Brighton planners outline changes to future land use map, seek commission input

City of Brighton planners Amanda Diaz and Summer McCann presented proposed revisions to the city's comprehensive plan and future land use map to the District Plan Commission on Thursday, June 25, asking commissioners for feedback on land-use categories and specific parcels.

Diaz said the future land use map is intended to guide development patterns over the next 10 to 15 years and help community members and developers understand what types of development the city would encourage. Staff reported community engagement found strong interest in preserving agricultural heritage, but participants offered mixed views on what preservation should mean; newer residents, staff said, were often unaware of existing farmland preservation efforts.

McCann described a consolidation of land-use categories in the draft plan, including folding certain local district mixed-use classifications into an agricultural designation while keeping district plan criteria in force for those areas. The change is intended to add flexibility in how land inside the district plan is evaluated.

Diaz and McCann identified two parcels north and south of East 144th Avenue that have attracted development interest but for which water rights are currently lacking. Staff proposed applying a mixed-use category to those parcels that would allow single-family homes, duplexes and limited commercial uses while retaining agricultural designation elsewhere. The presenters said the mixed-use designation would not permit high-rise apartments and that any development would still require annexation, zoning approvals and a public process.

Commissioners were invited to submit comments, particularly on how agricultural heritage requirements should be applied in the district plan. No vote or formal direction was recorded on the comprehensive plan during the meeting. The commission later approved the May minutes 5-0 and the meeting ended early because of a lost internet connection.