On the agenda: Basalt meeting — data center (Mar 3)

See separate instructions on how to access the meeting
TOWN OF BASALT MEETINGS
Planning and Zoning Commission Meeting
Tuesday, March 3, 2026
Basalt Town Hall

101 Midland Avenue

5:45 PM

Commissioner Light Dinner at Town Hall

6:00

1

6:03

2A Worksession- Land Use Code and Development Regulations Rewrite

Call to Order

2B Recommended Action: Staff and Consultant Comments, P&Z Discussion
6:55

Commissioner Comments and Staff Updates

7:05

Adjourn

Items on the agenda are approximate and intended as a guide for the Commission. Times are subject to change, as is
the order of the agenda. For deadlines and information required to schedule an item on the agenda, please contact
Basalt Town Hall at 927-4701.

TOWN OF BASALT, COLORADO
P&Z MEETING - TUESDAY, MARCH 3, 2026
PUBLIC COMMENT ACCESS INSTRUCTIONS

The Basalt Planning & Zoning Commission will meet in person. The P&Z will conduct a hybrid meeting
where the public may attend the meeting to make their comments in person or may join the meeting
and make their comments via Zoom.
Directions for viewing and accessing the meeting to provide comment during public the public comment
portion of the agenda, or during public hearings is provided below.

Zoom Webinar: Tuesday, March 3, 2026 06:00 PM Mountain Time (US and Canada)
Topic: P&Z - 03/03/2026
Join from PC, Mac, iPad, or Android: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/89956636387

Phone one-tap: +17193594580,,89956636387# US +16694449171,,89956636387# US
Join via audio:
+1 719 359 4580 US
+1 689 278 1000 US
+1 360 209 5623 US
+1 564 217 2000 US

+1 669 444 9171 US
+1 305 224 1968 US
+1 386 347 5053 US
+1 646 931 3860 US

+1 669 900 6833 US (San Jose)
+1 346 248 7799 US (Houston)
+1 301 715 8592 US (Washington DC)

+1 253 205 0468 US
+1 309 205 3325 US
+1 507 473 4847 US

+1 253 215 8782 US (Tacoma)
+1 929 205 6099 US (New York)
+1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago)

Webinar ID: 899 5663 6387
International numbers available: https://us06web.zoom.us/u/kcMbXmH1s2

If you are unable to access the meeting using the link or call-in numbers above, please e-mail your
name, and phone number and item you wish to comment on to [email protected]. We will contact
you at the appropriate time in the meeting and make other arrangements for you to make your
comments.

MEMORANDUM
To:

Chair Vozick and Basalt Planning and Zoning Commission

From:

Michelle Bonfils Thibeault, Planning Director
James Lindt, Assistant Planning Director

Date:

March 3, 2026

RE:

Worksession- Land Use Code Rewrite Project

Background: The Town of Basalt has not completed a full update to the Town’s
development regulations for many years due to the Town Staff’s significant workload
and has instead adopted piecemeal code amendments over time as needed. Town
Staff and the Town’s review boards determined that a comprehensive update is
necessary to the Town’s Zoning Code, Subdivision Regulations, and Development
Review/Annexation Processes and Criteria.
Town Staff published a request for proposals and Design Workshop was
selected from the firms that made proposals. A contract for Design Workshop’s
services was executed in June of 2025.
Details: The Land Use Code Amendment Subcommittee, which includes three
P&Z members and various other users of the Town’s Zoning and Development
Codes, has met several times with Planning Staff and Design Workshop
Representatives to provide feedback on various aspects of the Zoning and
Development Codes.
Design Workshop representatives will be attending this
meeting to discuss various aspects of the Zoning and Development Code rewrite. Attached is a summary of the work conducted so far. Below is also a link
to draft amendments that have been formulated thus far:
https://designworkshop.box.com/s/euwy3zr20k9f0pemwx4cvsstljnr934t
Staff Recommendation: Staff recommends considering a presentation from
Staff and Design Workshop representatives and then having a guided P&Z
discussion on various code amendment topics to obtain feedback before the
1

Design Workshop takes the draft code amendment language to the next level of
completion. There will ultimately be public hearings at the P&Z level in the code
amendment adoption process that will follow the completion of the next level of
code drafting.
Attachment:
Design Workshop Summary Memo

2

MEMORANDUM
Landscape Architecture
Planning

To: Town of Basalt Planning and Zoning Commission

Urban Design
Strategic Services

From: Design Workshop

125 S Clark St

Date: February 20, 2026

Suite 660
Chicago, IL 60603
312.360.1736
designworkshop.com

Project Name: Basalt Land Use Code Updates
Project #: 8724
Subject: Existing Land Use Code Redlines Interim Update

This memorandum summarizes the existing work completed to date for the Basalt Land Use Code Update and is intended to provide
context for the major policy, organizational, and procedural changes currently reflected in the 50% redline draft.

