City of Louisville

Printable Version

City of Louisville

PLANNING COMMISSION MAY SCALE BACK HOUSING IN COMP PLAN UPDATE
Citizens concerns are prompting the Louisville Planning Commission to take a hard look at Comprehensive Plan Update proposals calling for 1600 new housing units in the city. In guarded language, Commissioners suggest that the nearly 15 percent increase in the city’s housing inventory will not likely survive the Comprehensive Plan Update approval process. Current planning documents call for an additional 1000 housing units; combined with the proposed 1600 the city could increase its housing/population by more than 20 percent. The city has a nearly 2 to 1 jobs to population ratio, suggesting that it has ample room to grow. Also, a consultant’s report showed that Louisville has a shortage of affordable and high-density housing options for workers, families, singles and seniors. A public hearing on April 28 brought out the critics again. Planning Commissioners expect to make their recommendation to City Council later this month and will likely suggest some additional housing but will likely support less than half the 1600 units proposed. In April, City Council extended a residential development moratorium, scheduled to end March 31, to allow time for the Comprehensive Plan Update process to be completed to insure that future housing development approvals are consistent with the Plan.

BLIGHT STUDY PAVES WAY FOR URBAN RENEWAL
Blight studies completed by Leland Consulting found deteriorated buildings, faulty street layouts and unsafe conditions along the T-shaped Colo. 42 corridor in Louisville. The blight finding paves the way for an urban renewal district under Colorado law and could lead to significant redevelopment in the area. The study area is bordered by Colo. 42 on the east, South Boulder Road on the north, Main Street on the West and Elm Street on the south. The blight designation will make it much easier for RTD to accommodate elements of the FasTracks transportation improvements in the area. Redevelopment is planned to accommodate mixed-use projects in transit oriented development design configurations that access and interface with commuter rail and bus facilities.

COUNCIL ADOPTS HISTORIC PRESERVATION ORDINANCE
City Council approved the city’s first historic preservation legislation on April 19. The law passed minus a controversial provision that would have given the city the ability to designate a property as a landmark without the agreement of the owner. In addition to providing authority to landmark individual buildings and create historic districts, the law provides for review of demolition permit requests on properties 50 years old or older. It provides up to 60 days for the review of historic significance before demolition could begin.