Revitalization Commission Agenda and Packet 2025 01 22

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Revitalization Commission Minutes December 11, 2024 Page7of9 Gap Identification Commissioner Lipton asked for more information on what this section is for. The EV Manager responded that the LRC has had a pretty heavy focus on the Main Street and Front Street portions of the URA noting that the URA extends to South Boulder Road and Highway 42. This item is to engage on ways to revitalize the other areas of the URA. Chair Adler commented that this item is important to engage with the King Soopers and Coal Creek Station areas. Commissioner Lipton commented that Commissioner Tofte's suggestion to look at Highway 42 area is something we need to do. Commissioner Lipton suggested the LRC review land use regulations for downtown and engage with property owners about whether and what regulations inhibit their ability to redevelop or attract tenants to make it more viable for investment. The EV Manager responded that this item is under partner engagement. The ongoing Comprehensive Plan process does include land use and for any rezoning that comes to Council the LRC can write official letters of support and provide official feedback as these things come up. Commissioner Lipton feels this is a reactive approach to what the issues may be, noting that other communities look at parking minimums/maximums and density issues in central districts that might make them more attractive. He also noted that the Comp Plan process is an overarching document giving a vision for the community but there are things specific to the Revitalization District that the LRC could develop a process to get appropriate input to inform Council about changes that would be likely successful as related to land use. The EV Manager responded that staff is already doing this and there is budget in 2025 to rewrite the land use code with a lot of new best practices and including feedback from the Comp Plan process. The Director of Community Development commented that we do have an overarching project, and we are looking at downtown design standards which dictates development within downtown as well as the use table. He suggested the LRC might have a discussion or study session with planning staff to present current standards and take public comment to see if there are obvious issues and maybe get ahead of those issues and wrap it into the bigger land use code rewrite. Commissioner Lipton responded that this is a 2025 project for staff and council, and he asked if the gap section of the Work Plan should include LRC participation in this project to perhaps inform some of the decisions that might come out of staff efforts. He added that, more importantly to engage the property owners to find out from them what is not working to be able to use that input. The EV Manager responded that there are a lot of people working on all these things and she noted that the LRC isn't always the most appropriate body to lead these conversations, but it is important for the Commission to have input. The Director of Community Development commented that when we start looking at barriers for redevelopment and working with entities like The Trestle Group, there are market forces at work even if you remove development restrictions. For example, the three-story restriction and you have to consider historic preservation and character. Understanding the regulations is a good first step, maybe Q3 would be a good time to do a presentation to the LRC to start getting feedback from downtown. Commissioner Lipton asked that this be added to the LRC work plan. Chair Adler expressed support for Commissioner Lipton's suggestion to add this to the Work Plan. Chair Adler commented on the work of Trestle Strategies with gap identification, noting that she is not sure where we are with their engagement with the Chase building. She suggested potentially engaging with consultant teams to address vacancies. The EV manager suggested Agenda Packet P. 9