January Project Updates: Jan. 16, 2025

16 Jan 2025

As we head into the new year, here are updates from our Future of Commercial Zones and Centers: Land Use Code Updates team:

Launching Focus Groups

The City is launching focus groups with small groups of representatives at the end of January. We want to ensure the interests and needs of all key stakeholders are heard and considered in this round of Land Use Code updates.

We selected focus group participants based on expertise, experience working with the City, past and future interaction with the Land Use Code and ability to represent community interests. The focus groups will be intentionally small, so that participants have enough time to share their thoughts and hear from others.

The focus groups will solicit feedback on how to:

Update the Land Use Code to address existing barriers.
Enable more mixed-use development, especially along transit corridors and within commercial centers.
Promote compatible infill and complete streets.
Create resilient commercial centers that support local business and are adaptable to future community needs.

The focus groups will be conducted by Kearns & West(External link), a neutral third-party facilitation firm. A report on the feedback from these groups will be shared in a future project newsletter.

Launching Internal Working Groups

City staff have assembled three topic teams that will meet on a monthly basis to help brainstorm and provide feedback on possible Code changes and help project staff and consultants understand any impacts to different departments and work groups.

Topic Team for Commercial Centers and Employment Districts

This team will explore the role of Employment zoning in the community and potential changes to what mix of land use is appropriate in these areas of the community. Additionally, this group will also be looking at the various commercial and retail centers throughout the community (e.g. grocery-anchored retail sites, and neighborhood scale centers).

Topic Team for Transit Oriented Development and 15-Minute City Goals

This team is focused on requirements or enhancements for more transit supportive development along high frequency transit corridors and implementation of 15-Minute City goals(External link) and policies in development and redevelopment in these areas.

Topic Team for Development Review Process and Change of Use

This topic has a major focus on potential changes to the review process and requirements when commercial sites develop or redevelop. A strong focus will be on the Minor Amendment process for changes of use and what requirements and site upgrades are required and when.

The City will utilize the input of both the focus groups and the internal working groups to produce and test various concepts for code changes throughout the winter and into the spring. These potential changes will be circulated for review by the community and City Council prior to a draft Land Use Code being released. Our staff is anticipating an additional City Council Work Session in April 2025, with accompanying community events and opportunities to provide feedback around this time. As these are developed, we'll continue to provide updates here on the webpage and to all who've subscribed to the webpage.