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Home My WebLink About03.06 Agenda Packet PLANNING COMMISSION A G E N D A March 6, 2025 Notice is hereby given of a Public Meeting to be held before the City of Wheat Ridge Planning Commission on March 6, 2025 at 6:30 p.m. This meeting will be conducted as a virtual meeting and in person at 7500 W. 29th Avenue, Municipal Building. The public may participate in these ways: 1. Provide comment in advance at www.wheatridgespeaks.org (comment by noon on March 5) 2. Virtually attend and participate in the meeting through a device or phone: a) Click here to join and provide public comment (create a Zoom account to join) b) Or call 1-669-900-6833 with Meeting ID 842 8421 0929 and Passcode: 582134 3. View the meeting live or later at www.wheatridgespeaks.org, Channel 8, or YouTube Live at https://www.ci.wheatridge.co.us/view 4. Attend in person. 1. CALL THE MEETING TO ORDER 2. ROLL CALL OF MEMBERS 3. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE 4. APPROVE THE ORDER OF THE AGENDA 5. APPROVAL OF MINUTES – February 20, 2025 6. PUBLIC FORUM (This is the time for any person to speak on any subject not appearing on the Public Hearing agenda. Public comments may be limited to 3 minutes.) (continued on next page) Planning Commission Agenda – March 6, 2025 Page 2 Individuals with disabilities are encouraged to participate in all public meetings sponsored by the City of Wheat Ridge. Call Amanda Harrison, Public Information Officer at 303-235-2877 at least one week in advance of a meeting if you are interested in participating and need inclusion assistance. 7. PUBLIC HEARING * No Cases to be heard. 8. OLD BUSINESS 9. NEW BUSINESS A. City Plan Phase 4 Update B. Welcome New Commissioners C. Election of Chair and Vice Chair D. Upcoming Dates E. Project and Development Updates F. Commissioner Updates 10. ADJOURNMENT * Public comment is welcome during any public hearing item. The standard procedure for a public hearing is as follows: a. Staff presentation b. Applicant presentation – if applicable c. Public comment – time may be limited at the discretion of the Chair, often to 3 minutes d. Staff/applicant response e. Close public hearing f. Commission discussion and decision Planning Commission Minutes - 1 – February 20, 2025 PLANNING COMMISSION Minutes of Meeting February 20, 2025 1. CALL THE MEETING TO ORDER The meeting was called to order by Vice Chair QUINN at 6:31 p.m. This meeting was held in person and virtually, using Zoom video-teleconferencing technology. 2. ROLL CALL OF MEMBERS Commission Members Present: Daniel Graeve Krista Holub Will Kerns Michael Moore Patrick Quinn Jonathan Schelke Commission Members Absent: Kristine Disney Syrma Quinones Staff Members Present: Jana Easley, Planning Manager Scott Cutler, Senior Planner Tammy Odean, Recording Secretary 3. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE 4. APPROVE ORDER OF THE AGENDA It was moved by consensus to approve the order of the agenda. 5. APPROVAL OF MINUTES – February 6, 2025 It was moved by consensus to approve the minutes of February 6, 2025, as written. 6. PUBLIC FORUM (This is the time for any person to speak on any subject not appearing on the Public Hearing agenda.) No one wished to speak at this time. 7. PUBLIC HEARING Planning Commission Minutes - 2 – February 20, 2025 A. Case No. WZ-25-02: A City-initiated zone change of the Lutheran Legacy Campus from Planned Hospital Development (PHD), Planned Commercial Development (PCD), Residential-Two (R-2) and Residential-One (R-1) to the Mixed Use Lutheran Legacy Campus (MU-LLC) zone district. Vice Chair QUINN opened the Public Hearing. Mr. Cutler gave a short presentation regarding the zone change and the application. He entered into the record the contents of the case file, packet materials, the zoning ordinance, and the contents of the digital presentation. He stated the public notice and posting requirements have been met, therefore the Planning Commission has jurisdiction to hear this case. Public Comment Anne Brinkman, resident 7420 West 34th Avenue Ms. Brinkman mentioned she served 10 years on the Planning Commission and said she is in favor of the zone change and is speaking on behalf of the ditch water rights. She wanted it known that the ditch area is not a recreational area and is owned by Rocky Mountain Ditch and the water rights owners. She said the ditch is an agricultural service right-of-way and it is important to keep it flowing for the people downstream because they rely on it. She also mentioned she is ok if it is piped underground. Betty Jo Page, resident 3945 Ingalls Street Ms. Page reiterated Ms. Brinkman’s thoughts that the ditch is not a recreational area. Vice Chair QUINN closed the public comment and reopened it. In response to a question from Commissioner SCHELKE, Ms. Brinkman clarified that she was trying to explain that the ditch flow cannot be broken, for example into a detention pond. Commissioner KERNS mentioned that one of the long-term goals is to get a more formalized pedestrian and bicycle easement along the ditch so it can function as a high-line canal trail system. Ms. Brinkman said it will take a negotiation between the City and Rocky Mountain Ditch to create an easement for a trail. Mr. Cutler added that with any future development the City will refer the application to the ditch company and there could be a large easement that the ditch has control over. Planning Commission Minutes - 3 – February 20, 2025 Vice Chair QUINN closed the public comment. It was moved by Commissioner KERNS and seconded by Commissioner GRAEVE to recommend APPROVAL of Case No. WZ-25-02, a request for approval of a city-initiated zone change of the Lutheran Legacy Campus from Planned Hospital Development (PHD), Planned Commercial Development (PCD), Residential-Two (R-2) and Residential-One (R-1) to the Mixed Use Lutheran Legacy Campus (MU-LLC zone district, for the following reasons: 1. The proposed zone change will promote the public health, safety, or welfare of the community and does not result in an adverse effect on the surrounding area. 2. A future developer will be required to upgrade infrastructure and utilities to serve the types of uses allowed by the change of zone. 3. The proposed zone change is consistent with the goals and objectives of the City’s adopted plans and policies, including the adopted Lutheran Legacy Campus Master Plan. 4. The zone change will provide additional opportunity for reinvestment in the area. 5. The criteria used to evaluate a zone change supports the request. Motion carried 6-0. Commissioner KERNS said he will be voting in favor of the motion and added he would like to see lower heights of buildings around the ditch; support for preserving the ditch and trail alongside it; he would like to see adaptive reuse of the current hospital and medical office buildings; include affordable housing within the development and diversity of housing types; street connections to existing neighborhoods in a grid system; support for bike/pedestrian connections to Crown Hill; and to preserve the tree canopy. Commissioner GRAEVE agreed with Commissioner KERNS and his comments. He mentioned this is an exciting time and there is a lot of work that lays ahead in the process and thanked staff for getting us to this point. He also encouraged the reuse of existing buildings, incorporating transit, and would like to see diversity in housing types. He added he will be voting in favor. Commissioner HOLUB mentioned her appreciation to the voters and the process and looks forward to what’s ahead. Commissioner MOORE said this is a good thing and thanked the City and community for making it happen. Commissioner SCHELKE echoed the City to work with the ditch company to preserve a trail that all can be proud of. Planning Commission Minutes - 4 – February 20, 2025 Commissioner QUINN thanked staff for the big undertaking of this master plan for Lutheran Legacy Campus and for the two public comments. 