents' vision for our city for about 20 years. The latest version is worth a look, plus it has some great photographs of Lafayette taken by people who live here.
However “vision” is the key, it doesn’t have any teeth. While it is used as a guide some areas need more ummph. Enter the land use code.
OLD AND TIRED (me and the code!)
Our land use code was last updated in the 1980s and was in dire need of help. But, the code couldn’t be updated until there was a vision to bring to life. Once the vision document was finalized the staff could set to work on the nuts and bolts required to make it work. That’s where we are now. Consultants were hired to update the code including a public-friendly reformat. Those consultants were replaced, a delay happened, new consultants, Clarion Associates, are on board and we’re back on track.
LAND USE CODE WORKING GROUP - WHO ARE THESE PEOPLE?
Staff created a Land Use Code Working Group (snazzy name huh?) to provide input as the update is happening. As you might imagine the planning commissioners use the code. A lot. It guides everything they do when a development comes before them. They are part of this group. Also included are representatives from other city boards, the Historic Preservation Commission, Senior Advisory Board, Lafayette Open Space Board, Human Rights Board, Sustainability and Resilience Advisory Committee, and the Lafayette Urban Renewal Authority. There are community-at-large spots for a resident in Old Town, a resident not in Old Town, a business owner, a developer, and a design or engineering professional. I have a chart of the members representing each group but some have moved on. City staff called for applicants, (10 people applied) and conducted interviews this week. I have asked for an updated chart and will share it with you, probably next week.
NEXT WORKING GROUP MEETING
February 12, 2025, 6 p.m.
City Hall Council Chambers 1290 S. Public Road
You can attend in person, there will be a place on the agenda for public input.
You can send written comments to the Planning Commission Secretary. If your remarks are received by 3:00 p.m. the day of the meeting they will be given to the working group before the meeting and submitted into the record.
You can’t view the meeting live but a video recording will be posted to the Lafayette Listens page. You can contact Phil Kleisler @philip.kleisler@lafayetteco.gov with questions.
WHAT ARE THEY GOING TO DISCUSS?
Introduction of Module 1 Land Use Code
Take a sip out of that bottle, glass, or cup, this sounds boring.
A draft of work done to date will be presented for the working group’s input followed by the city council’s on February 18th and also you, the community.
The draft is available online for your viewing pleasure (another sip here). But what’s interesting is it’s hosted on Konveio a web platform that allows you to see what changes are being proposed, has a search function and a method for you to add comments.
That page tells us “the first Module of the Lafayette Land Use Code focuses on updates to the City’s zoning districts and use regulations. This draft contains a combination of new content and content from existing Chapter 26: Development and Zoning that was revised and formatted for the new Land Use Code (LUC). Throughout the draft there are footnotes that describe the source section, significant changes, or commentary for many of the provisions that originated from the current Land Use Code.”
I’LL BE BACK SOON
Because this is a heavy topic I don’t want to overload you with info and I do have life-related things to do. I thought I’d get this out to you today so you can get a feel of where we are, and why, and then follow it up with what’s going to be discussed at the meeting on Wednesday. Also I haven’t read the rest of the document yet! It was posted to the city website a couple of days ago and I wanted to let you know as soon as I could. Make sure you have large cups, glasses or bottles (or chocolate!) for the next installment, we will check it out together. I’ll be back asap!
Want to offer more support? Awesome!
Karen, I wrote a long and (sorta) snarky comment after you posted about the stateʻs proposal to increase housing density along transit corridors. I didnʻt post it because I though, upon letting it age, that it would add heat buy no light.
There is a principle in government call The Subsidiarity Principle. In simple language, it means the guy with the problem is in the best position to solve it (Donʻt pass federal laws governing permissible house colors). There is no evidence that the legislators for state of Colorado or the Federal Government have ever encountered such a wild and crazy idea.
I think that the state, by requiring such high density near transit corridors, is trying to solve climate change and maybe the affordable housing issue. Those maybe noble goals (even if I believe that the Colorado trying to offset the pollution created in China, India and sub-Saharan Africa is like spitting on a forest fire), but there are, or should be, other priorities:
- What do the people in Lafayette, Louisville, Erie, etc want? Are we interested in being a city of 100,000? Do we want our various viewscapes blocked by apartment towers? Do we want commutes like those in LA or Houston?
- What about water? Colorado has every drop of water weʻre going to have absent divine intervention. Our water rates are already burdensome.
- Lafayette has passed ordnances committing, in the not distant future, to:
1. Zero waste -- I thought of this today when I opened the plastic packaging around my dental floss (or the ultra-dusters I bought from Amazon) and the clothing I bought online. Actual zero waste is a foolʻs errand.
2. Having 100% renewable energy. I havenʻt even found out what that means. Does it mean the city will be using only renewables? Will the city require all commercial businesses to be 100% renewable? Howʻs that going to work with four and five story residential buildings being built?
You correctly pointed out that the city canʻt properly update our zoning code without consulting our Comprehensive Plan, but it seems that Colorado is viewing every initiative though the soda straw of that initiative stand-alone -- kinda like Denver residents were happy to introduce wolves on the Western Slope, but now that those wolves are "oozing" over the mountains to realms in which tasty chihuahuas frolick, it ainʻt so grand.
Like you, I encourage Lafayette-ites to engage, because it is your view of the mountains thatʻs going to find a building in the way, and itʻs your commute that will done with 25,000 of your closet friends, and your life that will revolve around the public transit schedule.
Thanks for all the work that you do in keeping the rest of us informed.
For anyone who wishes to point out that Iʻm a Neanderthal, I already know that.
Karen, seems to this engineer's mind that specs and zoning docuemtns are critically important to geet right. For exmpale, if you think that 72,000additional domicles is absurd, that opinoin become more of an arguable principle if you have a forward llloing zoning plan that accomodates the economics of a sustainable city accounting for revenue and the like. If you agree then I will put something forward to the Planning Secretary.