Thornton. Comprehensive Plan Update. visualize future, imagine possibilities. Adopted September 11, the. the

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1 City of Thornton Comprehensive Plan the the visualize future, imagine possibilities 2012 Update Adopted September 11, 2012

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3 Preface The City of Thornton is undertaking the task of updating the Comprehensive Plan and planning processes. This process will review current City data and examines a wide range of issues: future land uses, character of development, transportation systems, utility systems, and social and economic dynamics. This process will provide a strategic direction for the future of the city. The plan will make projections to the year This process will create community- based plans, stakeholder groups, and subcommittees to provide a unified plan for the city. From the City Council Charge; February 21, Introductory Statement The Thornton Comprehensive Plan: Visualizing the Future.. Imagining the Possibilities. This plan is testimony to the vision and dedicated direction provided by the community and its various organizations and individuals. The result is the emergence of a new vision guided by community conscience and indicative of the community s ideals and principles. Several groups and individuals have had a significant influence directing the development of this plan, and the vision created for Thornton is a testimony to their commitment and participation.

4 ii 2012 Acknowledgements Acknowledgements Mayor Heidi K. Williams City Council Members: Ward I Jenice JJ Dove Mack Goodman Ward II Eva Henry (Mayor Pro Tem) Val Vigil Ward III Beth Humenik Lynne Fox Ward IV Eric Tade Randy Drennen City of Thornton: Jack Ethredge City Manager Jeff Coder, AICP Deputy City Manager of City Development Glenda Lainis, AICP Policy Planning Manager Robert Larsen, AICP Senior Planner Karen Widomski Senior Policy Analyst Martin Postma, CEcD, EDFP Senior Policy Analyst Miguel Aguilar Policy Planning Intern III Cory Miller Volunteer Planner John Herman GIS Manager Liz Kienle GIS Analyst Jaime Giesen GIS Analyst Valorie Plesha GIS Analyst City vs. city Please note, throughout this document: City refers to the local government, City of Thornton, a Colorado home-rule municipal corporation. city refers to the geographic area and community of Thornton, Colorado. ii 2012 City of Thornton Comprehensive Plan

5 2007 Acknowledgements The following committees participated in the 2007 Comprehensive Plan development process which culminated in the creation of the plan themes and plan goals retained as the foundation of the 2012 Comprehensive Plan. Steering Committee Members: Belita Bennett Clarke Carlson Margaret Carpenter Scott Culley Bill Deibert Tony Fernandez Ron Hardin Paul Hepner Leanne Jeffers Art Mander Lew McCain Terry Melonakis Carol Norberg Mike Paskewicz Porcia Silverberg Mark Walker North Subcommittee Members: Jean Bratcher Paul Buelow Ryan Carlson Lynda DeHaven Randy Drennen Joy Gerdom Betty Jacobson Eric Johnson Sue Kuhl Rick Perez Pam Rhodes Randy Smith Chuck Stevenson Dr. Greg Stoll Tony Unrein Carolyn Zetterman Central Subcommittee Members: Charmaine Barton Joe Catanzaro Angelo Celeste Patrick Conner Wayne Covert Beth Humenik Kim Jetton John Lefebvre Kevin Lewin Greg Podracky Leon Reed South Subcommittee Members: Dan Baca Jim Bennett Gary Bugg Christine Elwess Ed Fleming Mack Goodman Ryan Martin JR McKnight Lee Overholt Jean Stewart Jo Thorne Al Ulibarri City of Thornton Jack Ethredge Jeff Coder, AICP Susan Connors, AICP Glenda Lainis, AICP Susanna Sotelo Robert Larsen Jeffrey Mitchell John Herman Valorie Plesha Jaime Giesen Design Team HNTB Corporation Dave Wenzel, AICP Martin Landers, AICP Brian Pieplow, AICP Scott Russell, AICP Scott Siefker, ASLA Ty Simmons Amy Williams David Yeiser Daniel Syrus Stanland Associates Ray Stanland, AICP Sammons-Dutton Lee Sammons, AICP The Osprey Group John Huyler Dennis Donald City Manager Deputy City Manager of City Development Planning Director Policy Planning Manager Planner II Planner I Intern III GIS Manager GIS Analyst GIS Technician Principal In Charge Project Manager 2012 City of Thornton Comprehensive Plan iii

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8 vi Table of Contents Preface...i Executive Summary...ES.1 Section 1 - Introduction Introduction City Council Charge Plan Development Process Plan Themes and Core Plan Goals Plan Concept Sustainability Key Changes from the 2007 Plan Coordination with Other Plans Section 2 - Setting Setting Community Growth and Change Regional Factors and Implications for Thornton Key Trends and Issues Section 3 - Future Land Use Land Use Framework Future Land Use Section 4 - Transportation and Utilities Introduction Transportation Water and Wastewater Utilities Section 5 - Quality and Diverse Neighborhoods Introduction Current Challenges Important Needs Planning Framework Major Strategies and Key Policies vi 2012 City of Thornton Comprehensive Plan

9 Section 6 - Plentiful Quality Jobs Introduction Current Opportunities Important Needs Core Recommendations Major Strategies and Key Policies Section 7 - Healthy City with Great Amenities Introduction Current Opportunities Important Needs Core Recommendations Major Strategies and Key Policies Section 8 - Active and Engaged Partnerships Introduction Current Opportunities Important Needs Core Recommendations Section 9 - Implementation and Use Introduction Evaluation and Progress on Implementation of 2007 Catalyst Actions Ongoing Actions Prior to 2017 Major Update Major Update Foundation Plan Amendment Plan Monitoring and Evaluation Appendix A - Hazard Identification and Mitigation...A.1 Appendix B - Glossary...B.1 Appendix C - School District Map...C.1 Technical Appendix (Bound as Separate Document) 1. Technical Appendix 1 - Meeting Summaries 2. Technical Appendix 2 - Economic Reports 3. Technical Appendix 3 - Surveys 2012 City of Thornton Comprehensive Plan vii