8. OLD BUSINESS Ms. Easley thanked Commissioner KERNS for his service on the commission and looks forward to seeing him in the future. 9. NEW BUSINESS A. Upcoming Dates Ms. Easley mentioned there will be a meeting on March 6 to discuss the City Plan Phase 4, introduce new commissioners, and vote for Chair and Vice Chair. She added the meeting on March 20 is tentative. B. Project and Development Updates Ms. Easley announced that Lakeside Autowash is open and added the new ERP OpenGov permitting system went live at the first of the year. Commissioner GRAEVE asked if this new system will speed up the permitting process. Ms. Easley said that is the hope, but there will be a transition period to get used to. Mr. Cutler added the communication through the new system will be easier. C. Commissioner Updates Commissioner HOLUB mentioned she attended the City Plan Open House and would recommend the community take the survey in What’s Up Wheat Ridge. She also encouraged people to weigh-in on the DRCOG survey regarding Sheridan Blvd. 10. ADJOURNMENT It was moved by Commissioner KERNS and seconded by Commissioner SCHELKE to adjourn the meeting at 7:20 p.m. Motion carried 6-0. __________________________ _______________________________ Kristine Disney, Chair Tammy Odean, Recording Secretary Memorandum TO: Planning Commission FROM: Ella Stueve, Senior Neighborhood Planner DATE: February 28, 2025 (for March 6 meeting) SUBJECT: City Plan Status Update PURPOSE: The purpose of this study session is to provide Planning Commission with an update on the City Plan process and to have a discussion with commissioners regarding the content included in the fourth phase of City Plan public engagement. In Phase 4, we are discussing a set of tools that the city can use to guide public and private investment to align with community priorities. It also examines how these tools might be used in different locations around Wheat Ridge and maps out what implementation might look like after adoption of the plan. Attachment 1 is content provided by the City Plan consultant, czb, which includes the details of the City Plan to support this study session. This is the fourth Planning Commission discussions on this project. We expect to schedule a subsequent study session during the public review of the draft plan in the late spring/early summer. BACKGROUND: The City Plan is the next iteration of the Comprehensive Plan and will supersede Envision Wheat Ridge, which was adopted in 2009. The City Plan will articulate a community vision for Wheat Ridge through 2040. A specific focus has been to ensure robust community input and to create a plan that balances different values and tradeoffs that emerge from community conversations. A successful City Plan process will result in an adopted document that reflects community values and acts as a foundation for future decision-making on all topics related to the physical development of the city for years to come. PROJECT STATUS: Timeline This process formally began in late January 2024 with a project team kick-off and the first phase of engagement from mid-April to early May. The second phase of engagement took place from early June to mid-July. The third phase was in September and October. Planning Commission Memo – City Plan Status Update March 6, 2025 Page 2 The fourth phase of engagement includes the following events: • A steering committee meeting on Wednesday, February 19 • A public open house on Thursday, February 20, from 4:30 to 6:30 pm at the Recreation Center • City Council Study Session on Monday, March 3 • A Planning Commission discussion on Thursday, March 6 This is the final full engagement phase for the City Plan process. We anticipate a Draft City Plan available for public review in the late spring/early summer. The final plan will be brought to Planning Commission and City Council for final adoption in the summer of 2025. Public Process Since December 2023, the City Plan project page on What’s Up Wheat Ridge has been live: https://whatsupwheatridge.com/city-plan. Since then, the project team has encouraged community members to subscribe to project updates and become neighborhood champions. Neighborhood champions are community members who want to stay up to speed on the City Plan and help promote participation. As of February 18, the City Plan has 743 subscribers and 98 neighborhood champions. The fourth public open house was held on Thursday, February 20 from 4:30 to 6:30 pm at the Wheat Ridge Recreation Center. At this event, participants reviewed the proposed toolkit to guide public and private investment to align with city priorities, reacted to illustrations of how these tools could be implemented in locations in Wheat Ridge, and previewed what implementation of the plan might look like. The information and activities from the Open House are available online on the project website until March 21. Communications for this phase of public engagement includes the following: • What’s Up Wheat Ridge newsletters • Connections newsletters • Rooted in Fun Activity Guide advertisement • Mayor’s Matters articles • City of Wheat Ridge’s website newsflash • Yard signs distributed to neighborhood champions and steering committee members and displayed at city parks and facilities • Social media ads and posts • Coasters with a QR code to the project webpage distributed to local businesses to give to customers An outreach summary for the entire project up to this point is included as Attachment 2. Planning Commission Memo – City Plan Status Update March 6, 2025 Page 3 Next Steps The project team has been integrating content from the first three engagement phases into a draft City Plan document. Following Phase 4 input, the final draft will be shared for review by the public, the steering committee, Planning Commission, and City Council in late spring/early summer 2025. We anticipate study sessions with Planning Commission and City Council during this time. After incorporating input from the draft review, the