Westminster planning commission reviews draft site and structure standards for unified development code

City of Westminster planning staff and their consultant presented draft site and structure standards for a citywide Unified Development Code during a June 10 Planning Commission workshop, seeking feedback on parking, building form, landscaping and procedures before releasing a draft for public review.

The presentation, led by the principal planner and Elizabeth Garvin of Clarion and Associates, emphasized folding several existing design standards and guidelines into a single code to make development rules more consistent and easier for applicants and staff to use. Staff said the code will apply citywide, including to infill and redevelopment, and will later be returned to the commission for formal recommendation to City Council.

Staff told the commission the Unified Development Code (UDC) effort aims to consolidate eight existing regulatory documents into one consolidated Title 11 code section. "Westminster Municipal Code Title 11 is a pretty big volume or even tome might be the right word," Principal Planner Andrew said during the presentation, explaining why staff are consolidating standards and guidelines into a single development code.

Garvin said the project carries forward many of the city's existing standards and the distinction between required "standards" and encouraged "guidelines." "We have carried forward the city's use of standards, which are required, and guidelines, which are encouraged," she said, adding that staff reviewed past applications to identify gaps and to clarify how rules should apply in urban and suburban…