In mid-October, the City of Wheat Ridge was awarded $2 million by the Colorado Housing and Finance Authority (CHFA) Land Banking Grant Program funded by Proposition 123. The grant funds will allow the city to support MGL Partners in acquiring a property on the Lutheran Legacy Campus to build 50 units of affordable housing for seniors. The city must sign the grant commitment letter to accept the grant funds. The purpose of the November 9 study session discussion is to provide a summary of the land banking opportunity, discuss the required course of action to utilize the grant, and to seek direction on next steps.

This ordinance responds to the Supreme Court's decision in Hobbs v City of Salida, revising the City's noise standards to conform with the statute which allows City regulation to be “no less restrictive” than the state noise law. The ordinance also amends the City’s amplified sound permit system to limit any such permits (other than those the City issues to itself for use on City property or permits issued by special districts and nonprofits on land they own, for an authorized purpose) to the state noise standards.

Staff are seeking approval to award a professional services contract to Muller Engineering Company in the amount of $2,645,613 to provide design services for the Tabor Street Multimodal Improvement Project. The project will improve multimodal connectivity along Tabor Street between Clear Creek Trail and the West Interstate 70 Frontage Road North. The design will incorporate pedestrian and bicycle facilities, traffic calming, drainage improvements, lighting, utility coordination, and evaluation and design of improvements to the existing Tabor Street bridge crossing over I-70. These improvements will support safer travel and improve connections between residential areas, employment centers, the Clear Creek Trail, and the Ward Road G Line Station.

The city is beginning a multi-year effort to update the zoning code (Chapter 26 of the Municipal Code) to implement the recently adopted City Plan. The effort will also address other code changes identified through staff experience, City Council and community feedback, state legislation, and development review. This work will include both policy-driven amendments and technical code cleanup, with the goal of ensuring that the regulations governing development in Wheat Ridge are aligned with the community’s adopted vision. Historically, City staff have completed zoning code amendments in-house. However, the city has currently budgeted to hire outside zoning expertise to assist with a comprehensive audit of the code and development of recommended amendments. The consultant will evaluate both residential and non-residential regulations, identify barriers to development, outdated or unclear provisions, and provide best-practice research and technical assistance to staff as amendments are developed. The purpose of this study session is to preview the zoning code work anticipated over the next several years and provide Council an opportunity to discuss the overall approach and individual topics. No specific Council consensus or direction is requested at this time. Staff expects to bring individual amendments or groups of related amendments to Council for discussion and action as the work progresses.

The proposed ordinance makes updates to the city's existing "social club" regulations in Chapters 11 and 26. The Chapter 26 updates amend the zoning code to define types of "event venues" and clarify where event venues are permitted, or permitted with restrictions. Conforming amendments in other code chapters are required to ensure proper enforcement strategies are available to the city.