formal adoption process will begin. PLANNING COMMISSION FEEDBACK REQUESTED: This study session is intended to provide a forum for commissioners to learn about and share input on several topics that are detailed in Attachment 1, 3, and 4. Specifically, the City Plan project team will present a set of tools that can help us retain and shape the character of Wheat Ridge as development and redevelopment occur. Because the city already uses many of these tools, the guidance in the City Plan will help us evaluate our current tools and see what needs to be tweaked or augmented to help implement the plan. The Project Team will present illustrations that demonstrate how these tools could be applied in different locations in Wheat Ridge, which we call Focus Areas. In the study session, the project team will ask the Planning Commission to discuss if these tools are pointing us in the right direction in these areas as well as other parts of Wheat Ridge facing similar challenges. A summary of the Focus Areas is included in Attachment 1, and a more detailed review is available in Attachment 3. The study session will also include a presentation and discussion on plan implementation, with a focus on action items which have next steps that involve Planning Commission. This discussion will include two questions: 1. Are there any critical tools missing from the discussion so far? 2. Looking ahead to possible future code changes, do you have any questions or concerns? A summary of the implementation content is included in Attachment 1, and a more detailed review is available in Attachment 4. No formal consensus or direction will be required from Planning Commission to move the project forward. Staff are seeking input from commission members on these questions on March 6. ATTACHMENTS: 1. City Plan Status Update, February 2025 2. City Plan Outreach Summary, February 2025 3. City Plan Focus Area Boards, February 2025 4. City Plan Draft Implementation Plan, February 2025 Wheat Ridge City Plan | Planning Commission | March 2025 Wheat Ridge City Plan Planning Commission Check In #4 March 2025 Wheat Ridge City Plan | Planning Commission | March 2025 PROJECT OVERVIEW 2 Wheat Ridge City Plan | Planning Commission | March 2025 The City Plan will be an update to the City’s existing comprehensive plan It should: •Articulate the community’s vision and establish shared values •Identify priorities for the future •Provide the framework for many decisions for years to come •Guide the actions of property owners, residents, elected and appointed officials, City staff, and others. Project Basics 3 Wheat Ridge City Plan | Planning Commission | March 2025 Timeline WE ARE HERE 2025 4 Wheat Ridge City Plan | Planning Commission | March 2025 WHAT WE HEARD 5 Wheat Ridge City Plan | Planning Commission | March 2025 6 PHASE 1 Spring 2024 Emerging Consensus: •We know what is working and worth celebrating today •We know what we want for a stronger future PHASE 2 Summer 2024 Community Confirmed: •Core Values •Planning Principles •Planning Priorities PHASE 3 Fall 2024 Shaping our Future: •How we get around •How to manage new development Intercept event at Wheat Ridge High School with participation by more than 100 students over 170 attendees over 230 responses WHAT WE HEARD: PAST ENGAGEMENT Wheat Ridge City Plan | Planning Commission | March 2025 7 Improving Mobility WHAT WE HEARD: PHASE 3 - MOBILITY Wheat Ridge City Plan | Planning Commission | March 2025 8 Place Types and Peaceful Coexistence 0 100 200 300 400 Parking and Traffic Building Height Landscape and Streetscape Physical and Visual Separation Noise Building Architecture Lighting Other Choose the THREE most important items that you think must be addressed when new development is proposed. WHAT WE HEARD: PHASE 3 – PEACEFUL COEXISTENCE Wheat Ridge City Plan | Planning Commission | March 2025 PLANNING FOR CHARACTER IN WHEAT RIDGE BASED ON WHAT WE’VE HEARD 9 Wheat Ridge City Plan | Planning Commission | March 2025 10 Evolution of our Places: Incremental change; maintain our character of distinct areas with their own look and feel. Peaceful Coexistence: Ensure that new development peacefully coexists with existing neighborhoods. Improved Connectivity and Access: Move around town more easily, especially on foot or by bicycle. Making Great Places: Improve the space between buildings and curb; enhance the experience of spending time in our public spaces. What are we trying to achieve? Wheat Ridge City Plan | Planning Commission | March 2025 11 Use Tools Form Tools Going Places Tools Staying Places Tools How and for what our properties and buildings are used. Size, shape, placement, and nature of buildings, parking, and landscaping. Infrastructure and treatments on our streets and sidewalks to travel around the city. Infrastructure and treatments on our streets and sidewalks to create places where we want to spend time. What tools do we have to help us achieve these outcomes? Wheat Ridge City Plan | Planning Commission | March 2025 12 How and for what our properties and buildings are used. Examples include: Use Tools Wheat Ridge City Plan | Planning Commission | March 2025 Size, shape, placement, and nature of buildings, parking, and landscaping. Examples include: 13 Form Tools Wheat Ridge City Plan | Planning Commission | March 2025 Infrastructure and treatments on our streets and side- walks to travel around the city. Examples include: 14 v v Going Places Tools Wheat Ridge City Plan | Planning Commission | March 2025 Infrastructure and treatments on our streets, sidewalks, and private property to create places where we want to spend time. Examples include: 15 v v v v Staying Places Tools Wheat Ridge City Plan | Planning Commission | March 2025 Staying Places 16 Going Places Balancing Going Places Tools and Staying Places Tools involves evaluating trade- offs . Wheat Ridge City Plan | Planning Commission | March 2025 17 How we apply Going Places Tools and Staying Places Tools depends on location. Wheat Ridge City Plan | Planning Commission | March 2025 18 Focus Areas •Prototype areas that illustrate how these tools should be applied in different locations in Wheat Ridge •Refinement of tools will have implications for regulatory codes •More details on the Focus Areas is included in Attachment 3 IMAGINING OUR FUTURE: APPLYING TOOLS IN WHEAT RIDGE Wheat Ridge City Plan | Planning Commission | March 2025 1 2 19 IMAGINING OUR FUTURE: APPLYING TOOLS IN WHEAT RIDGE Wadsworth Shopping Center 1 2 Lighting and Street Furniture Standards Setback Parking Street tree and landscaping requirements 3 3 4 4 Use Tools Form Tools Going Places Tools Staying Places Tools Wheat Ridge City Plan | Planning Commission | March 2025 20 IMAGINING OUR FUTURE: APPLYING TOOLS IN WHEAT RIDGE 44th Avenue Trail -oriented development Bridge replacement2 2 Use Tools Form Tools Going Places Tools Staying Places Tools 1 1 Wheat Ridge City Plan | Planning Commission | March 2025 21 IMAGINING OUR FUTURE: APPLYING TOOLS IN WHEAT