[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6340553,"mediaKeyId","2259234-89e54d71ec970a81dcfa0b15da6614d9","parentId",2259234,"title","Staff briefs commission on Longmont urban renewal authority, TIF rules and possible Southeast amendment","audioSeconds",890,"startMs",5496000,"endMs",6386000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2259234-89e54d71ec970a81dcfa0b15da6614d9&start=5496&end=6386","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2259234-89e54d71ec970a81dcfa0b15da6614d9/thumbnail_5496000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6340553/Longmont/Boulder-County/Colorado/Staff-briefs-commission-on-Longmont-urban-renewal-authority-TIF-rules-and-possible-Southeast-amendment","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6340553-bfb84998295f43f92cc4e20e07e6aa98/orig.mp4?Expires=1771141371&Signature=mJTf3588ov01PjjzluFtMmhB9lAwUUpMlhcaBQqkiTGLfe0qLeOg6mK1OeWP3ZR2NnvbhBcN9DotKlKHBymtsxDePS9dI~FPyGFL0tzAZgDiS6J845xD3s2nzAQm4aod09WyxEaWKKgS9B6M7XrXhTaQfvEFYQndgJHTOMUH1WZu2-MrW56lPYefaDRhYtmhopuh9~GSI91MrNy6bVKV0ytmyEgOaD9t7LKHYW-bFX4f1F0RVQaRFIqP~xmpRYF6BUfOuIr61n-KRzCQnQbRth6T-H63zpO7L10vHf0jl5S0A19JzeUuvYqwDpZQWk1aeWwigJMZRSrF5JqEjq9XGA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of Longmont Colorado","date","2025-01-22T00:00:00Z","article","Tony Chacon, Longmont redevelopment manager, briefed the Planning and Zoning Commission on Jan. 22 about urban renewal authority functions, tax-increment financing (TIF) and the planning commission’s limited statutory role reviewing urban renewal plans for conformance with the city comprehensive plan (Envision Longmont).

Chacon said urban renewal in Colorado operates under state statute and that the city’s Urban Renewal Authority (LURA) functions as a separate governmental entity with specific powers. \"Urban renewal is directed by state statute,\" Chacon said. \"The authority is not a taxing entity. They cannot institute a property tax mill levy against any properties within this urban renewal area or the city itself.\"

Why it matters: urban renewal designations and plan amendments can unlock TIF revenue that may be used to fund infrastructure and site remediation in defined areas. The planning commission’s role is advisory and limited to assessing whether an urban renewal plan conforms with the city’s comprehensive plan.

Key points from the briefing
- LURA structure and powers: Chacon said Longmont’s authority was created in 2005, is governed by bylaws and can accept grants, incur debt, negotiate public–private partnerships, acquire property (including use of condemnation with council approval) and implement blight‑remediation and redevelopment activities.
- Blight finding and plan approval: Chacon explained that state statute requires a blight survey and a finding of specified criteria (an area must typically meet several statutory criteria) before a district may be designated. City Council must approve a plan and any subsequent amendments.
- Tax increment basics: Chacon described how TIF captures the increase in property tax revenues (the increment) tied to new development above a defined base year and reiterated that TIF proceeds are not new taxes but revenues generated by development activity. \"They're not new taxes,\" he said. \"They're revenues that are generated from the development itself.\"
- Existing districts and likely amendments: the city currently has two urban renewal areas — the Southeast Longmont URD and the Twin Peaks Mall URD (Village at the Peaks). Chacon said staff is preparing an amendment to the Southeast Longmont plan to allow a targeted TIF capture for a specific near-term project within the existing URD and estimated a 45–60 day timeline for that amendment process to reach the commission and council.

Commission role and next steps
Chacon emphasized that the Planning and Zoning Commission’s formal role is to review urban renewal plans or substantive amendments and comment on conformity with Envision Longmont. He said the commission should expect an amendment to the Southeast URD in the near term and possibly future amendments related to other parcels (for example, the former Walmart site in the Twin Peaks area).

