Page 24 - Littleton, CO Comprehensive Plan

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LAND USE PLANNING COMMUNITY CHARACTER PRIMER

VERSUS ZONING The community character approach to evaluating and planning for land

The side-by-side comparison on the use emphasizes the variation in physical conditions experienced along a
previous page highlights the distinct spectrum from natural and rural landscapes at the edges of a community
purposes and uses of a future land use to its most urbanized environments. Looking beyond land use alone, a
map relative to a zoning map. The City’s character-based approach focuses on development intensity, which
development regulations are among the encompasses:
primary tools for implementing the Plan.
The zoning and subdivision regulations, The density and layout of residential development;
in particular, can play a significant role in
establishing and protecting the physical The scale and form of non-residential development; and
character of the community. These
regulations delineate land use districts and The building and pavement coverage relative to the extent of
the uses permitted within them, together open space and natural vegetation or landscaping.
with standards for buildings and site How the automobile is accommodated is a key factor in distinguishing
improvements. As a result, the zoning and
subdivision regulations largely direct character types including how public streets are designed, how parking is
development outcomes. Although the Plan provided, and how buildings and paved areas are arranged on sites.
and future land use map provide only Among the three major character classes:
general planning guidance, they become
the basis for updates of the zoning and Rural character areas have wide open spaces where structures and
subdivision regulations and the Zoning paved surfaces occupy only a minimal portion of the landscape.
Map. Suburban character areas have noticeably less intensive use of land,
LAND USE PLANNING with open and green spaces balancing – or, in Estate areas, exceeding
– the extent of land covered by structures and paved surfaces.
WITH CHARACTER Urban character areas exhibit the greatest pedestrian orientation,

through a more compact scale and “architectural enclosure” of streets
Map 1 shows areas within Littleton
designated in 16 categories that address by buildings situated close to front property lines and sidewalks.
both use and character: Within the Urban class, Auto Urban character areas are a particular

• Estate Residential planning challenge as they are designed mainly to accommodate
• Suburban Residential automobile circulation and parking. Land cover by buildings and paved
surfaces is similar to Urban areas, but without the walkability emphasis.
• Suburban Residential Attached
• Suburban Residential Multi-Family
• Auto-Oriented Residential
• Auto-Oriented Residential Attached
• Auto-Oriented Residential Multi-Family
• Residential Mix
• Mixed Character Core Neighborhood
• Suburban Commercial
• Suburban Business Park
• Auto-Oriented Commercial
• Corridor Mixed Use
• Urban Downtown Transition
• Urban Downtown Mixed Use
• Urban Downtown Main Street

Adopted October 15, 2019