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FIRST READING OF AN ORDINANCE AMENDING SECTIONS 21-5248 AND 21-11200 OF THE LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE RELATING TO THE SUPPLEMENTAL REGULATIONS FOR LODGING ESTABLISHMENTS BY AMENDING THE LODGING ROOM MINIMUM.
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Summary & Background
The Land Development Code (LDC) (Ordinance #1798) was adopted by City Council in January 2009 and went into effect on March 1, 2009. This Land Development Code was a comprehensive update to the Commerce City Zoning Ordinance, which included a wide variety of topics dealing with development and land use, such as application types, zoning districts, use standards, subdivision procedures, design standards and signs. Thousands of items are included within the Land Development Code and overall, the updated code has been a tremendous help to staff and applicants when reviewing development proposals. While the LDC will receive another comprehensive update in the next 1.5 years, certain changes or amendments are currently necessary and helpful to guide future development.
City Council and the Economic Development Division have expressed a desire to remove the size requirement for lodging establishments along the E-470 corridor. The amendment proposed in Ordinance 2423 promotes economic development along the E-470 corridor through the removal of Section 21-5248(1) which requires a minimum of 150 guest-lodging rooms within one mile of E-470. Hotel development and travel needs have changed considerably since the adoption of the LDC in 2009 and the majority of new hotels contain less than 150 rooms due to financial costs and franchising requirements. Further, the area surrounding E-470 is uniquely situated where the northern most section is only a 20-minute drive from the Denver International Airport, making these areas desirable for hotel development. No other changes to this section are anticipated through the ordinance.
On September 7, 2022, the city’s Planning Commission voted 5-0 to recommend approval to City Council.
The com...
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