How would the zoning code update affect Golden's projected population and ability to provide services? What are the financial impacts?

Incorrect title on p 54

This page is labeled Four-cottage compound but it should be labeled Four-cottage compound with shop.

Parking

Abolish Parking Minimums - These rules are not only unnecessary: they are destructive of our communities’ financial strength and resilience. They push homes and businesses farther apart, impede the walkability of our neighborhoods, raise the cost of housing, and place an especially costly burden on small, local entrepreneurs. https://www.strongtowns.org/parking https://walkerconsultants.com/blog/2019/02/13/are-parking-minimums-a-thing-of-the-past/

What criteria was used to establish each of these new form zones from the other?

Transition, Edge, Outer Edge, Peripheral

Landscaping Site Design: Corner lot fencing should reflect actual site circumstances and appropriate fence height, design and setback.

Corner lots that have a side lot line as a continuation of a front lot line of an adjacent lot should be limited to the same fence style and height as allowable front yard fencing; this applies only to the fencing that would occur along the side and rear property line that is within the front yard area of the adjacent lot. Corner lots which have a side lot line as a continuation of the side lot line of an adjacent lot should be allowed the same fence style and height as allowable side yard fencing, however the fence setback from the right of way must be no less than the fence height, with a landscape area to occur within that setback.

Tiny Homes - fixed foundations

I am in favor of option for tiny homes, but would rather they be closer to a cottage (but small) than an RV and be mobile. The devil is in the details. Denver is allowing Tiny Home Villages (https://www.denvergov.org/content/dam/denvergov/Portals/646/documents/Zoning/text_amendments/Group_Living/Tiny_home_villages_meeting_presentation.pdf), but only in certain zone districts and they require shared bath and kitchen, and are more of a solution to homelessness. I'm NOT seeking that option. Instead I like what Park County is doing (https://tinyhousecommunity.com/park-county-colorado-allows-tiny-houses/) allowing tiny homes, and would expect that they would have a bath and kitchen inside, or access to one on property. I would like these to be allowed in all zone districts as an allowed use. If they are allowed in a cluster, and could be split off for ownership (like a condo) then it is a path to family wealth on the low end that is sorely missing in Golden.

Regardless of the building form type, side setback should remain at five feet.

Legible Building Forms Zone Map

The Building Forms Zone Map is a critical part of the draft Zoning Code Update and needs to be reviewed along with the various documents that comprise the draft Zoning Code Update. The current map, which is listed under the Zoning Code Update, under Documents, is very difficult to read and to navigate since so few streets are included on the map. In order to improve legibility of the map and to facilitate meaningful review of this map and the Form Zones by residents, can you please revise the map by: 1. adding more streets and identifiers on the map, including a North arrow and 2. breaking down the map into 4 quadrants? I printed a copy of the map in color on Tabloid size paper (11" X 17") and it is not legible. Perhaps the map that is available under Documents was not sized to accommodate this. I appreciate that you can enlarge the map, on line, but, I find it beneficial to have a printed copy of the map in front of me to refer to while I review the draft Zoning Code Update. Also, it appears that residential use is only identified as core use zones in a very few areas, primarily in the center of downtown Golden (as identified by a "C + one of the 5 R use zone designations). The majority of the existing residential property is considered Peripheral in the Form Zone language and, thus, subject to significant change, particularly away from single family use. Is that the intent of the staff and consultants? I look forward to your response. Will comments such as this one, that I have included in this "idea box", be made available to other Golden residents who are aware of the Zoning Code Rewrite are also in the process of reviewing the same? Please advise. Thank you, M.L.

Four Story Apartment Buildings type 18.29.290(3) have no place in Golden

This building type looks to be just like the anywhere USA housing that we suffer from already, but at the apartment scale. This picture from Littleton shows basically the same thing. The lack of a courtyard, makes it worse for sure, but the size, scale and style are still no where in town now. If we want to look like Littleton or Wheatridge fine, but if the goal is to preserve some character, then do not allow this apartment type anywhere.

Consider the option of a Cash-in-lieu of Open Space contribution

Open Space requirements for lots in excess of 22,000 sf may not always make sense in every application. Perhaps a cash-in-lieu payment for the land and development cost could satisfy the overall intent when used at an alternate, preferable location- at discretion of the City. Minuscule could become more practical.

We need a temporary moratorium on development while the zoning code changes are being considered.

When the recent zoning code changes were under consideration we saw a rush of development that would not be permitted under the proposed changes. We could very well see the same thing with these proposals. The City Council should place a moratorium on development to forestall a rush of development requests just before adopting this new code.

How can we as citizens help make Golden affordable

What in the new zoning form types allows for more affordable units to be built? Cottages look good, but what about tiny home?

Economic Development Director should not have such strong authority at the start of Zoning change process, perhaps after a year or so.

Planning commission changed rules for density and on over the desk minor replats. Yet city staff came forward recently with two cases (Newstar Way and 510 Arapahoe) in which they immediately wanted to subvert those rules. And, on the replat would have created a non-conforming structure if it had not been caught by planning commission. If we are making so many changes in the code there should be a second set of eyes on things until early mistakes are straightened out. Therefore it is not only in the interest of the citizens, but of the head of planning (Economic Development Director) to NOT have so much authority from the beginning. These are the clauses in the Form Code 18.29.600 that should be modified: The Director of Community and Economic Development shall have the authority to approve administrative adjustments that do not exceed qualitative regulations more than 5 %, without a building form variance approval process, as long as the applicant’s proposal fulfills the intent of the code; The determination of whether or not a structure is compliant shall be made by the Director of Community and Economic; The determination of whether or not a structure is nonconforming shall be made by the Director of Community and Economic Development.

I believe Boulder has had a rule limiting solar shading by neighbours.

Why doesn't Golden have one ? Is there a anything preventing a neighbour building something which partially or completely shades existing solar panels or a sole potential solar panel location ?

Uses - Consider expanding co-living

Co-living has been described by the city as: "‘Co-living’ is an umbrella term for different types of ‘co-housing’ setups, and can loosely be defined as a home, where two or more unrelated people live together, whereby each person signs their own lease for a private bedroom, and often bathroom, within a residence. However, in addition to the private accommodations, residents, or members as they are often called, share common living spaces, such as a family room, dining area, kitchen, laundry facilities, and recreation facilities." I would like everyone in a residential dwelling to decide whether to welcome an unrelated person into their home. It can help someone stay in their home when finances are tight and is a great option for some people. Right now, it is not an allowed use for several of the residential areas. Please consider adding it to all residential areas.

Can the language under Setbacks #1 read that setbacks shall be measured from the back of the curb rather than the property line?

Is there any rule incentivizing orientation of a sloping roof to maximize solar panel efficiency ?

And at this latitude, for a given orientation, there is an optimal range of roof slopes for solar panel productivity.

Why isn't East Street historic district listed as Core?

I don't understand why the East St. historic district, where we live, is not designated Core. It has similar characteristics to the examples and photos of Core provided in the document. This represents our neighborhood much more than the description of Peripheral that is provided. Peripheral is several blocks or more away from the homes along East street between 14th and 23rd street (approximately). Also, many of the houses west of us, across Jackson, are also Core and are listed as Peripheral...