The City Planning Department is looking for feedback from the public about proposed changes to the City's zoning and subdivision ordinance (chapter 7 of the City Code). This section of the City Code guides how property owners (including homeowners and businesses) can use their land.
The ordinance is being updated in three sections, or "modules." The first of these three modules has been drafted and is now open for public review and comment. City Planning held a virtual public meeting on May 5, 2020, but residents can still review the meeting materials, draft, and other documents online. Feedback on the draft will be accepted via email until May 20, 2020.
View the draft and give feedback
What is the Zoning and Subdivision Ordinance?
The Zoning and Subdivision Ordinance governs land use, growth, and development within neighborhoods. It establishes different categories of land use (known as zoning districts) and outlines what uses (residential, business, industrial, etc.) are allowed in each district. Each zone has a different set of rules for how the property in that area can be developed, such as:
- Landscaping requirements
- Building heights
- Where structures can be built on a lot and how they can be used
- How properties can be subdivided
- How wide the streets need to be
- The type of drainage and stormwater facilities are needed
- Dimensional standards, which include lot sizes and setbacks (how much space is required between structures, from a lot line or the street)
All of these things combined impact the look, feel, and personality of a development.
More about RetoolCOS
RetoolCOS will focus on:
- Reviewing regulations for residential and commercial zoning districts
- Reviewing lot sizes for each zoning district
- Rules and requirements for developing property within each zoning district
- Transportation options including bus, bike, pedestrian, and personal vehicles
- Modifying existing and creating new zoning districts that allow for new development trends (i.e. – smaller lot sizes)
- Parking requirements
- Landscape standards
- Allowing more mixed-use development to allow people to work, shop, and recreate closer to where they live
- Making the city code more user-friendly with graphics and flow-charts for processes
Some things that RetoolCOS will NOT focus on:
- Building and construction codes
- Sign regulations
- Parkland and school land dedication
- Fees or studies related to the City’s fiscal impacts of development
- Short-term rentals
- Accessory dwelling units
- Wireless communication facilities/small cell telecommunication facilities including 5G
Building on PlanCOS
RetoolCOS is a follow up to PlanCOS, the City’s recently updated Comprehensive Plan. PlanCOS helped us identify how our city’s needs and priorities have changed over the last 25 years when it comes to how land is used and developed within city limits. RetoolCOS is the next step needed to give life to the established vision.
For more information about RetoolCOS, project timeline and how to get involved, visit www.coloradosprings.gov/retoolcos.