Project Overview and Purpose
In 2020, the Town adopted a new Master Plan which identifies and articulates the community’s long-term vision and objectives to address
current issues and concerns facing the Town. This planning process resulted in a series of recommendations, based on community
feedback, including necessary updates to the Town’s existing Land Use Code to better align its regulations with the community values
established through the master planning process. The Town utilizes their current Zoning Regulations and Subdivision Regulations to guide
development and land use decisions within its municipal boundaries, where zoning regulations establish zone districts, design standards
and permitted land uses, and subdivision regulations establish standards for the processes required to divide large lots of land.
Design Workshop has completed a review of the Land Use Code and drafted 50% redline code language updates based on the
incorporation of policies from recent planning efforts, in addition to recommendations for improved structure and usability for the general
public, applicants, and decision makers.

Critical Success Factors
The Town of Basalt’s vision for the Land Use Code update is to create a transparent, user-friendly, and fully integrated document that
eliminates gaps, redundancies, and outdated language. The intent is to unify previously piecemealed amendments, ensure housing-related
updates are aligned with the broader code, and address procedural deficiencies. The updated code should be organized for ease of
navigation, provide clear and formalized processes for internal and external use, and balance top-down structure with bottom-up usability.
It should support both the Town’s long-term planning goals and day-to-day decision-making while ensuring zoning, definitions, and
supplemental regulations are consistent and accessible.

Guiding Principles
The following seven principles should guide the Zoning and Subdivision Regulations update. These are based on general code update
best practices, as well as feedback from the Town specific to Basalt:
▪

Create a code that is clear and does not require interpretation.

▪

Articulate the “why” in regulations.

▪

Provide clear processes that do not over-complicate reviews.

▪

Include clear language and enforcement options.

▪

Reinforce the ideas of sustainability that are in the Master Plan and coordinate with other on-going County efforts.

▪

Build off the Master Plan process and engagement - do not duplicate those efforts.

Page 1 of 4

Drafting Structure
These three recommendation frameworks guide the 50% code redlines:
1.

2.

3.

Simple and Structural
➢ Implement targeted updates to the existing code to improve clarity, streamline processes, and enhance usability.
➢ Clarify and standardize key terminology by revising and defining relevant policies throughout the code.
➢ Incorporate graphics and visuals to improve usability and readability throughout the code to provide effective standards
and guidance for applicants and permitting officials.
➢ Include graphic tools like tables, charts and flowcharts to improve cross-reference to streamline access to key
information.
Administrative Processes and Enforcement
➢ Consolidate administrative procedures into a single section to establish a consistent and unified workflow.
➢ Update administrative language in the LUC, as directed by the Town, to grant staff approval authority for minor
applications in order to accelerate review timelines and reduce the number of public hearings.
➢ Streamline approval processes by consolidating application types where possible, reducing redundancy, and providing
more predictable timelines.
New Policy Concepts
➢ Introduce new strategies that encourage high-quality development and provide developers with flexible options while
maintaining Town standards.

Draft Code Structure
The scope of the redlines includes the Land Use Code sections comprising existing Chapters 15 (Annexations), 16 (Zoning), and 17
(Subdivisions). The following section summarizes the changes to the overall code structure and Table of Contents.
Chapter 14, which was previously reserved and contained no substantive content, has been repurposed as the Annexations chapter. The
former Zoning chapter has been reorganized into two separate chapters: Zoning and Development. The Zoning chapter now includes only
zone district definitions and regulations, while all remaining articles previously contained within the Zoning chapter have been relocated to
the Development chapter. Chapter 17 has remained the Subdivisions chapter.

Page 2 of 4

Chapter 14 – Annexations

Revisions to the Annexations chapter are primarily structural and procedural, with limited changes to underlying policy. The chapter is
reorganized to include Colorado annexation and disconnection statutes, including clearer references to statutory requirements and the
addition of applicability language to clarify when annexation procedures apply. The annexation process will be further clarified through the
introduction of defined timelines and process graphics. A new set of annexation review criteria is added to formalize evaluation standards
and provide clearer guidance for decision-making.