Ending: schedule and contacts
Chacon told commissioners to expect the proposed Southeast URD amendment within several weeks and said staff will route materials through the usual review channels. He encouraged commissioners to review the plan materials when released and noted that council action is required to start a TIF clock.

","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Longmont City Planning and Zoning Commission 01/22/2025","oneSentenceSummary","Redevelopment manager Tony Chacon outlined how Longmont’s Urban Renewal Authority operates under state law, explained tax-increment financing (TIF) basics and said staff is preparing a possible Southeast Longmont urban renewal amendment to capture tax increment for a near-term project.","taxTitle","Longmont, Boulder County, Colorado","taxId",3876,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6340558,"Planners brief commissioners on e-bike rules and identify gaps in Longmont bike‑parking code",1073,5295000,6368000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2259234-89e54d71ec970a81dcfa0b15da6614d9&start=5295&end=6368","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2259234-89e54d71ec970a81dcfa0b15da6614d9/thumbnail_5295000.jpg","/articles/6340558/Longmont/Boulder-County/Colorado/Planners-brief-commissioners-on-e-bike-rules-and-identify-gaps-in-Longmont-bikeparking-code","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6340558-f7e66f37a967d649bf386405cbf00d95/orig.mp4?Expires=1771141371&Signature=FqRzUYdPjhORACuPEeF-85rNyBscAUbIDOLDZaKNEQin~rtSbmtpJPhltPdSJSadem25gNF-LLqmZXpa60DZfVAZcbiy01ArAYYiXuy9DvdKV3lMWE~9mpAg4EfVCM8LX8HfTtPYL3eU83Xp2mFmDHQ9klxRenFp3FVe32XozlIuzrGJtWhoAzU4Mog7RUQRjmbvw-HduNLS-AVpmHV960iB8kUAV6BjEg4LBIsI1XyR6xcmfqbpGcFxJ3zdZI30GPvElVWnEq0wrha1coNzhwuy995UGUUkjAYumczauw~Wa8R6tWfgcNCiXwaboi7B7Cl4KHW0VrUViFlOu9YDKQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Longmont transportation staff told the Planning and Zoning Commission on Jan. 22 that rising e‑bike use is prompting a review of how state rules and local code intersect, and that the city’s land‑development code lacks explicit requirements for covered and cargo‑bike parking.

Ben Ortiz, a Longmont transportation planner, summarized state rules and the locally enforced parking standards. \"There's class 1, class 2, and class 3 e-bikes,\" Ortiz said. \"The class 1 and class 2 are very similar in that the motors are governed to 20 miles per hour... the class 3 e-bike is different in that the motors [are] governed up to 28 miles per hour and you do have to pedal in order to engage that motor.\" He noted state-model provisions that restrict class 3 operation on pedestrian paths unless a local authority permits it and said, \"the city of Longmont has not presently authorized the use of class 3 e bikes on the Greenway Trail System here in Longmont.\"

Why it matters: e-bike adoption changes the types of parking and security the city should provide and raises enforcement questions for trails and multi-use paths. Officials also described incentive programs and market growth that could increase bike volumes citywide.

What staff reported on e-bike trends and incentives
- State and market data: Ortiz summarized outreach and findings from the Colorado Energy Office and other sources: the e-bike market is projected to expand through 2032, Colorado offers a range of rebate and tax-credit programs (Ortiz cited 27 Colorado incentive programs), and Denver redeemed more than 9,000 vouchers in its program since 2022. Ortiz also said 6,455 rebates had been redeemed through the statewide program through June 2024 and that 163 incentive programs exist nationally.
- Safety and regulation: Ortiz highlighted helmet and age rules tied to e-bike classes in Colorado's model traffic provisions; he pointed to a state rule that persons under 16 are prohibited from riding class 3 e-bikes and that riders aged 18 on class 3 e-bikes are required to wear protective helmets.

