To: Honorable Mayor and Members of Town Council
Through: David L. Corliss, Town Manager
From: Tara Vargish, PE, Director, Development Services
Brad Boland, AICP Planning Manager, Development Services
Ashlynn Miller, Planner 1, Development Services
Title
Discussion/Direction: Drone Retail Delivery Regulations
Body
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Executive Summary
Commercial drone retail delivery is an emerging land use issue for many local governments. The Town of Castle Rock recently received a pre-application inquiry for a drone delivery operation at the Walmart located at 133 Sam Walton Lane. The proposed operation would be associated with Walmart and Wing and would provide last-mile delivery of small retail items from launch facilities located on the store property.
Local authority over drone delivery is limited. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) regulates airspace, aircraft operations, flight paths, altitude, and in-flight noise. As a result, the Town's primary regulatory authority is generally limited to the land use and site-related aspects of the operation, including where launch and landing infrastructure may be located, how the site is designed, what review process is required, and what locally permissible standards should apply to ground-based facilities.
Several communities have recently considered drone delivery facilities with varying outcomes. These examples demonstrate that local governments should address land use compatibility, siting, and approval processes before operations begin. Once a drone delivery operation is approved and active, a municipality may have limited ability to address concerns related to flight activity, noise, and overflights because those matters are generally regulated at the federal level.
Staff is not presenting a proposed ordinance at this meeting. The purpose of this item is to provide Town Council with background information, identify potential regulatory considerations, and receive direction on whether staff should continue researching the issue and return with a draft ordinance for future Town Council consideration.
Staff recommends that Town Council direct staff to proceed with additional research and bring forward an ordinance establishing a local review process and land use standards for drone retail delivery facilities consistent with the Council discussion.
Staff Recommendation
Staff recommends that Town Council direct staff to continue researching drone retail delivery regulations and bring forward a draft ordinance at a future Council meeting. The ordinance would be intended to define the use, establish an appropriate review process, and create land use and site design standards for ground-based drone delivery facilities, consistent with Town Council's discussion and direction.
Proposed Motion
"I move to direct staff to bring back an ordinance addressing drone retail delivery facilities as discussed tonight."
Alternative Motion:
"I move to direct staff to bring back an ordinance addressing drone retail delivery facilities as discussed tonight with the following changes __________________."