Longmont council approves land-use framework to guide Erwin Thomas site from gravel mining to housing and commercial uses

Longmont City Council unanimously approved six related ordinances Oct. 14 to update land-use designations and rezoning for portions of the 209-acre Erwin Thomas property, setting the framework for a phased transition from active gravel mining to future development.

The ordinances conditionally approve an Envision Longmont land-use amendment, a concept-plan amendment (including a limited 25% administrative density allowance for Phase 5), two rezonings and two PUD amendment ordinances. Kristen Cody, senior planner in Planning and Development Services, told the council no physical construction is authorized by these approvals; future subdivisions and site plans will be reviewed under separate procedures.

The decisions matter because they move large swaths of land south of Ken Pratt Boulevard and east of Harvest Moon Drive from a mining-focused PUD into conventional zones that will guide housing, mixed-use and regional-center development once reclamation is complete. The rezoning requests include roughly 17.7 acres to Mixed Use Neighborhood and 22.1 acres to Residential Mixed Neighborhood in one area, and about 85 acres proposed to become Residential Single Family in a second rezoning area.

The applicant team, led by Barb Brunk of Resource Conservation Partners and representatives from Diamond G Concrete Company and Golden Farm, said the phased approach will allow the portions of the site nearest Harvest Moon Drive to move out of the mining PUD and into entitlement as they are reclaimed. The applicant requested an administrative allowance to increase total density in Phase 5 by up to 25%; staff noted that any increase above 25% would require a formal concept-plan amendment.

Planning staff and the Planning & Zoning Commission reviewed traffic and utility concerns. The commission found projected 2030 levels of service for intersections on Ken Pratt Boulevard and South Martin Street reflected broader regional conditions and recommended conditional approvals by a 6–1 vote. Agency comments noted requirements from Left Hand Water District and Northern Water, and that future traffic study review and CDOT coordination will be needed for portions of the site fronting state facilities. Staff recommended conditional approval with requirements that reclamation be completed prior to rezoning certification and that all applicable standards be met before future development proceeds.

Councilors asked for clarity about why the property would be rezoned from a PUD to straight zoning. Barb Brunk and the applicant team said the PUD was used originally to authorize mining. Moving to conventional zones simplifies future entitlement and still allows a range of housing types; if later flexibility beyond code is needed, a future PUD could be requested.

Public comment included one resident, Megan Sicaros of the Zinnia Apartments, who asked how new multifamily units would relate to existing unused units in the city and pressed the council to consider affordability and demand. Staff and the applicant said the current approvals only set policy and zoning frameworks; specific projects would require subsequent site-level reviews.

The council voted individually on each required ordinance (O2025-56, O2025-57, O2025-58, O2025-59, O2025-60) and related PUD amendments; each motion carried unanimously.

Looking ahead, the land will be reclaimed and then go through preliminary and final platting and development review. The council’s approvals create the land-use and zoning blueprint but do not authorize grading, building or subdivision work without later approvals and reclamation activities required first.