Bike‑parking code and observed problems
- Current requirement: Ortiz explained Longmont’s land development code requires bike parking at new developments equal to 5% of provided motor-vehicle parking; each inverted U rack counts as two bicycle spaces and must be within about 100 feet of building entrances and visible from the served use. \"Each inverted U rack is equal to 2 spaces,\" Ortiz said.
- Multifamily specifics: the city now requires at least one bike rack at each multifamily building; the code previously required a rack only for multifamily developments of eight units or more.
- Gaps and discouraged racks: Ortiz said the code does not require covered bike parking or cargo-bike-sized spaces and that certain rack types (\"wheel benders\" and wave racks) are discouraged because of damage and poor locking points.
- Examples and practice: staff showed photos of correct and incorrect locking practices and said public-use covered or secure bike cages exist at a few locations (the Eighth and Kaufman facility was cited) but are not standard city requirements.

Commissioner questions and staff notes
Commissioners asked about maintenance, enforcement, and how parking requirements relate to broader parking policy changes (the city removed motor-vehicle minimums in a recent code update). Ortiz and other staff said the city has not done a comprehensive count of bicycle volumes comparable to auto counts and noted that many counts on trails or at trailheads use infrared or manual counters, which have limitations.

Next steps and policy implications
Ortiz and staff described the lack of a cargo‑bike and covered‑parking requirement as a potential code update topic and said it would require policy direction from City Council if planners should pursue an ordinance amendment. Commissioners suggested a more nuanced code that ties bike‑parking thresholds to zoning districts or mixed‑use contexts rather than a single citywide percentage.

Ending: staff requested direction from commission or council
Staff said the Planning and Zoning Commission and advisory committees (for example, the Bicycle Issues Committee) could recommend code changes and that the city council would be the ultimate policymaker on any ordinance revisions. Ortiz encouraged continued discussion and suggested staff could return with options if the commission wants to pursue specific code amendments.

","The city’s transportation planners described state e-bike rules, local bike-parking requirements and code gaps including lack of cargo-bike and covered-bike parking mandates; staff said the Greenway Trails have not been authorized for class 3 e-bikes.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6340563,"Longmont releases draft Transportation Mobility Plan for public review; microtransit records early use",2845,730000,3575000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2259234-89e54d71ec970a81dcfa0b15da6614d9&start=730&end=3575","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2259234-89e54d71ec970a81dcfa0b15da6614d9/thumbnail_730000.jpg","/articles/6340563/Longmont/Boulder-County/Colorado/Longmont-releases-draft-Transportation-Mobility-Plan-for-public-review-microtransit-records-early-use","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6340563-3b5f82c37789ceb6afa81e999d45f398/orig.mp4?Expires=1771141371&Signature=T7lAzcLtLJI6GfDo-vV9kZJTDzaoSTcqe6mrQswSntb3Ly7Zqy7ArQ9aH1GxIB-WA~e7nWgxTl60XYHdVXQN6~aTDQWgTIcfQXFRDsEQD4Ipw3lpq95v5BvK99XsO86fneQvwjvmF~MuAO~kVD6V6T0P~hQ~Xvg~CrjplXo0p3DV-7vEN6zhX1BmlD4aW4QWXF6IzIKRoBFBWuYnyc~sSdCmyD~sookfL0ljzWNmAylmBdUduLTnYWZOEX6J9QZIA0g1s0~AzUa0XXtkFiCLjv86L6meIAU91f5rjEdC0ZymLTyK2WQjjmW0TCafEWg6MQdCoaEYMGzeqgvYnFLq-w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Longmont city transportation staff told the Planning and Zoning Commission on Jan. 22 that the city will post the draft Transportation Mobility Plan for public comment on Monday, Jan. 27, and asked the commission to consider a formal recommendation on Feb. 19 ahead of a City Council hearing on Feb. 25.

The update came from Phil Greenwald, Longmont transportation planning manager, who said the plan update summarizes two years of work and public outreach and sets priorities for walking, bicycling, transit and roadway investments. \"We're releasing the final draft on Monday,\" Greenwald said. \"There'll be a couple weeks of public review of that plan.\" He asked the commission for a timely recommendation because council will consider the plan in late February.

Why it matters: the plan will guide where and how the city invests surface-street, transit and active-transportation funding for the next decade, and staff repeatedly framed it as the transportation component of Envision Longmont. Greenwald told the commission the draft prioritizes connected, \"high-comfort\" bicycle and pedestrian networks, better regional transit connections and a set of programs and policies (including Vision Zero safety targets and automated enforcement cameras) the city will use to implement projects.