RIDGE 44th Avenue 5 3 4 3 4 5 Mixed-Use Infill Development Temporary Uses for Activation Parking 6 Multi-modal improvements 6 Use Tools Form Tools Going Places Tools Staying Places Tools Wheat Ridge City Plan | Planning Commission | March 2025 22 IMAGINING OUR FUTURE: APPLYING TOOLS IN WHEAT RIDGE 38th Avenue 2 1 2 Activating commercial spaces 1 Height and Bulk Plane Use Tools Form Tools Going Places Tools Staying Places Tools Wheat Ridge City Plan | Planning Commission | March 2025 23 IMAGINING OUR FUTURE: APPLYING TOOLS IN WHEAT RIDGE 38th Avenue Streetscape improvements 1 Lighting and street furniture standards 3 4 4 3 Use Tools Form Tools Going Places Tools Staying Places Tools Wheat Ridge City Plan | Planning Commission | March 2025 24 IMAGINING OUR FUTURE: APPLYING TOOLS IN WHEAT RIDGE 29th Avenue 1 2 1 2Height and Bulk Plane Screening and Landscaping On-street parking3 3 Use Tools Form Tools Going Places Tools Staying Places Tools Striping for traffic calming 4 4 Wheat Ridge City Plan | Planning Commission | March 2025 25 IMAGINING OUR FUTURE: APPLYING TOOLS IN WHEAT RIDGE Ward Station 1 2 2 1 Mixed-Use Infill Development Temporary Uses for Activation Use Tools Form Tools Going Places Tools Staying Places Tools Pedestrian Plaza3 3 Wheat Ridge City Plan | Planning Commission | March 2025 26 1.Any questions so far? 2.Do these tools point us in the right direction in these areas? QUESTIONS? Wheat Ridge City Plan | Planning Commission | March 2025 IMPLEMENTATION 27 Wheat Ridge City Plan | Planning Commission | March 2025 28 •Overview of high-level next steps to implement the City Plan •Organized by key City Plan Principles and Priorities •Short-term actions to ambitious, long-term direction •Some of these actions are not funded and will require future community conversations about if and how we fund them IMPLEMENTATION: A ROADMAP Wheat Ridge City Plan | Planning Commission | March 2025 29 IMPLEMENTATION: A ROADMAP •Check out the full implementation matrix in Attachment 4 or on the project website •Planning Commission will have a role in future revisions to regulatory codes Wheat Ridge City Plan | Planning Commission | March 2025 30 Near -Term: 0 -3 Years 2025-2027 Mid-Term: 4 -8 Years 2028-2032 Pilot for frontage improvements on commercial corridors Expand pilot program as appropriate Revise zoning code for appropriate temporary and short-term commercial development Study feasibility of BID on 38th Ave Complete 38th Ave Refresh Study and Final Design Construct 38th Ave Refresh Project Planning Priorities IMPLEMENTATION: A ROADMAP Wheat Ridge City Plan | Planning Commission | March 2025 31 Near -Term: 0 -3 Years 2025-2027 Mid-Term: 4 -8 Years 2028-2032Planning Principle IMPLEMENTATION: A ROADMAP Analyze regulatory codes through filter of City Plan guidance Update codes based on analysis Coordinate with JCSD on redevelopment of closed school campuses and preservation of public park space Quick Win regulatory code updates aimed at achieving peaceful coexistence Wheat Ridge City Plan | Planning Commission | March 2025 32 1.Are any critical tools missing from the discussion so far? 2.Looking ahead to possible future code changes, do you have any questions or concerns? DISCUSSION Wheat Ridge City Plan | Planning Commission | March 2025 NEXT STEPS 33 Wheat Ridge City Plan | Planning Commission | March 2025 34 Engagement Round 4 Activities •What’s Up Wheat Ridge survey open through March 21 at 5 PM •Share feedback online or via email (estueve@ci.wheatridge.co.us) Draft Plan •Draft plan released for public review in late spring/early summer •Additional Study Session during the public draft review period •Formal adoption over the summer NEXT STEPS Wheat Ridge City Plan | Planning Commission | March 2025 35 Thank you! Wheat Ridge City Plan | Planning Commission | March 2025 REMINDER 36 ONLINE SURVEY STILL OPEN Available until Friday, March 21 at 5 p.m. 1 Attachment 2: Planning Process Outreach Summary As of February 21, 2025 Meetings and Online Engagement: The project includes a total of four engagement phases. Each include a public open house, an online survey or activities that reflect the content in the open houses, a City Council study session, a presentation and discussion at Planning Commission, and a steering committee meeting. The events and online engagement for these four phases include: • Phase 1: o A steering committee meeting on March 14, 2024 – 14 attendees o A City Council study session on April 15th o A public open house on April 16 – approximately 120 attendees o Online activities from April 12 to May 3 – 267 respondents o A steering committee meeting on April 17th –17 attendees o A Planning Commission meeting on May 2nd • Phase 2: o City Council discussions on June 4 and June 6, 2024 o Online activities from May 25 to June 28 – 395 respondents o A public open house on June 6 – approximately 140 attendees o A steering committee meeting on June 4 – 16 attendees o A Planning Commission discussion on July 18 • Phase 3: o City Council Study Session on September 16, 2024 o Online activities from September 6 to October 11 – 155 survey respondents and 36 mobility map contributors o A public open house on September 17–approximately 170 attendees o A steering committee meeting on September 18 – 14 attendees o A Planning Commission discussion on October 3 • Phase 4: o City Council Study Session on March 3, 2025 o Online activities from February 14 to March 21 – respondents TBD o A public open house on February 20– over 85 attendees o A steering committee meeting on February 19 – 17 attendees o A Planning Commission discussion on March 6 Additionally, the project team attended several community events in 2024 to provide information and activities related to the City Plan, including: • Performance in the Park on June 26 2 • Ridgefest on June 29 • New Lutheran Hospital Open House on July 20 • Carnation Festival on August 9-11 • Wheat Ridge High School: staff led discussions in six classes at the Wheat Ridge High School on October 25, 2024, hearing from over 100 students about what they hope to see in Wheat Ridge in the future Direct Mail: Staff sent every residence in Wheat Ridge two postcards notifying residents of the open house and directing them to the project website to complete online surveys/activities in both phase two and phase three of the engagement. The first postcard was sent in May 2024, and the second postcard was sent in August 2024. The City’s Connections newsletter is mailed to every household and business in Wheat Ridge and is the primary source of direct mail for citywide projects such as this one. The project appeared in six editions of Connections: • November 2023 – The City Plan was featured as the City Manager letter on page 3, introducing the plan effort and directing the community to the webpage to subscribe to project updates • March 2024 – City Plan and the upcoming April meeting date were featured on the cover • May 2024 – Public launch of the City Plan and the