Centennial council approves technical updates to municipal and land development codes
June 17, 2025 | Centennial, Arapahoe County, Colorado
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The City Council of the City of Centennial on June 17 approved Ordinance 2025‑O‑06, a set of technical and minor amendments to Chapter 12 (Land Development Code) and Chapter 8 (fire lane designation) of the Centennial Municipal Code. The ordinance passed on second reading with an 8‑0 vote.
City planners told council the changes are intended to remove outdated references, clarify code language and add specific standards — including how accessory dwelling unit (ADU) heights are calculated, limits on recycled asphalt and recycled concrete for surfacing, and updated appeals procedures. “We love when things are predictable. We don't like chaos,” planner Brad McKennis said while describing the intended outcome of clearer and more predictable review outcomes.
Why it matters: staff said the LDC must be periodically updated to remove ambiguous language and references to manuals or positions that no longer exist. The ordinance clarifies whether ADUs are included under accessory building standards in the NC‑2A zone, specifies that an ADU’s height is measured “from grade on the front façade to the midpoint of the roof,” and states that a garage attached to an ADU does not count toward ADU habitable square footage. The amendments also prohibit use of recycled asphalt or recycled concrete as general surfacing material (except for remilling) due to stormwater and durability concerns raised by the Southeast Metro Stormwater Authority.
Other substantive revisions include: clarifying that Centennial no longer designates fire lanes (this function belongs to South Metro Fire Rescue), establishing a 15% maximum outdoor storage area relative to principal building floor area in certain industrial and employment center zones, clarifying front lot line determination for parcels without street frontage, requiring property‑owner authorization letters with variance applications, and adding a three‑year expiration for conditional use approvals that do not commence.
Council members asked staff to confirm operational impacts and exceptions. Councilmember Seidman asked whether addressing (house numbers) requirements are enforced; staff explained South Metro Fire reviews addressing as part of building permits. Councilmember Sweetland asked whether a land‑use application hold for properties with active code violations would prevent reuses that would bring a property into compliance; staff said the director retains discretion to allow flexibility in those cases.
The ordinance was recommended by the Planning & Zoning Commission on May 28 by a 7‑0 vote and will take effect 31 days after final publication on the city’s legal notices page.
City staff noted the amendments are intended to be largely clarifying rather than substantive policy shifts; staff and council also left the door open to future LDC amendments if additional standards are needed.
City planners told council the changes are intended to remove outdated references, clarify code language and add specific standards — including how accessory dwelling unit (ADU) heights are calculated, limits on recycled asphalt and recycled concrete for surfacing, and updated appeals procedures. “We love when things are predictable. We don't like chaos,” planner Brad McKennis said while describing the intended outcome of clearer and more predictable review outcomes.
Why it matters: staff said the LDC must be periodically updated to remove ambiguous language and references to manuals or positions that no longer exist. The ordinance clarifies whether ADUs are included under accessory building standards in the NC‑2A zone, specifies that an ADU’s height is measured “from grade on the front façade to the midpoint of the roof,” and states that a garage attached to an ADU does not count toward ADU habitable square footage. The amendments also prohibit use of recycled asphalt or recycled concrete as general surfacing material (except for remilling) due to stormwater and durability concerns raised by the Southeast Metro Stormwater Authority.
Other substantive revisions include: clarifying that Centennial no longer designates fire lanes (this function belongs to South Metro Fire Rescue), establishing a 15% maximum outdoor storage area relative to principal building floor area in certain industrial and employment center zones, clarifying front lot line determination for parcels without street frontage, requiring property‑owner authorization letters with variance applications, and adding a three‑year expiration for conditional use approvals that do not commence.
Council members asked staff to confirm operational impacts and exceptions. Councilmember Seidman asked whether addressing (house numbers) requirements are enforced; staff explained South Metro Fire reviews addressing as part of building permits. Councilmember Sweetland asked whether a land‑use application hold for properties with active code violations would prevent reuses that would bring a property into compliance; staff said the director retains discretion to allow flexibility in those cases.
The ordinance was recommended by the Planning & Zoning Commission on May 28 by a 7‑0 vote and will take effect 31 days after final publication on the city’s legal notices page.
City staff noted the amendments are intended to be largely clarifying rather than substantive policy shifts; staff and council also left the door open to future LDC amendments if additional standards are needed.
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