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Thornton Council approves rezoning and conceptual site plan for Creekside Innovation Park
Summary
The council unanimously approved a rezone to Business Park and a conceptual site plan for Creekside Innovation Park, clearing the way for two speculative warehouse buildings totaling about 252,000 square feet across roughly 22–28 acres; staff found the proposal consistent with the 1992 development code.
The Thornton City Council on a unanimous vote approved a zoning amendment and a concurrent conceptual site plan for Creekside Innovation Park, a proposed business-park development southwest of East 148th Avenue and Washington Street.
Senior planner Ellie Sobe told council the application requests a rezone from Regional Commercial (RC) to Business Park (BP) and a conceptual site plan for two warehouse buildings totaling approximately 252,000 square feet on roughly 22 acres. Staff concluded the proposal complies with the applicable criteria in section 18-4-1 of the 1992 development code and recommended approval.
James Carlin of OCC Industrial, presenting for the applicant, described the project as “modern flexible employment space” meant to attract light manufacturing, aerospace and research-and-development tenants. He said the plan preserves a creek corridor and integrates a regional trail connection between Washington Street and an adjacent Amazon site, and that the site will not be subject to a metro district tax.
Council members asked about electric-vehicle parking, public noticing and traffic. Architect Brian Mazzetti said the buildings can be equipped with EV charging stations. City traffic engineer Matthew Koenig described the study methodology—using ITE trip-generation guidance—and said staff reviewed the developer’s traffic impact study and found the arterial network could accommodate the projected trips, while committing to continued monitoring and signal-warrant analyses as traffic grows. The applicant's traffic consultant, Caleb Feaver, said the traffic projections conservatively included several nearby developments currently in review or construction.
Council member Morris introduced the ordinance approving the zoning amendment and moved for first-reading approval; Council member Russell introduced the resolution approving the CSP. Both measures were moved, seconded and adopted unanimously.
Next steps: the ordinance proceeds through subsequent readings as required by city procedures and the applicant will return with detailed engineering and permitting if and when the project advances to construction.
