City staff present draft Development Code Articles 1 and 8, council asks staff to proceed to public hearing

City planning staff presented draft revisions to Article 1 (general provisions) and Article 8 (landscape standards) of the Thornton Development Code and asked the council for direction to finalize the drafts for public review and hearing.

"This project started in 2023 and is anticipated to complete later this year," said Martin Postma, principal planner, introducing the scope and schedule. Long Range Planning Manager Karen Wodomski and consultant Jackie Berg detailed proposed changes. Berg said Article 1 clarifies applicability, comprehensive‑plan alignment and enforcement language. On Article 8 she said the changes aim to strengthen tree preservation rules, define turf types to meet state water regulations, and move technical standards to a standards & specifications document.

Among the specific proposals discussed: a fee‑in‑lieu option for tree preservation when a site cannot practically accommodate replacement trees; moving from 5‑gallon to 3‑gallon container standards for landscaping to improve availability and survivability; clearer definitions of functional versus nonfunctional turf and a projected water‑use reduction target; limitations on artificial turf to sports fields only; separate irrigation meters for non‑residential sites and residential common areas with a staff estimate that adding a new meter pit could cost on the order of $10,000–$12,000 depending on meter size and connection requirements.

Council members questioned enforceability and local authority. Councilmember Crystal (first name only in transcript) asked how the city might be notified if an outside agency or state purchases a local facility (an earlier example in Northglenn was discussed), and staff said zoning and development‑review procedures to be discussed later would be the appropriate place to address notification options. Staff said the Article 1 draft is introductory and that specific zoning and development review procedures will be addressed in forthcoming articles and sessions.

Staff asked for direction to finalize the drafts and set a public hearing in March; the presentation noted subsequent steps including Planning Commission briefings and additional public outreach. Martin Postma said final adoption will occur later in the year after consolidated hearings on all code articles.

Ending: Council directed staff to proceed with the schedule of outreach and hearings and to provide follow‑up materials (including outreach feedback and cost implications for irrigation meters and fee‑in‑lieu calculations) prior to the March public hearing.