City Council Study Session Agenda and Packet 2018 06 12

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SUBJECT: DESIGN GUIDELINES UPDATE AND POLICY GUIDANCE DATE: JUNE 12, 2018 PAGE 2 OF 16 meetings with focus group members whom were interested in sharing more thoughts and ideas. A summary of their comments is attached (Attachment 1). A public workshop was held on April 26, 2018 which drew approximately 20 members of the public. Staff promoted the workshop through advertisements in the Colorado Hometown Weekly, the EngageLouisville website, email notifications and the City calendar and news events notifications. The workshop included a survey which covered many of the categories included in the CDDSG and the IDDSG that are being considered for amendments. A summary of the public input is attached (Attachment 2). A similar survey will be added to the EngageLouisville site in the near future in order to reach a larger audience for public participation and feedback in this endeavor. Staff will promote participation in the survey, additional workshops, and public meetings through emails, newspaper advertisements, on the City website and at local events such as Street Faire, the Farmer's Market, and Concerts in the Park. City staff in the Planning, Parks, and Public Works departments have also met with Russell + Mills several times to discuss issues with the current regulations and to also discuss options for changes. Russell + Mills is currently in the process of preparing a draft of the proposed changes. Once the draft is complete, meetings with the focus group, the public, and staff will be scheduled to present the draft and obtain feedback. The draft will then be presented to various boards and commissions including the Planning Commission, Public Parks and Landscape Advisory Board, Open Space Advisory Board, the Sustainability Board and to City Council. DISCUSSION/ANALYSIS: Height Policy Issue In analyzing the Comprehensive Plan, South Boulder Road Small Area Plan and the McCaslin Boulevard Small Area Plan for guidance in developing the draft regulations, Staff reviewed the building height policies for each commercial and industrial area in the City subject to the CDDSG and IDDSG. The policies set forth in the advisory documents specify the areas desired for buildings to be a maximum of one to two stories and other areas where a mix of two and three story buildings are desired. The CDDSG and the Municipal Code (Code) both specify height in feet and not stories. Thus, with the Small Area Plans and the Comprehensive Plan both envisioning buildings in stories, it is necessary to ensure there is a clear translation between feet and stories as the amendments to the Design Guidelines are processed. Thus, staff seeks Council and Planning Commission confirmation of these policies, what heights should correspond with policies related to the number of stories, and clarification where there may be conflicts in policy prior to completing the first draft of the revised design guidelines. CITY COUNCIL COMMUNICATION 3