visualize future, imagine possibilitiesthe

the

City ofThorntonComprehensive Plan

2012 Update

Preface

The City of Thornton is undertaking the task of updating the Comprehensive Plan and plan-ning 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 2030. 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, 2006.

“”

Introductory StatementThe 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 vari-ous 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.

ii 2012 City of Thornton Comprehensive Plan

iiMayor Heidi K. Williams

City Council Members:

Ward IJenice “JJ” DoveMack Goodman

Ward IIEva Henry (Mayor Pro Tem)Val Vigil

Ward IIIBeth HumenikLynne Fox

Ward IVEric TadeRandy Drennen

Acknowledgements2012 Acknowledgements

City of Thornton:

Jack Ethredge City ManagerJeff Coder, AICP Deputy City Manager of City DevelopmentGlenda Lainis, AICP Policy Planning ManagerRobert Larsen, AICP Senior Planner Karen Widomski Senior Policy AnalystMartin Postma, CEcD, EDFP Senior Policy Analyst Miguel Aguilar Policy Planning Intern IIICory Miller Volunteer PlannerJohn Herman GIS ManagerLiz Kienle GIS AnalystJaime Giesen GIS AnalystValorie 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.

2012 City of Thornton Comprehensive Plan iii

Steering Committee Members:Belita Bennett Leanne Jeffers Clarke Carlson Art ManderMargaret Carpenter Lew McCainScott Culley Terry MelonakisBill Deibert Carol NorbergTony Fernandez Mike Paskewicz Ron Hardin Porcia SilverbergPaul Hepner Mark Walker

North Subcommittee Members:Jean Bratcher Sue KuhlPaul Buelow Rick PerezRyan Carlson Pam RhodesLynda DeHaven Randy SmithRandy Drennen Chuck StevensonJoy Gerdom Dr. Greg StollBetty Jacobson Tony UnreinEric Johnson Carolyn Zetterman

Central Subcommittee Members:Charmaine Barton Beth HumenikJoe Catanzaro Kim JettonAngelo Celeste John LefebvrePatrick Conner Kevin LewinWayne Covert Greg Podracky Leon Reed

South Subcommittee Members:Dan Baca Ryan MartinJim Bennett JR McKnightGary Bugg Lee OverholtChristine Elwess Jean StewartEd Fleming Jo ThorneMack Goodman Al Ulibarri

City of ThorntonJack Ethredge City ManagerJeff Coder, AICP Deputy City Manager of City DevelopmentSusan Connors, AICP Planning DirectorGlenda Lainis, AICP Policy Planning ManagerSusanna Sotelo Planner IIRobert Larsen Planner IJeffrey Mitchell Intern IIIJohn Herman GIS ManagerValorie Plesha GIS AnalystJaime Giesen GIS Technician

Design TeamHNTB Corporation Dave Wenzel, AICP Principal In Charge Martin Landers, AICP Project Manager 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

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.

2007 Acknowledgements

iv

v

vi 2012 City of Thornton Comprehensive Plan

viTable of ContentsPreface .................................................................................................................................................i

Executive Summary .......................................................................................................................ES.1

Section 1 - Introduction .....................................................................................................................1.11.0 Introduction ............................................................................................................1.11.1 City Council Charge ..............................................................................................1.21.2 Plan Development Process ......................................................................................1.21.3 Plan Themes and Core Plan Goals...........................................................................1.51.4 Plan Concept ........................................................................................................1.81.5 Sustainability....................................................................................................1.11 1.6 Key Changes from the 2007 Plan .........................................................................1.11 1.7 Coordination with Other Plans ..............................................................................1.15

Section 2 - Setting ...........................................................................................................................2.12.0 Setting ....................................................................................................................2.12.1 Community Growth and Change ............................................................................2.42.2 Regional Factors and Implications for Thornton ......................................................2.82.3 Key Trends and Issues ..........................................................................................2.16

Section 3 - Future Land Use ...............................................................................................................3.13.0 Land Use Framework ..............................................................................................3.13.1 Future Land Use ....................................................................................................3.4

Section 4 - Transportation and Utilities ..................................................................................................4.14.0 Introduction ...........................................................................................................4.14.1 Transportation ........................................................................................................4.14.2 Water and Wastewater Utilities ................................................................................4.8

Section 5 - Quality and Diverse Neighborhoods.......................................................................................5.1 5.0 Introduction .............................................................................................................5.1 5.1 Current Challenges ...............................................................................................5.2 5.2 Important Needs ....................................................................................................5.2 5.3 Planning Framework .............................................................................................5.5 5.4 Major Strategies and Key Policies ............................................................................5.9

2012 City of Thornton Comprehensive Plan vii

Section 6 - Plentiful Quality Jobs ........................................................................................................6.1 6.0 Introduction ..............................................................................................................6.1 6.1 Current Opportunities ............................................................................................6.2 6.2 Important Needs ...................................................................................................6.4 6.3 Core Recommendations ........................................................................................6.4 6.4 Major Strategies and Key Policies ............................................................................6.7

Section 7 - Healthy City with Great Amenities........................................................................................7.1 7.0 Introduction ..............................................................................................................7.1 7.1 Current Opportunities ............................................................................................7.2 7.2 Important Needs ...................................................................................................7.3 7.3 Core Recommendations ........................................................................................7.6 7.4 Major Strategies and Key Policies ..........................................................................7.25

Section 8 - Active and Engaged Partnerships ..........................................................................................8.1 8.0 Introduction ..............................................................................................................8.1 8.1 Current Opportunities ............................................................................................8.2 8.2 Important Needs ...................................................................................................8.2 8.3 Core Recommendations .........................................................................................8.4