Key recommendations and schedule
- Draft release and public comment: staff said the draft will be available for public review Jan. 27 with a short public-comment window that will inform a final plan expected to return to the commission on Feb. 19 and to City Council on Feb. 25.
- Project priorities: the plan groups recommendations by mode (walking, bicycling, transit, roadway) and emphasizes high-comfort, separated bicycle facilities where space allows; improved bus-stop amenities prioritized by boarding counts; and better regional transit connections to Boulder, Fort Collins and other mountain towns.
- Vision Zero: Greenwald identified Vision Zero — the city’s stated goal of zero traffic fatalities — as a guiding policy that will change design priorities and maintenance expectations (for example, snow clearing priorities on bike facilities).

Microtransit: early usage and outreach
Staff described Ride Longmont — the city’s microtransit pilot operated through a private contract — as a central implementation piece for the TMP and presented first-month usage numbers.
- Kaylee Fallon, transportation planner and microtransit project manager, summarized outreach and pilot performance. She said the city focused initial outreach on vulnerable users and community institutions (affordable housing, the senior center, food pantries, the Saint Vrain Community Hub and the St. Vrain Valley School District) and on social media and in-person events.
- First-month metrics (Dec. 9–Jan. 9): Fallon reported 4,339 completed rides covering about 10,646 miles; an average ride distance of 3.6 miles; and an average ride time of 12.6 minutes. She said the service has 2,461 accounts and 208 riders who completed five or more bookings, which the operator views as an early sign of repeat use. \"For the first month of service ... we had 4,339 total completed rides,\" Fallon said.
- Operations and access: Greenwald demonstrated booking options: \"Ride Longmont is an app. You can also call in. So there's a call in service. (970) 538-9097,\" he said. Staff noted the service covers the city planning area (including some enclaves outside city limits) and aims for a short wait (staff said calls for a ride should take no more than 15 minutes to arrive and total trips typically run about 30 minutes end to end).
- Funding and pilot length: Greenwald said the city budgeted about $1 million per year for the three-year pilot, leveraging a roughly $1 million RTD partnership and an approximately $1 million federal grant. He described the initial month as a free promotional period and said the city is now collecting fares.

Transit, data and coordination
Commissioners pressed staff about data gaps for fixed-route ridership and how Longmont coordinates with the Regional Transportation District (RTD). Greenwald said RTD changed its reporting methods after the pandemic, making pre‑COVID comparisons difficult and limiting the city's ability to show comparable utilization numbers for some routes. He urged the commission to expect continued coordination with RTD on service changes and noted recent incremental service improvements on regional routes to Denver.

What staff asked from the commission
Greenwald asked the commission to review the draft quickly so staff could return Feb. 19 with a formal recommendation to council. He also said staff will continue informal outreach to commissioners while the public comment window is open.

Background and context
Greenwald said the TMP update is part of a 5–10 year plan cycle connected to Envision Longmont and uses public feedback collected in two phases (about 1,500 total public touchpoints). He highlighted project-area priorities such as Main Street, Ken Pratt Boulevard and Hoover Avenue, and said the plan shows potential future facilities, including buffered and protected bike lanes and multi-use trails.

Ending: next steps
Staff will post the draft TMP Jan. 27, then open a public comment window; they plan to return to the Planning and Zoning Commission Feb. 19 for a formal recommendation and to City Council Feb. 25 for adoption consideration. The commission asked staff to circulate the draft link when it is live and to return with a concise summary for review.

","City staff said the draft Transportation Mobility Plan will be posted for public review Jan. 27 and asked the Planning and Zoning Commission for a quick recommendation before a Feb. 25 City Council hearing. Staff also reported early usage and outreach data for the new Ride Longmont microtransit service.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Staff briefs commission on Longmont urban renewal authority, TIF rules and possible Southeast amendment

Planners brief commissioners on e-bike rules and identify gaps in Longmont bike‑parking code

Longmont releases draft Transportation Mobility Plan for public review; microtransit records early use