upcoming June meeting were featured on page 5 • July 2024 – City Plan and the upcoming September meeting were featured on page 5 • November 2024 – City Plan and the February 20 meeting were features on page 7 • March 2025 – City Plan and the final weeks of online activities will be featured on page 7 The Parks and Recreation quarterly newsletter, Rooted in Fun, included a quarter page ad in the 2024 Summer, 2024 Fall/Winter, and 2024/2025 Winter/Spring issues advertising the open houses for phases one, three, and four. Email: Several different distribution lists were utilized to send email updates directly to stakeholders: • Mayor’s Matters is a monthly e-newsletter containing updates on the City’s latest news, current projects, and upcoming events. It is emailed on or just before the 1st of each month. The City Plan project has been featured in eight editions so far: March 2024, April 2024, May 2024, June 2024, September 2024, October 2024, January 2025, and February 2025 • In each engagement phase, an email was sent to all active board and commission members informing recipients of upcoming open houses and directing them to the What’s Up Wheat Ridge page to register and subscribe for updates. • What’s Up Wheat Ridge allows users to register on the site and subscribe to various projects. The City can send newsletters through the site to all registrants or to the subscribers of specific projects. On January 4, 2024, an announcement of the City Plan and an invitation to subscribe to project updates was sent to all site registrants (2977 recipients with a 73% open rate). Since that initial newsletter, the following newsletters have been sent to project subscribers only: 3 March 28, 2024 email to 237 recipients with a 101%1 open rate April 17 email to 270 recipients with a 93% open rate April 30 email to 390 recipients with a 78% open rate May 23 email to 435 recipients with an 84% open rate May 28 email to 448 recipients with an 87% open rate June 11 email to 557 recipients with a 78% open rate June 25 email to 647 recipients with a 71% open rate September 3 email to 699 recipients with a 71% open rate September 10 email to 705 recipients with a 73% open rate September 24 email to 719 recipients with an 85% open rate October 8 email to 735 recipients with a 77% open rate January 23, 2025 email to 745 recipients with a 79% open rate February 6 email to 742 recipients with a 71% open rate February 18 email to 743 recipients with a 69% open rate (industry standard is a 21.06% open rate) Additionally, the City Plan website has invited community members to become Neighborhood Champions throughout the planning process. Neighborhood champions are a group of people who want to stay up to speed on the City Plan and help promote participation. As of February 21, 98 people have signed up to be Neighborhood Champions. During each phase of engagement, Neighborhood Champions have received between three and four emails describing how to get involved and reminding them to spread the word. During phase three, Neighborhood Champions were also invited to pick up a meeting in a box, or a take-home version of the phase three open house round table discussions. Traditional Media: • CBS ran a story on the City Plan, “Wheat Ridge asking for community feedback on future city plan north of Denver” on June 19 • The Neighborhood Gazette prints 16,000 copies and has included the following story related to the City Plan: May 2024 “City Begins Year-Long Update Process for Guiding Plan” July 2024 “The City of Wheat Ridge Brings the City Plan to Carnation Festival” September 2024 “Wheat Ridge City Plan Engagement Continues” • Staff created a promotional video discussing the City Plan and advertising upcoming open houses and opportunities to get involved. The video was promoted on social media, sent to local reporters, and airs in rotation on Wheat Ridge TV 8. The video is available at https://whatsupwheatridge.com/city-plan/widgets/84432/videos/5488 Social Media: The City’s social media channels were used to advertise project-specific events including upcoming public meetings and active surveys, including on Next Door, Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. Social media posts also include notice of Connections, Mayor’s Matters, and City Council meetings/study sessions. 1 The email was sent to 237 people and 241 opened it, meaning it was forwarded and opened by others outside the original list. 4 Miscellaneous: • Approximately 90 yard signs were distributed to steering committee members, neighborhood champions, and other community members or installed on city property • Flyers were distributed to neighborhood champions, at other city events, to large apartment complexes, and upon request • The front page of the City’s website included several newsflashes for the project • Public meetings were included on the City’s website calendar • Coasters with the City Plan logo and a QR code leading to the project website were distributed at local restaurants in the weeks leading up to each public open house What’s Up Wheat Ridge: In addition to emails sent to registrants and subscribers (see page 2), the What’s Up Wheat Ridge platform allows staff to see how many people interact with the site. • The project site launched on November 6, 2023. • As of February 13, 2025, there were 5,213 unique visitors to the project page. Of these, 1,925 individuals interacted with the project in some way (downloaded documents, viewed key date details, visited multiple pages, or engaged in an activity). • The chart below shows the volume of pageviews and visitors for thus far. Issue Focus Areas Areas where tools to address these issues are illustrated Other Locations Facing Similar Issues Underutilized Land Land not being used to its full potential, often used for large, surface parking lots Main corridors (Wadsworth, Kipling, Youngfield, 38th, 44th) Superblock Large area of the city without an internal street network and lacking connections to adjacent locations Wadsworth, Youngfield Placemaking Street frontages needing enhancements, sometimes the result of front yard parking Main corridors (Wadsworth, Kipling, Youngfield, 38th, 44th) Inadequate Bike/Pedestrian Facilities Infrastructure to support bicycling and walking, like bike lanes and sidewalks, are inadequate or missing Citywide Speeding and Traffic Vehicle speeds and/or traffic volumes impacting visitor experience East-west community and district corridors (26th, 29th, 32nd, 38th, 44th) Emerging Neighborhood Expanding residential area lacking amenities such as walkable retail, parks, etc. Lutheran Legacy Campus, Clear Creek Crossing, and other future locations TBD Underleveraged Trail/Creek Access Key locations along the Clear Creek Trail do not interface with or provide community access to the trail Entirety of Greenbelt STATION #4 Planning ConsultantsCity Plan: A New Comprehensive Plan for Wheat Ridge Visit Whatsupwheatridge.com/city-plan 70 70 1 2 3 4 5 IMAGINING OUR FUTURE: APPLYING TOOLS IN WHEAT RIDGE This plan identiﬁed ﬁve locations, or focus areas, within Wheat Ridge that can illustrate how the tools described in Station 3: Shaping Character in Wheat Ridge could be applied to address various issues in real settings. These ﬁve focus areas are prototypes for other places within the city facing similar challenges. These areas were selected to illustrate this plan in action for several reasons: • They address several hard-to-ﬁx issues that are directly related to community priorities. • The solutions developed in the focus area illustrations are exportable to other locations in Wheat Ridge. • They are important locations within the community. The following boards illustrate which tools could be used to address these issues. Some of these tools could be deployed proactively during public infrastructure projects, and some would be deployed as properties redevelop. Changes would take place gradually as projects are completed and properties redevelop. 