Littleton council postpones proposed "missing middle" zoning changes after months of debate

The Littleton City Council voted 6–1 to postpone indefinitely Ordinance 31-2024, a proposed amendment to the city's Unified Land Use Code that would have expanded where accessory dwelling units (ADUs), duplexes, triplexes and fourplexes could be built in residential neighborhoods.

The ordinance — described by staff as intended to implement goals in Littleton's 2017 housing study and the 2019 Envision Littleton comprehensive plan — would have simplified several use definitions, removed some site-plan requirements, expanded where duplexes and multiplexes are permitted, and incorporated statewide ADU rules adopted by the Colorado Legislature in 2024. Council member Peters moved to postpone the ordinance indefinitely; the motion carried 6–1, with Mayor Pro Tem Barr casting the lone no vote.

Staff had told council the package was intended to increase housing-type diversity — the so-called "missing middle" — and to bring local code into alignment with state law on ADUs. Senior planner Zareen Tasneem said the draft would allow detached ADUs in all residential zone districts, eliminate some alley-access restrictions, raise maximum detached ADU floor area and align height definitions with the International Building Code. Deputy City Manager Kathleen Osher and planning manager Jared Chipman assisted in the presentation and answered council questions about site plan review, utility and fire-code constraints and how the proposal would interact with planned developments and homeowners associations.

The ordinance had been drafted after a year of study sessions, a public comment period and a Planning Commission public hearing that approved the draft with two amendments. Among the changes Planning Commission recommended were exempting multiplexes and townhomes from a separate site-plan review in several residential districts and clarifying maximum building coverage in certain zones.

Opponents at the public hearing and in hundreds of written comments argued the changes would alter neighborhood character, increase traffic and remove local control. Speakers during the hearing said they were surprised by the proposal and asked council for more time to digest the details and for expanded outreach. At least a dozen residents spoke in opposition, citing concerns about tree loss at a redevelopment site, crossing safety for children and the pace of change in established neighborhoods.

Council discussion reflected a range of views. Several members said the staff work was thorough but that the community had not been fully prepared for the scope and speed of the changes. Supporters on council argued the city faces a regional housing shortfall and that increased housing-type diversity is one piece of a longer-term response; some members urged staff to return quickly with a narrower ordinance addressing ADU compliance with state law and a companion look at duplexes. City Attorney (name on record in the minutes) explained that state law preempts HOAs in some ADU matters and referenced the Colorado Common Interest Ownership Act as the framework for HOA regulation.

City staff said they would return with a phased approach: an ordinance to ensure local code complies with the statewide ADU statute and a separate, more limited package addressing duplexes and closely related changes. Staff told council they would schedule an additional public study session and broaden community outreach, including updates via the Littleton Report online, social media and posted study-session materials.

With the ordinance postponed, there was no further public hearing on the item at this meeting. The council voted to adjourn after the postponement vote.