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Broomfield council adopts first-reading parking and bicycle code changes; requires five-year review
Summary
Broomfield’s council on April 8 approved on first reading a comprehensive update to off-street and bicycle parking rules that adds a new parking reduction area, tightens short-term bicycle parking standards and directs a five-year review cycle.
On April 8 the Broomfield City Council approved on first reading an ordinance updating off-street parking and short-term bicycle parking requirements, adding a new parking reduction area along 100th–120th Avenue and directing staff to revisit the bicycle-parking rules every five years.
The code revisions, presented by Principal Transportation Planner Mark Ambrosi, propose a new 120th Avenue Parking Reduction Area and minor geographic adjustments to existing reduction areas to align Broomfield with House Bill 24-13404 mapping requirements. The ordinance eliminates minimum parking requirements for eligible uses in parking reduction areas and updates short-term bicycle parking by land-use type (for example: 5% of vehicle parking for industrial/retail, 10% for office, ratios by dwelling unit for multi-unit residential).
Council adopted two amendments during first reading: an amendment from Councilmember Lim requiring a minimum of two short-term bicycle parking spaces at primary building entrances for multi-unit and senior multi-unit developments, and an amendment introduced by Councilmember Ward that directs staff to revisit the bicycle-parking requirements every five years. Both amendments passed unanimously and were incorporated before the first-reading vote.
Staff said the updates also address state legislation including HB24–13404 (parking reduction mapping), HB24–1152 (ADU parking exceptions) and prior legislation on EV-ready and charging standards; the code clarifies EV parking-counting rules and requires one van-accessible EV parking space where EV chargers are installed. Ambrosi told council the changes are designed to be simple, consistent and to include cargo-bike accommodations by referencing APBP (Association of Pedestrian and Bicycle Professionals) design guidance.
Why it matters: the ordinance aims to reduce unnecessary vehicle parking minimums near transit and high-access corridors, strengthen bicycle parking standards for new development, and formalize guest/visitor parking requirements in constrained residential areas. Staff said it expects limited near-term impacts on existing projects but asked developers to coordinate design details when applications are filed.
The ordinance passed first reading unanimously; council direction requires staff to return final ordinance language for second reading with technical edits incorporating the passed amendments.
