Council approves first reading of UDO amendments increasing setbacks and adjusting natural medicine rules

City Council gave unanimous first-reading approval on May 11 to CB 20-38, an ordinance proposing multiple amendments to Chapter 11 of the Northglenn Municipal Code (the Unified Development Ordinance).

Director of Planning & Development Becky Smith summarized the package of edits, which include raising minimum building setbacks for mixed-use neighborhood and corridor districts from 5 feet to 10 feet, expanding hours of operation for "natural medicine healing centers," removing distance constraints to residential and park locations for certain natural-medicine businesses, and several administrative corrections. Smith said staff will present a formal public hearing at second reading, scheduled for June 8.

Council members asked whether existing buildings or entitled projects would be affected; Smith noted an example (Elekson development on Community Center Drive) that prompted the planning commission's request to reconsider setbacks and said entitled but not-yet-constructed projects on York Street also include areas at the current 5-foot setback.

The council opened the vote and CB 20-38 passed unanimously on first reading.