Zoning Rules

What is Zoning?

Zoning dictates how property can be developed by establishing permitted uses, maximum heights, minimum setbacks, maximum densities, open space requirements, and architectural requirements.

The City of Wheat Ridge will not develop or purchase the Lutheran Legacy Campus, but the City does control zoning, so custom zoning rules are being written specifically for the Lutheran Legacy Campus in alignment with the Master Plan. The new zone district will be called “Mixed Use-Lutheran Legacy Campus” or MU-LLC, and it is designed to implement the community-driven Lutheran Legacy Campus Master Plan.

What will the proposed zoning include?

The new "Mixed Use-Lutheran Legacy Campus" zone district will provide regulations and rules that will create some certainty around the following questions:

What will the area near existing homes look like?

On the east, south, and west sides of the campus, the first row of development will:

• Limit uses to single-unit homes, duplexes, and open space. No townhomes or apartments will be allowed. Height in this area will be limited to 2.5 stories (30 feet) if the Charter amendment passes.
• Require pitched roofs for any building that is 2.5 stories and prohibit 3-story flat roofed buildings.
• Prohibit rooftop or second story decks in the rear third of the lot to protect privacy of adjacent residents.

Examples of 2.5 story houses. The sloped roof results in a third story that is smaller than the lower stories.

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What will the 38^th Avenue frontage look like?

Currently, the hospital is set back from 38^th Avenue. To maintain that transition between the street and buildings on the campus, zoning regulations will require that buildings are set back as far from the street as they are tall. For example, a 70 foot tall building would need to be set back 70 feet from the property line. If the building is tiered (think of a wedding cake), as the building grows in height, the taller section will be pushed further from 38^th Avenue. See the examples below for a visual representation of this requirement.

Example 1: Setback applied to a building along 38th Avenue

Example 2: Setback and step back applied to a tiered building along 38th Avenue

The master plan states that future development should integrate existing assets, such as the chapel, blue house, and trail along the Rocky Mountain Ditch, to the greatest extent possible. This will translate into zoning rules that:

• Require justification as to how the developer intends to rehabilitate and/or incorporate the chapel, the blue house, and the tuberculous tent into the new development.
• Provide direction to coordinate with the Rocky Mountain Ditch with the goal of retaining a trail along the ditch.

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What about the interior of the campus?

The master plan states that to preserve a lower density transition on the perimeter of the site, integrate the assets that the community identified as important, and maintain economically feasible development, the interior of the campus will be afforded more flexibility in both land use and height. Implementation of this expectation is dependent on the proposed Charter amendment, and it will translate into zoning rules that:

• Allow a mix of uses including community destinations, employment, and housing in the center of the campus and along 38^th Avenue.
• Prohibit auto-oriented uses such as drive-throughs, gas stations, car washes, and auto sales.
• Allow civic and some commercial/retail uses.
• Require windows, signage and lighting designed for pedestrians.
• Allow building heights up to 70 feet (5 stories) if the Charter amendment passes. As a point of reference, the existing hospital building is 91 feet tall.

(Read about how the zoning would be impacted if a potential Charter change did not pass in the FAQs.)

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What about open space?

The zoning will require consolidated, meaningful open space including parks, plazas, trails, and natural areas. This will include required public open space along Dudley, a trail along the Rocky Mountain Ditch, pedestrian and bicycle access throughout the site, regional stormwater management with enhanced design requirements, an analysis of existing trees, and public open space amenities throughout the site.

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How will people get around and park?

Traffic and parking studies will be required once a redevelopment is proposed. The developer will be responsible for any infrastructure improvements required to accommodate the proposed development, including sidewalks, streets, and on-street parking. Staff review will encourage the developer to consolidate parking, particularly in areas with commercial or retail uses. Within the site, pedestrian and bicycle connections will be required throughout the campus to ensure access to all open space amenities. An extension of 35^th Avenue into the campus at Dudley will be prohibited for vehicle traffic but required for people walking or biking.

What if I want even more details?

For more details on the zoning framework, you can check out the staff report from the August 15, 2024 Planning Commission meeting.

How can I make my voice heard?

You can do this online or in person. To provide your comments online, fill out this comment form by September 17^th.

To provide your comments in person, you can attend the Let’s Talk Wheat Ridge Open House and Lutheran Legacy Campus Neighborhood Meeting on Tuesday, September 17 from 4:30 to 6:30 pm at the Wheat Ridge Recreation Center (4005 Kipling St). There is no formal presentation, so stop by any time between 4:30 and 6:30pm.