Westminster draft would rewrite development rules beyond housing

A June 23 Planning Commission addendum shows Westminster is circulating a public-review draft of a full rewrite of its land-development rules, not just a housing update.

The proposed Unified Development Code would cover zoning and subdivision rules, parking, signs, rentals, historic preservation, telecommunications, oil and gas, and floodplain regulations, in addition to previously reported housing items such as more housing types, accessory dwelling units and an affordable-housing density bonus.

Workshop materials describe the effort as Westminster’s first comprehensive overhaul of development regulations since 1997. Staff told the Planning Commission on June 23 that the rewrite is intended to replace eight separate development-rule documents with one code and add provisions for adaptive reuse, infill, redevelopment, office and industrial development.

Parking drew substantial discussion. Staff told commissioners the draft generally would reduce minimum parking requirements by about 40% to 50%, with further reductions possible through parking studies, shared-parking credits and transit-proximity adjustments.

The addendum also includes comments challenging parts of the draft. The proposal would apply citywide unless stated otherwise and would require compliance before permits or approvals are issued. But it would exempt the city and some city-affiliated public-purpose entities, including the Westminster Housing Authority and Westminster Economic Development Authority, from zoning and subdivision regulations and some development-plan and platting procedures.

One commenter asked in the addendum why the city and its subsidiary organizations should be exempt from requirements imposed on private developers. Other comments questioned whether sustainability provisions could raise housing costs, objected to a restriction on vehicle storage or repair in parking areas, and said the affordable-housing density bonus may require a companion Comprehensive Plan amendment.

Westminster’s public calendar lists the June 23 item as a Planning Commission workshop, not a hearing or vote. Staff told commissioners they are still sorting through more than 1,400 public and internal comments and expect to prepare a revised draft later in 2026, likely in the fourth quarter, before it goes to City Council.

The public record reviewed for this update does not establish a hearing date, recommendation date or adoption schedule.