10 viii Table of Figures Preface...i Executive Summary...ES.1 Section 1 - Introduction Figure 1-1 The Comprehensive Planning Process Figure Comprehensive Plan Update Meetings Figure 1-3 City Council Value Statements and Plan Themes Figure 1-4 Plan Concept Map Figure 1-5 The Three E s of Sustainability Figure 1-6 Sustainable Development Framework for Thornton Figure 1-7 Comprehensive Plan and the Relationship to all other Plans Figure 1-8 Urban Centers in Thornton Section 2 - Setting Figure 2-1 Snapshot of Statistics for the City of Thornton Figure 2-2 Thornton in Context of the Northern Denver Metropolitan Area Figure 2-3 Annexations by Decade Figure 2-4 Population and Housing Comparison Figure 2-5 Private Employment by Sector, Figure 2-6 Jobs/ Housing Balance, 2006 and Figure 2-7 Projected Build-Out Populations Figure 2-8 Residential Development Capacity Figure 2-9 Population Counts and Projected Population to 2050 by Decade Figure 2-10 Thornton Subdivisions by Decade Figure 2-11 Committed and Uncommitted Development Areas Figure 2-12 Distribution of Land in Thornton s Future Growth Area Section 3 - Future Land Use Figure 3-1 Land Use Framework Figure 3-2 Future Land Use Categories Figure 3-3 Future Land Use Map viii 2012 City of Thornton Comprehensive Plan

11 Section 4 - Transportation and Utilities Figure 4-1 FasTracks System Map Figure 4-2 North Metro Corridor Rail Line Section 5 - Quality and Diverse Neighborhoods Figure 5-1 Existing and Future Residential Areas Figure 5-2 Neighborhood Classification Matrix Section 6 - Plentiful Quality Jobs Figure 6-1 Transportation Influence Areas Figure 6-2 North Washington Subarea Plan Section 7 - Healthy City With Great Amenities Figure 7-1 Placemaking Districts Figure 7-2 North Washington Urban Village District Figure 7-3 Eastlake Historic District Figure 7-4 North Recreation Center District Figure 7-5 Sports and Wellness District Figure 7-6 Civic Arts District Figure 7-7 Health Services District Figure 7-8 Placemaking Heritage Trail System Figure 7-9 Public Realm Enhancements Section 8 - Active and Engaged Partnerships Figure 8-1 Relationships between Partnerships and other Core Plan Goals Figure 8-2 Thornton Partnerships Figure 8-3 Partnerships Necessary to Create a City of Quality and Diverse Neighborhoods Section 9 - Implementation and Use Table 9-1 Performance Indicators Appendix A - Hazard Identification and Mitigation...A.1 Figure A and 500-Year Floodplains within Thornton s Growth Area Boundary... A.10 Figure A-2 Wind Erodible Soils within Thornton s Growth Area Boundary... A.13 Figure A-3 Water Erodible Soils within Thornton s Growth Area Boundary... A.14 Figure A-4 Natural Hazards in Thornton... A.17 Figure A-5 Key for Natural Hazards in Thornton... A.18 Figure A-6 Adams County Emergency Declarations... A.19 Figure A-7 Natural Hazards in Adams County... A.20 Appendix B - Glossary...B.1 Appendix C - School Districts Map...C City of Thornton Comprehensive Plan ix

12 GIS Data Disclaimer The City of Thornton GIS Division and the consultant have made every reasonable effort to represent geographic data as accurately as possible, and assume no liability associated with the use or misuse of their products. Information contained herein is for representational purposes only and is not intended to be substituted for accurate boundary locations, legal or professional opinions. x 2012 City of Thornton Comprehensive Plan

13 xi Plan Amendments Thornton City Council approves plan amendments to bring private development plans into compliance with the vision set forth in the Comprehensive Plan. This section is reserved for future updates approved after the date of adoption of this 2012 Comprehensive Plan update. Amendment Title Resolution Number Date Future Land Use Map Update C.D. No March 17, 2015 Amendment to Employment Center Category and Future Land Use Map C.D. No August 8, 2017 Amendment to Gateway/Mixed Use Category C.D. No September 19, City of Thornton Comprehensive Plan xi

14 Reflecting on Thornton s Origins The first families to move to Thornton were mostly young couples, predominantly ex-gis who served in World War II and their families. On January 31, 1954, the first 40 families moved into brand new, one-story brick houses constructed from the vision of builder Sam Hoffman. Hoffman had a flair for marketing, and to get people to come from Denver to a grand opening for the model homes, he invited Hollywood actress Jane Russell, whose three brothers worked construction for Hoffman. Thousands of people lined up to get her autograph when she visited the new community of Thornton. She also did the interior decoration for two of the three model homes. This was all before Thornton was an official city. It was the vision of Sam Hoffman that built a housing development, and the first residents who formed the Thornton community. On May 26, 1956, Thornton was incorporated as a Colorado city. At the time, Thornton had a population of 8,640 and was one square mile in size. On August 18, 1956, Thornton residents elected their first City officials, and on August 30, the first City Council meeting was held. Due to growth and technological advances, much has changed in Thornton since incorporation. However, one thing hasn t changed the City s commitment to planning for the future. The 2012 technical update to the Comprehensive Plan reflects the City s ongoing efforts to create a thriving community. Hoffman Heights Shopping Center in the 1950 s Thornton in the 1960 s Thornton Civic Center xii 2012 City of Thornton Comprehensive Plan