1 Wadsworth Shopping Center 2 44th Ave 3 38th Ave 4 29th Ave 5 Ward Station 1 Wadsworth Shopping Center 1 Wadsworth Shopping Center 2 44th Ave 3 38th Ave 4 29th Ave 5 Ward Station 2 44th Ave 2 44th Ave 4 29th Ave 5 Ward Station 2 44th Ave Planning ConsultantsCity Plan: A New Comprehensive Plan for Wheat Ridge Visit Whatsupwheatridge.com/city-plan Wadsworth Shopping Center Wadsworth Boulevard from 38th Ave to 44th Ave The major public investment in modernizing and improving Wadsworth Boulevard from 35th Avenue to I-70 is scheduled to finish in 2026. As the project wraps up, private investment in the properties along the corridor may follow. Many of the commercial centers along this stretch of Wadsworth are characterized by older multi-tenant shopping plazas. Many of these feature large parking lots along the street lacking landscaping and pedestrian or bicycle amenities. While these have been appropriate uses in the city’s history, this area is a location where city officials have long planned for additional mixed-use development. Future redevelopment could create opportunities to strengthen the city’s tax base while connecting new development, existing residential neighborhoods, important civic spaces on W. 38th Ave, and the improved Wadsworth Boulevard corridor. APPLYING OUR TOOLS The following renderings are for illustrative purposes only and are meant to help visualize how various tools could look if implemented in Wheat Ridge. Those tools are organized into the following four categories: Use Tools, Form Tools, Going Places Tools, and Staying Places Tools. The city already uses many of these tools today. Through the City Plan, we will evaluate our tools and reﬁne them as necessary. Issues and Opportunities • Underutilized Land • Superblock • Placemaking SETBACKS Smaller setbacks from Wadsworth boulevard could be achieved by building new structures at the front of a large shopping center parking lot. This helps create a more welcoming and pedestrian- friendly streetscape. COMMERCIAL / RETAIL This style of retail center is well- suited for infill development or redevelopment opportunities. This also creates new commercial and retail opportunities to serve the community and increase the city’s tax base. PARKING Parking is located behind potential new retail buildings and includes landscaping and other shade elements. Parking remains close to the businesses it serves, but visitors don’t have to walk through vast lots to visit businesses. MULTI-USE TRAIL A wide trail with an expanded planter strip creates a safe and pleasant walking and biking experience. STREET TREE AND LANDSCAPING REQUIREMENTS Street trees along a regional corridor like Wadsworth Blvd. help soften the visual impact of buildings and asphalt. They also provide shade, improve air and water quality, and create a sense of enclosure that may contribute to reduced traffic speeds. LIGHTING AND STREET FURNITURE STANDARDS Pedestrian-scale lighting along the sidewalks improves safety and fosters a sense of place within an otherwise busy regional corridor. Planning ConsultantsCity Plan: A New Comprehensive Plan for Wheat Ridge Visit Whatsupwheatridge.com/city-plan 44th Avenue From Clear Creek to Independence Street Home to Anderson Park, the Clear Creek Makerspace, and some of Wheat Ridge’s few commercial properties along Clear Creek, this area has unrealized potential. While much of the commercial history of 44th Avenue has had a strong presence of auto-serving uses, adaptive reuse of some buildings has shifted to community commercial uses. Additionally, the intersection of 44th Avenue and the Clear Creek is an important location for connecting a large portion of the city’s households to Anderson Park and the Clear Creek Trail. However, insufficient bike and pedestrian infrastructure hinders its effectiveness. Issues include large curb cuts along the corridor, narrow sidewalks on the bridge, and a lack of bike facilities along the street. Future public and private investments in this area could create opportunities to implement community priorities by enhancing connections to Clear Creek and bringing in more neighborhood- serving retail. Issues and Opportunities • Underutilized Land • Placemaking • Inadequate Bike/ Pedestrian Facilities • Speeding and Traffic • Underleveraged Trail/ Creek Access RESIDENTIAL & COMMERCIAL/RETAIL (MIXED USE) The 44th Avenue Corridor features a diverse mix of commercial uses, many of which are likely to evolve over time. Additional housing units help support more retail demand. As new commercial/ retail uses develop, buildings should be positioned closer to the street whenever possible to enhance the streetscape and pedestrian experience. PARKING 44th Avenue reflects typical suburban corridor development, with parking lots fronting the street. As the corridor redevelops, parking should be relocated behind buildings and thoughtfully designed with lighting and landscaping. Remaining oversized parking lots also offer opportunities for creative temporary uses like outdoor dining or pop-up markets. TRAIL-ORIENTED DEVELOPMENT If properties adjacent to the Clear Creek Trail or city parks ever redevelop, new development should prioritize publicly- accessible, trail-oriented design. Buildings that face the trail and landscape designs that allow people to recreate and gather can enhance the community’s access to these key amenities. NEIGHBORHOOD CONNECTIONS The Clear Creek Trail system is the city’s most heavily used network. Expanding and improving access through additional connections should be prioritized, particularly at key community gathering destinations. MULTIMODAL IMPROVEMENTS 44th Avenue has been identified as a key gap in pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure. A critical first step to any updates to the lane configuration is a traffic study to determine whether bicycle lanes could be added via restriping and reconfiguration. BRIDGE REPLACEMENT Due to flooding patterns, the 44th Avenue bridge over Clear Creek has been