Section 9 - Implementation and Use ...................................................................................................9.1 9.0 Introduction ..........................................................................................................9.1 9.1 Evaluation and Progress on Implementation of 2007 Catalyst Actions..........................9.2 9.2 Ongoing Actions Prior to 2017 Major Update.........................................................9.10 9.3 2017 Major Update Foundation ............................................................................9.18 9.4 Plan Amendment...................................................................................................9.22 9.5 Plan Monitoring and Evaluation ............................................................................9.24

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

viii 2012 City of Thornton Comprehensive Plan

Preface .................................................................................................................................................i

Executive Summary .......................................................................................................................ES.1

Section 1 - Introduction .....................................................................................................................1.1Figure 1-1 The Comprehensive Planning Process .......................................................... 1.3Figure 1-2 2012 Comprehensive Plan Update Meetings.................................................. 1.4Figure 1-3 City Council Value Statements and Plan Themes ........................................... 1.6Figure 1-4 Plan Concept Map.......................................................................................... 1.9Figure 1-5 The Three “E’s” of Sustainability ................................................................. 1.11Figure 1-6 Sustainable Development Framework for Thornton ...................................... 1.12Figure 1-7 Comprehensive Plan and the Relationship to all other Plans .......................... 1.17Figure 1-8 Urban Centers in Thornton......................................................................... 1.19

Section 2 - Setting .........................................................................................................................2.1

Figure 2-1 Snapshot of Statistics for the City of Thornton ............................................... 2.1Figure 2-2 Thornton in Context of the Northern Denver Metropolitan Area ...................... 2.3Figure 2-3 Annexations by Decade .............................................................................. 2.7Figure 2-4 Population and Housing Comparison ........................................................... 2.9Figure 2-5 Private Employment by Sector, 2010.. .......................................................... 2.9Figure 2-6 Jobs/ Housing Balance, 2006 and 2009.................................................... 2.10Figure 2-7 Projected Build-Out Populations ............................................................... 2.11Figure 2-8 Residential Development Capacity ............................................................ 2.12Figure 2-9 Population Counts and Projected Population to 2050 by Decade................. 2.13Figure 2-10 Thornton Subdivisions by Decade .............................................................. 2.17Figure 2-11 Committed and Uncommitted Development Areas ...................................... 2.21Figure 2-12 Distribution of Land in Thornton’s Future Growth Area ................................ 2.22

Section 3 - Future Land Use ...............................................................................................................3.1Figure 3-1 Land Use Framework ....................................................................................3.2Figure 3-2 Future Land Use Categories ........................................................................3.12Figure 3-3 Future Land Use Map .................................................................................3.13

viiiTable of Figures

2012 City of Thornton Comprehensive Plan ix

Section 4 - Transportation and Utilities ..................................................................................................4.1 Figure 4-1 FasTracks System Map ...............................................................................4.11 Figure 4-2 North Metro Corridor Rail Line.....................................................................4.12

Section 5 - Quality and Diverse Neighborhoods .....................................................................................5.1 Figure 5-1 Existing and Future Residential Areas ..............................................................5.3 Figure 5-2 Neighborhood Classification Matrix ..............................................................5.5

Section 6 - Plentiful Quality Jobs .......................................................................................................6.1 Figure 6-1 Transportation Influence Areas ......................................................................6.3 Figure 6-2 North Washington Subarea Plan ...................................................................6.6

Section 7 - Healthy City With Great Amenities ......................................................................................7.1 Figure 7-1 Placemaking Districts ....................................................................................7.4 Figure 7-2 North Washington Urban Village District ........................................................7.8 Figure 7-3 Eastlake Historic District ...............................................................................7.9 Figure 7-4 North Recreation Center District ....................................................................7.10 Figure 7-5 Sports and Wellness District .........................................................................7.11 Figure 7-6 Civic Arts District .......................................................................................7.12 Figure 7-7 Health Services District ...............................................................................7.13 Figure 7-8 Placemaking Heritage Trail System ...............................................................7.16 Figure 7-9 Public Realm Enhancements .......................................................................7.17

Section 8 - Active and Engaged Partnerships ........................................................................................8.1 Figure 8-1 Relationships between Partnerships and other Core Plan Goals .......................8.1 Figure 8-2 Thornton Partnerships ..................................................................................8.3 Figure 8-3 Partnerships Necessary to Create a City of Quality and Diverse Neighborhoods ...8.3

Section 9 - Implementation and Use ...................................................................................................9.1 Table 9-1 Performance Indicators ..............................................................................9.25 Appendix A - Hazard Identification and Mitigation ......................................................................................A.1 Figure A-1 100- 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.1

x 2012 City of Thornton Comprehensive Plan

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.

2012 City of Thornton Comprehensive Plan xi

Plan AmendmentsxiThornton 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. 2015-037 March 17, 2015

Amendment to Employment Center Category and Future Land Use Map C.D. No. 2017-153 August 8, 2017

Amendment to Gateway/Mixed Use Category C.D. No. 2017-197 September 19, 2017

Future Land Use Map Update C.D. No. 2018-161 August 28, 2018

xii 2012 City of Thornton Comprehensive Plan

Thornton Civic Center

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 fami-lies. On January 31, 1954, the first 40 families moved into brand new, one-story brick houses constructed from the vision of builder Sam Hoff-man. Hoffman had a flair for marketing, and to get people to come from Denver to a grand opening for the model homes, he invited Holly-wood 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 incorpora-tion. However, one thing hasn’t changed—the City’s commitment to planning for the future. The 2012 technical update to the Comprehen-sive 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