Broomfield council approves Northlands hospital height, parking changes

Broomfield City Council voted 6-2 July 28 to approve changes to the Northlands planned-unit development, allowing hospital and medical-office buildings up to 150 feet and setting parking ratios for those uses. The action clears a land-use step for the proposed UCHealth campus near Interstate 25 and Colorado 7.

Council members Twiss and Ward opposed Resolution 2026-95. Council Member Cohen recused himself because of his employment with UCHealth, according to the July 28 council meeting record.

The third Northlands PUD amendment changes the development's height and parking provisions; its other requirements remain in effect, the council packet says. The adopted height table allows up to 150 feet for hospitals and medical offices. The maximum remains 60 feet for corporate and professional offices, commercial and retail uses, hotels and residential uses.

The new parking standards are:

• Hospitals: two spaces per bed, plus one space per 300 square feet of outpatient clinics and service areas.
• Medical offices and clinics: one space per 200 gross square feet of floor area.
• Parking spaces: at least 9 by 18 feet, with a 24-foot drive aisle.

The PUD still requires compliance with Broomfield code unless a parking count is established in the PUD plan or a variation is approved during site development. No deviations were requested.

The taller limit could allow a future hospital building to grow vertically rather than across the site, which UCHealth said could preserve green space and reduce the campus footprint. It does not establish that a building will reach 150 feet, set a final parking supply or determine traffic effects. Staff said the site plan would come later through a separate quasi-judicial application, anticipated in late fall 2026 or early winter depending on scheduling. The record did not set construction or opening dates.

The council also unanimously adopted Ordinance 2306 on second and final reading. The measure adds fiscal-impact review criteria to rezonings, PUD plans and amendments, and uses by special review; the agenda materials say the last category was added during first-reading action June 2.

The criteria direct the city to consider proposals' effects on long-term fiscal health. For uses by special review, the review will compare projected direct revenues, including property, sales and use taxes, with projected city-service costs. The ordinance allows approval despite adverse fiscal impacts if mitigation or broader community benefits outweigh them; a positive fiscal impact alone would not require approval.