identified as one that will need to be replaced in the future. This major investment provides a key opportunity to build a replacement that provides safe, comfortable access for bicyclists and pedestrians across this bridge and to both Anderson Park and the Clear Creek Trail. APPLYING OUR TOOLS The following renderings are for illustrative purposes only and are meant to help visualize how various tools could look if implemented in Wheat Ridge. Those tools are organized into the following four categories: Use Tools, Form Tools, Going Places Tools, and Staying Places Tools. The city already uses many of these tools today. Through the City Plan, we will evaluate our tools and reﬁne them as necessary. Planning ConsultantsCity Plan: A New Comprehensive Plan for Wheat Ridge Visit Whatsupwheatridge.com/city-plan 38th Avenue From Upham Street to Harlan Street The stretch of 38th Avenue from Upham Street to Harlan Street is considered by many to be the Main Street of Wheat Ridge. The corridor generally has smaller local commercial establishments and is surrounded by neighborhoods. While the corridor has seen improvements over the years through multiple planning processes, the community continues to desire more neighborhood-serving commercial and a walkable main street, and they also want to retain as many of the existing buildings and character as possible. The overwhelming passage of the 2J sales tax extension, which focuses on funding critical public infrastructure projects, allows the city to re-evaluate this critical corridor for enhancements to the public space. Additionally, 38th Avenue is part of an urban renewal plan area with access to tax increment financing for eligible improvements through 2040. Historical investments, current conditions, and the ongoing desire to improve the experience of spending time on Wheat Ridge’s main street yield an opportunity to find ways to encourage private investment while prioritizing reuse and activating street life. Issues and Opportunities • Underutilized Land • Placemaking • Inadequate Bike/ Pedestrian Facilities SCREENING & LANDSCAPING The lots fronting 38th Avenue are relatively shallow and require effective screening from adjacent residential properties. In limited space, a combination of a decorative fence or wall with dense vegetation can provide the necessary separation. HEIGHT & BULK PLANE As infill development occurs, designs often maximize heights so projects are financially feasible. However, taller heights should be consolidated near the street. Buildings should step back from adjacent residential. RESIDENTIAL & COMMERCIAL / RETAIL (MIXED USE) 38th Avenue is zoned Mixed Use Neighborhood (MUN), permitting both commercial and residential uses. This corridor should continue to emphasize commercial uses. Vertical mixed-use development - with residential units on the upper floors and commercial spaces on the ground floor - can enhance vibrancy and functionality. BIKE LANE A painted bike lane designates a dedicated portion of the right-of- way for cyclists. Clearly defining this space reinforces cyclists’ right to use the roadway safely. LIGHTING AND STREET FURNITURE STANDARDS Lighting and street furniture, including benches, bike racks, and art installations, enhance public spaces and helps activate key blocks along 38th Avenue. STREET TREE AND LANDSCAPING REQUIREMENTS When space allows, a sidewalk separated from the street by street trees enhances pedestrian comfort and safety. CONSOLIDATING CURB CUTS Streets with numerous or oversized curb cuts pose a safety risk to pedestrians. Consolidating these curb cuts creates a safer, more consistent pedestrian experience. STREETSCAPE IMPROVEMENTS When parking lots adjacent to the sidewalk are not redeveloped, streetscape improvements like planters or masonry walls are lower cost options for improving the pedestrian experience. ACTIVATING COMMERCIAL SPACES Repurposing older buildings and new construction are often prohibitively costly, particularly for new or small property owners. Evaluating development codes to allow more flexibility both in uses and in architecture would encourage investments and new business incubation. APPLYING OUR TOOLS The following renderings are for illustrative purposes only and are meant to help visualize how various tools could look if implemented in Wheat Ridge. Those tools are organized into the following four categories: Use Tools, Form Tools, Going Places Tools, and Staying Places Tools. The city already uses many of these tools today. Through the City Plan, we will evaluate our tools and reﬁne them as necessary. Planning ConsultantsCity Plan: A New Comprehensive Plan for Wheat Ridge Visit Whatsupwheatridge.com/city-plan RESIDENTIAL & COMMERCIAL / RETAIL (MIXED USE) Mixed-use neighborhood nodes, such as along 29th Avenue, will be noticeably smaller in scale than other mixed-use areas in the City. 29th Avenue From Fenton Street to Chase Street This section of 29th Avenue is an example of a commercial center that is tucked into a neighborhood. The community has expressed a desire to have walkable and bikeable businesses easily accessible within their neighborhood, and this is one of the places that could continue to fulfill that desire for nearby residents. However, neighbors would like to have these opportunities while still maintaining privacy and other qualities of their neighborhoods. This location provides an opportunity to explore tools that nurture a growing business mix, create a sense of place, and improve mobility. Issues and Opportunities • Underutilized Land • Placemaking • Speeding and Traffic SCREENING & LANDSCAPING Narrow lots along 29th Avenue will necessitate rear buffering and screening options that include decorative walls and/or fences combined with landscaping. ON-STREET PARKING Commercial sites on 29th Avenue are often small with limited on-site parking opportunities. Designating street parking lanes helps serve these desired businesses while slowing traffic by visually narrowing the travel lanes. The effectiveness of on-street parking to slow traffic and protect the sidewalk increases as more cars are parked on the street. HEIGHT & BULK PLANE Positioning buildings toward the front of the lot and then stepping them down as they get closer to adjacent residential fosters a more pedestrian friendly streetscape while also minimizing impacts on adjacent residential properties. SETBACKS Buildings that are built to the front property line provide for a much more active streetscape. STRIPING FOR TRAFFIC CALMING Repainting lanes that are narrower with clearly delineated parking bays can slow drivers down. This can be a low-cost traffic calming intervention that is implemented in coordination with ongoing repaving efforts. APPLYING OUR TOOLS The following renderings are for illustrative purposes only and are meant to help visualize how various tools could look if implemented in Wheat Ridge. Those tools are organized into the following four categories: Use Tools, Form