Chapter 15 – Zoning
Updates to the Zoning chapter focus on reorganization and clarity. Definitions from chapters 15,16, and 17 are consolidated and
categorized to reduce duplication and ambiguity, with supporting graphics added where appropriate. Several specialized use regulations,
including medical marijuana and natural medicine uses, are relocated to other chapters to improve organization. The chapter structure is
revised to more clearly distinguish residential, commercial, industrial, and other zoning districts. A key policy change is the introduction of
conditional uses across residential, commercial, and industrial districts, allowing greater land use flexibility while maintaining discretionary
review. Land uses are also formally categorized in a new section, and the Developing Resources District is transitioned to a legacy district.

Chapter 16 – Development
Chapter 16 is established as a standalone Development chapter, consolidating development standards, discretionary review procedures,
and administrative processes that were previously distributed across multiple chapters. Environmental and hazard-related regulations,
including hillside, floodplain, and environmentally sensitive area standards, are consolidated into unified articles for clarity and consistency.
Page 3 of 4

Consolidated and expedited review opportunities are introduced by allowing staff-level approval of insubstantial PUD amendments,
affordable housing development, and administrative approval of certain parking reductions. New policy additions include a dedicated
Accessory Dwelling Unit article, a formal Conditional Use and Special Review procedures article, a Standard Development Procedures
section to standardize review pathways, and provisions addressing Proposition 123 requirements.

Chapter 17 – Subdivisions

Revisions to the Subdivisions chapter are largely organizational and administrative. Definitions are relocated to the zoning chapter to
establish a single source for defined terms, and Technical Review Committee provisions are moved out of the chapter. The chapter
structure is simplified by combining general and administrative provisions. Substantively, subdivision-related fees are relocated, and
parkland and school district dedication requirements are removed from this chapter.

Annotated Documents for Review

Our team has provided annotated redline drafts in Word and Adobe PDF for review with notes calling out proposed amendments for further
discussion. These notes are organized by chapter below. Based on recent discussions with the Working Group, we also anticipate
gathering feedback on several discrete topic areas including parking reductions, formula businesses, data centers, and land use
categories.

Chapter
14 – Annexations

15 – Zoning

16 - Development

17 - Subdivision

Notes
Note 14-1: Section 14-2. Applicability (New Section)
Note 14-2: Addition of CRS annexation requirements
Note 14-3: Application procedure timeline/process graphics
Note 14-4: Section 14-11 Annexation Review Criteria (New Section)*
Note 14-5: Addition of CRS disconnection eligibility requirements
Note 15-1: Categorization of Land Uses (New Section)*
Note 15-2: Consolidation and categorization of definitions, and inclusion of applicable graphics
Note 15-3: Introduction of conditional use in schedule of uses of residential districts*
Note 15-4: Introduction of conditional use in schedule of uses of commercial districts*
Note 15-5: Introduction of conditional use in schedule of uses of industrial districts*
Note 15-6: Transition of Developing Resources District to legacy zone district
Note 15-7: Relocation of medical marijuana facilities/establishments to Chapter 6
Note 15-8: Relocation of Natural medicine section to Chapter 6
Note 15-9: Addition of language for Formula Businesses
Note 16-1: Establishment of Development chapter
Note 16-2: New language pertaining to consolidated review of PUDs with 100% affordable housing units*
Note 16-3: Approval of insubstantial PUD amendments administratively
Note 16-4: Approval standards and criteria for PUDs (from CPSS)
Note 16-5: Standard Development Procedures article (New Article)*
Note 16-6: Accessory Dwelling Unit Article (New Article)
Note 16-7: Parking reduction criteria for mixed-use developments*
Note 16-8: Administrative approval of parking reductions
Note 16-9: Establishment of Natural and Environmental Hazards Article
Note 16-10: Consolidation of Hillside and Steep Slope Regulations, Flood Damage Prevention, and Rivers,
Wetlands and Environmentally Sensitive Areas Articles
Note 16-11: Conditional Use and Special Review Requirements and Procedures (New Article)*
Note 16-12: Colorado Prop 123 Section (New Section)*
Note 17-1: Consolidation of definitions in Chapter 15
Note 17-2: Relocation of Technical Review Committee to Chapter 2
Note 17-3: Relocation of Vested Property Rights to Common Development Procedures Section

Page 4 of 4