Cortez planning staff have scheduled three public meetings this month to receive input on an update to the city\u2019s land use code.<\/p>\n
The meetings are scheduled for 5:30-7 p.m. on Feb. 11 at City Hall; noon Feb. 13 at the Colorado Welcome Center at Cortez; and 5:30 to 7 p.m. on Feb. 20 at City Hall.<\/p>\n
City Planner Tracie Hughes said staff will present posters and give a short presentation on the process, how they got here and highlights of the draft.<\/p>\n
She said she will touch on the broad subjects, uses, design standards and topics she thinks are important for residents to know about.<\/p>\n
\u201cMore than anything, we\u2019re trying to make sure they\u2019re aware there is a code they can read and then submit comments to us,\u201d Hughes said.<\/p>\n
After the three meetings, Hughes said staff will compile the input and bring it back to the Cortez Planning and Building Commission.<\/p>\n
City staff have been working toward the update for about four years. They have interfaced with consultants, conducted public workshops and discussed the issues with the commission.<\/p>\n
Hughes said the draft update to the Land Use Code revolves around the city\u2019s Comprehensive Plan, adopted in 2008, and the Community Heart and Soul advisory team, which supported a Cortez Community Storybook published in 2015.<\/p>\n
The storybook established eight core values: friendly people, importance of place, small-town feel, community activities, diversity, education, business and agriculture.<\/p>\n
\u201cI want to remind people the code is based on the already-established comprehensive plan and community values so we kind of drafted it based on that,\u201d Hughes said.<\/p>\n
The proposed draft creates design standards for commercial structures, adds specific landscaping requirements and simplifies the approval process for site plans and building permits with permitted uses.<\/p>\n
For commercial structures, the draft has different regulations for buildings under 10,000 square feet and over 10,000 square feet to differentiate between big box stores and small businesses.<\/p>\n
On the residential side, the draft clarifies some requirements and code language regarding metal carports, fences and accessory buildings.<\/p>\n
Read the 447-page draft land use code update at www.cityofcortez.com\/478\/Land-Use-Code-UPDATE.<\/p>\n