Council backs final development‑code changes, sends draft to planning commission and schedules public hearings

Thornton City Council reviewed the final draft of the city’s updated development code and directed staff to move forward to the Planning Commission public hearing process, while providing specific policy directions on housing types, TOD guidance, façade standards, drive‑through circulation and parking connectivity.

Staff and consultants presented the update as the product of an approximately two‑year outreach effort intended to increase housing choice, modernize development standards and make review more objective. Karen Wodofsky, the city’s long‑range planning manager, said the ordinance will be followed by a second cleanup ordinance and a public hearing timeline. "This code isn't gonna be perfect," she told council. Staff said the final draft will be renumbered and formatted to match the city's codification service prior to hearings and that any substantive additional changes after the packet deadline would have to await future amendments.

Housing and lot standards Council directed staff to add cottage‑housing as an allowable use in the new Residential Low (RL) district with a recommended cap of roughly four to six units per lot and to permit reduced lot sizes in green‑court and motor‑court configurations, while preserving minimum lot…