To: Honorable Mayor and Members of Town Council
Through: David L. Corliss, Town Manager
From: Tara Vargish, PE, Director, Development Services
Title
Resolution Amending the Provisions Governing the Review and Update of Castle Rock Design: Guidelines for Design and Development in the Town of Castle Rock [Downtown Code and Guidelines Amendments]
Body
______________________________________________________________________
Executive Summary
Town Council directed staff on June 7, 2022, by a vote of 7-0, to bring back an Ordinance to amend Chapters 17.42 and 15.64 clarifying what the Castle Rock Municipal Code governs and that various design guidelines should be used to aid in redevelopment downtown and in the historic downtown area. In addition, Town Council directed staff to bring forward a Resolution clarifying that Castle Rock Design will not be updated on a set schedule, but as needed if Town Council so directs. Staff has attached this Resolution for consideration as Attachment A.
Downtown Castle Rock is a special and unique part of the Town. It is recognized as the Town’s “Main Street” and is emblematic of its “small town” and “western” feel. Areas of Downtown have been undergoing redevelopment in recent years, attracting new businesses and new residents, increasing daytime activity and adding life to weekend events. As these new developments have opened up, and visitors and traffic have increased, some Council concerns have arisen regarding development in Downtown. Over the last year or so, Council has discussed various aspects of the Downtown, more recently the relationship between the Castle Rock Municipal Code Downtown Overlay District (Code), and the various Town guiding documents.
With Town Council direction, staff recently reviewed the basic elements of the Downtown Overlay District (DOD) Code and the guiding documents in order to identify inconsistencies and make a recommendation on how to clarify what the Code governs. Recommendations were presented at the June 7, 2022 Town Council meeting for ways to clarify that the code governs and the guiding documents should aid in redevelopment, including the ordinance and resolutions presented for consideration tonight.
Staff Recommendation
Staff has reviewed the various documents related to downtown development, and determined that while they generally complement each other in the overall goals and objectives to maintain Downtown as the heart of Castle Rock, they differ on the specific areas of building height and building style/materials. In addition, Castle Rock Design has not been updated every 3 years, and the 2030 Comprehensive Master Plan omits reference to the Downtown Master Plan.
To meet Town Council’s desire to clarify that the DOD Code govern over any conflicting recommendations within a guiding document, and to clarify inconsistencies, staff offers the following recommendations. These recommendations preserve the intent of the guiding documents as they were written in the past, but make it clear that the more recent code language is what governs.
• Amend the DOD Chapter 17.42 of the CRMC to make it clear that the DOD Code governs, and that Guiding Documents such as Castle Rock Design and the Downtown Master Plan, may be used as a recommendation and aid in such evaluation.
• Amend the HP Chapter 15.64 of the CRMC to make it clear that the HP Code governs, and that Guiding Documents such as Castle Rock Style and Castle Rock Design, may be used as a recommendation and aid in such evaluation.
• Adopt a new resolution that clarifies that the Castle Rock Design guidelines are a recommendation for design, and that instead of being updated on a set schedule, they will be updated when Town Council so chooses to direct staff.
Staff has provided the recommended Ordinance to amend Chapter 17.42 and Chapter 15.64 on the agenda this evening. A Resolution regarding Castle Rock Design is attached for consideration as Attachment A to this report.
Proposed Motions
Regarding Castle Rock Design:
“I move to adopt the Resolution for Castle Rock Design as presented.”
Alternative Motions:
“I move to adopt the Resolution as introduced by Title, with the following changes ________.”
“I move to continue this item to ___(date)_______ to allow time for additional research regarding ________________”
Attachments
Staff Report
Attachment A: Resolution for Castle Rock Design
Attachment B: July 6, 2010 Town Council Staff Report
Attachment C: July 27, 2010 Town Council Staff Report
Attachment D: Code Comparison to Guiding Documents Matrix