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Council approves Northlands PUD amendment to clear path for UCHealth hospital campus; vote 6–2
Summary
Council approved a PUD text amendment allowing hospital/medical-office parking ratios (2 spaces per bed + 1 per 300 sq ft outpatient) and a maximum medical building height of 150 ft to accommodate UCHealth's planned campus; council debate focused on parking, height, long‑term parking structures and transit access.
The council approved Resolution No. 2026‑95, adopting the third amendment to the Northlands PUD plan to set parking requirements and a 150‑foot maximum height for hospital and medical office uses, clearing the way for a future site development plan from UCHealth.
Planning manager Brandon Rowe summarized the amendment as focused on two items: parking ratios for hospital and medical uses and a medical‑office height allowance. He said the PUD amendment would not change default code requirements for other uses and that any site‑level proposal will return for separate review and public hearing.
Mike Chachowski, vice president for facilities design and construction at UCHealth, told council the height allowance helps preserve green space by building vertically: "Instead of having a shorter building that took up more land, we wanted to have a little bit taller building, use less land, and have more green space available in development." He said the current conceptual building is about 136 feet and the 150‑foot cap provides flexibility.
Neighbors who spoke raised both concerns and support. Roxy Julia Lockmore urged structured parking to reduce heat‑island effects and preserve open land; Garrett Baum, a longtime local developer, expressed support and noted similar approved heights nearby. Council members asked about employee vs. patient parking, timing for structured parking, and handling of two abandoned oil and gas wells on the site; UCHealth said about eight acres of the 70‑acre lot would be paved for parking initially and that structured parking is planned as the campus grows.
Council member Ward voted no and argued the medical‑office parking ratio (which effectively equates to 5 spaces per 1,000 sq ft) is excessive and encourages suburban, auto‑dependent development; Council member Cohen recused due to UCHealth employment. The resolution passed 6–2 with one recusal.
