Broomfield lays out multi‑year planning and zoning work program; state mandates shape 2025 priorities

Lynn Merwin, deputy director of community development, briefed the City Council on a multiyear work program to update Broomfield’s planning and development regulations, highlighting 2025 priorities and legislative mandates that will shape the schedule.

Merwin told council the department plans to begin major updates in 2025 — including launching a comprehensive plan update, an I‑25 subarea plan rewrite, an energy code update and a fast‑track review process for income-aligned housing — while also complying with several state legislative requirements that must be addressed in 2025 and 2026.

Staff noted recent 2024 accomplishments already adopted by council: a tree preservation ordinance, three new zoning districts (two mixed‑use and one transit‑oriented), revisions to development review procedures, and revisions to home‑occupation and large‑family child care rules that implemented prior legislative changes. For 2025, Merwin listed items staff expects to prioritize: accessory dwelling unit (ADU) code changes to meet new state law; updates to parking minimums and EV parking requirements, including potential parking‑reduction areas; work on transit‑oriented communities pursuant to a House Bill referenced in the presentation; adoption of a wildland‑urban interface building code; and code language to address natural‑medicine and psilocybin healing centers in response to recent state law.

Merwin told council that the state law change regarding natural medicine prevents municipalities from banning licensed healing centers but allows local governments to impose reasonable permitting and operational regulations; staff said the city could consider a short moratorium if interest from businesses accelerates before regulations are adopted.

Merwin emphasized that the schedule is contingent on staff capacity: long‑range projects must be balanced with day‑to‑day development review, and a surge in permit activity could delay planned code work. She also described public engagement methods that will be used for each initiative, including dedicated project pages on Broomfield Voice, stakeholder meetings, public hearings and advisory‑board briefings.

Councilmembers offered input on which items to prioritize if staff capacity is limited. Several members said public‑land dedication, updates to medium‑ and high‑density residential zones to streamline redevelopment, and rules about prepayment of water and sewer fees were high priorities. Council requested that staff continue to provide study sessions and return with more detail on timelines and resource needs before finalizing the multiyear schedule.

Merwin concluded by asking council for general support to proceed as outlined and for alternative direction if council wished to reprioritize items.