Tools, Going Places Tools, and Staying Places Tools. The city already uses many of these tools today. Through the City Plan, we will evaluate our tools and reﬁne them as necessary. Planning ConsultantsCity Plan: A New Comprehensive Plan for Wheat Ridge Visit Whatsupwheatridge.com/city-plan ENCOURAGING TEMPORARY USE Ward Station is easily accessible to all residents within the transit village and should be enhanced with amenities such as food carts, seating areas, and other features. These improvements will not only enhance the commuter experience but also serve as a prototype for future development in the area. Ward Station Emerging Transit Village Home to Wheat Ridge’s only rail stop, the Ward Station transit village is an emerging neighborhood in the northwest portion of the city, north of I-70. There is a mix of new apartments and townhomes, existing single-unit homes, warehousing, and light industrial uses, and the area also has significant redevelopment opportunities. As in many areas of the city, residents have expressed a desire for commercial activity in this area, particularly since it is somewhat isolated from other parts of the city. As residential growth continues and the area becomes more commercially viable, the city should focus on incentivizing and attracting these much-needed commercial uses, while retaining light industrial activity which plays an important role in the city’s jobs and economic development. Issues and Opportunities • Underutilized Land • Placemaking • Emerging Neighborhood PEDESTRIAN PLAZA Pedestrian improvements should extend beyond sidewalks to include plazas, outdoor gathering spaces, and other amenities, all of which contribute to a vibrant environment. RESIDENTIAL & COMMERCIAL / RETAIL (MIXED USE) The residential component of the Ward Station transit village has expanded significantly over the past decade, while commercial development has remained largely absent. The city should prioritize and incentivize commercial growth in the near future to create a more balanced and vibrant mixed-use district. SCREENING & LANDSCAPING Open spaces offer essential opportunities for recreation and social gathering. As the transit village continues to develop, preserving and integrating green spaces or recreational amenities will become increasingly important for maintaining community well-being and livability. APPLYING OUR TOOLS The following renderings are for illustrative purposes only and are meant to help visualize how various tools could look if implemented in Wheat Ridge. Those tools are organized into the following four categories: Use Tools, Form Tools, Going Places Tools, and Staying Places Tools. The city already uses many of these tools today. Through the City Plan, we will evaluate our tools and reﬁne them as necessary. Planning ConsultantsCity Plan: A New Comprehensive Plan for Wheat Ridge Visit Whatsupwheatridge.com/city-plan IMPLEMENTATION: A ROADMAPSTATION #5 Do you have any comments or questions about City Plan implementation? Share them on a sticky note and post here: Initiate pilot program for frontage improvements on commercial corridors Review and revise zoning code to allow appropriate temporary and short-term commercial development Complete 38th Avenue Refresh Study and Final Design Initiate pilot program for paint/striping improvements in coordination with repaving schedule, starting with 29th Avenue Execute agreements to ensure possibility of future trail connection through closed Kullerstrand campus Create a stormwater utility and associated fee and implement Stormwater Master Plan Complete ongoing emergency stormwater repairs Coordinate with JeffCo School District to pursue a partnership that allows private redevelopment and public parks on closed campuses in Wheat Ridge Update regulatory codes with Quick Wins to facilitate peaceful coexistence Analyze regulatory codes to identify opportunities to implement the City Plan Implement other adopted plans Examples include: Wheat Ridge Prosperity Plan, Sustainability Action Plan, Parks and Recreation Pathway, Lutheran Legacy Campus Master Plan, 44th Avenue Subarea Plan, Affordable Housing Strategy Expand pilot program as appropriate Study feasibility of Business Improvement District on 38th Avenue Construct 38th Avenue Refresh Project Expand pilot program for paint/striping improvements in coordination with repaving schedule as appropriate Implement recommended findings from analysis Coordinate a Water/Sewer Master Plan with special districts Update regulatory code based on analysis Reassess/Update City Plan Update Bike and Pedestrian Master Plan and/or create Mobility Plan Establish long-term Capital Improvements Program funding and prioritization strategy Conduct a traffic analysis for multimodal improvements to 44th Avenue Continue to implement proactive infrastructure programs and projects Examples include: Pavement and sidewalk maintenance program, 44th Avenue/Clear Creek bridge upgrade, Anderson Pool Replacement Near Term: 0-3 Years2025-2027 Mid-Term: 4-8 Years2028-2032 Long-Term: 9-15 Years2033-2040 Proactive Infrastructure Management Network of Pedestrian and Bicycle Facilities Across the City Improved Retail and Business Environment and 38th Ave Main Street Preserve our Patchwork Quilt: Manage New Development Ongoing Planning Efforts Key City Plan Principles and Priorities Design and construct ongoing multimodal improvement projects Examples include: 38th Avenue West (Kipling to Youngfield), Tabor bridge over I-70, 35th Avenue (Wadsworth to Sheridan), Clear Creek Trail crossing at Kipling HOW DOES IMPLEMENTATION WORK? After the City Plan is adopted, work will begin to implement the priorities and policies identified in the plan. The graphic on the right provides an overview of what to expect after adoption. It doesn’t list every project or program going on in the city—instead, it illustrates the high-level next steps needed to advance key principles and priorities. The full City Plan document will include more detail on the items shown here. It will also provide a decision- making framework, based on community-driven core values and principles, to provide guidance around unforeseen challenges that arise in the future. Because the City Plan is intended to provide direction across topics over the next 15 or so years, it will include both near-term actions as well as ambitious, long-term direction. These are shown in three phases: Near Term (the next three years), Mid-Term (approximately four to eight years from now), and Long-Term (approximately nine to 15 years from now). These timeframes are not exact, but they illustrate what to expect based on funding and staff capacity. Additionally, some actions can only happen after other steps have been taken. Instances that require specific sequencing of multiple steps are illustrated with a connecting arrow. Some of the actions on the right are funded; some are not and will require future community conversations about if and how we will fund them.