Adams County’s Comprehensive
Plan provides goals, policies, and a future land use plan for guiding
the physical development of the County. The Plan will be used to assist
the Planning Commission, Board of County Commissioners, and staff
as decisions are made regarding land use applications, capital improvement
planning, and regional coordination efforts with other jurisdictions
and agencies.
Planning Process
In May 1996, the Adams
County Board of County Commissioners initiated the development of
a new Comprehensive Land Use Plan for the County. The intent was to
ensure that citizens, property owners, and municipal officials had
the opportunity to participate in the planning process.
The planning process began
with three public meetings, two held in the western part of the county
and one held at the Front Range Airport. These public meetings yielded
a list of issues, concerns, and goals from interested citizens that
helped direct the work of staff and consultants and shape the plan.
Two committees were established
to provide input and oversight throughout the process. A Technical
Advisory Committee, consisting of city and County planners and other
staff, service agency staff, and development industry representatives,
met on a monthly basis to review various aspects of the plan as it
was developed. A Policy Advisory Committee, comprised of elected officials
from municipalities within the County, as well as County Commissioners,
met on a periodic basis to review and discuss policy implications
of the Plan. In addition, the planning team met regularly with the
County Planning Commission to review various aspects of the Plan as
it developed.
Finally, a number of public
meetings were held to present and take comments on the plan. In addition,
written and telephone comments were solicited. A number of revisions
have been made to the plan in response to the comments received.
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Land Use Categories
Residential Areas
Residential areas are designated
for single and multiple family housing, typically at urban densities
of one dwelling per half acre or greater. These areas are intended
to provide for development of residential neighborhoods with a variety
of housing types, with adequate urban services and transportation
facilities. Urban residential areas may include supporting neighborhood
commercial uses designed to serve the needs of nearby residents.
Estate Residential
Estate Residential areas
are designated for single family housing at a lower densities, typically
no greater than 1 unit per 2 ˝ acres and compatible uses such as schools
and parks. Under certain circumstances, net densities for Estate Residential
areas may be as low as one unit per acre, provided that development
is clustered so as to preserve a significant amount of open space.
In general, Estate Residential
areas are intended to meet some of the demand for rural lifestyles
in the County. Estate Residential projects typically should be located
in areas that will limit the negative fiscal impact on the County
and other service providers. For this reason, Estate Residential development
should only be located in specified areas, as designated on the Land
Use Map (unless such development may be extended in accordance with
criteria stated elsewhere in this Plan).
Agricultural Land Uses
Agricultural land uses
include farming, grazing, agricultural production industries, and
very low density residential.
Agriculture
The areas that have been
identified as agricultural are those that are not expected to develop,
except for limited areas of very low density residential at densities
of 1 dwelling per 35 acres, for the foreseeable future. These areas
are typically characterized by a lack of urban services
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Agricultural
Districts: A-3, A-2, and A-1.
Agricultural Districts:
1. A-3: Land in this
District is primarily in holdings of at least 35 acres for dryland
or irrigated farming, pasturage, or other related food production
uses.
2. A-2: Land in this
District is for rural subdivisions of at least 10 acres in size
where adequate provisions are made for internal and external roads
and access, water and sewer facilities, for fire protection and
other emergency services, and for other public services and utilities.
Farming uses are permitted, including the cultivation of land and
the keeping of a limited amount of animals.
3. A-1: Exclusively a
rural single family dwelling District where the minimum lot area
for a homesite is dependent on the availability of
public water and
sewer facilities, and other necessary utilities and services. Limited
farming uses are permitted including the cultivation of land and
the keeping of a limited amount of animals for individual homeowners
use.
General Requirements -
Agricultural Districts:
1. Minimum frontage width
at building line - 150' with well and/or septic tanks; 100' with
public water and sewer facilities.
2. Minimum lot size for
a single family principal dwelling:
A-3: 35 acres
A-2: 10 acres
A-1: 2-1/2 acres with individual wells and septic tanks; 1 acre
with public water and individual septic tanks; 1 acre with individual
wells and public sewer; 1/2 acre with public water and sewer. In
addition, on previously existing tracts of land in A-3 and A-2,
that were created prior to July 1, 1972, construction of a single
family dwelling shall be allowed subject to the minimum requirements
of the A-1 Zone District and the Subdivision Regulations. For new
subdivisions with gross lot sizes greater than 2-1/2 acres, the
land up to the centerline in newly dedicated public rights-of-way
for local streets may be counted toward the total lot size requirement,
subject to a favorable recommendation of the Tri-County District
Health Department concerning specific lot configurations, topography,
soil conditions, and water table heights. The maximum amount of
land in a right-of-way which can be counted towards a lot shall
be 1/2 acre (minimum net lot size is 2 acres). Setback requirements
shall be determined by the right-of-way lines and no construction,
including septic systems, may take place in the right-of-way except
by approval of the Board of County Commissioners.
3. Minimum setback for
a dwelling:
A-3 and A-2 - Front -
50'; Side - 20' one side, 10' other side. (50' from street on corner
lots); Rear - 20'.
A-1 - Front - 30' (50'
on state highway or arterial street); Side - 17' one side, 5' other
side (30' from street on corner lot if local street, 50' from street
on state highway or arterial street); Rear - 20'.
4. Minimum setback for
other detached buildings:
Front - 10' to rear of
front of dwelling or 100' whichever is lesser (attached garage -
same as dwelling setback). When within 6' of other dwellings, the
accessory building shall be constructed as an attached structure,
Side - 25, Side - 15' - Aircraft Hanger at an approved private airport.
Rear - 10'.
5. Minimum setback of
an agricultural building (other than garage) from on-site residence
- 50'.
6. Maximum height of
dwellings and garages - 25'; other agricultural buildings - 25'
if subdivided, 70' if unsubdivided.
7. Maximum total size
of all accessory buildings as defined in Section 2.201, unless the
accessory building is an aircraft hanger at an approved private
airport and is utilized as such. Maximum size for an aircraft hanger
shall be 4000 square feet.
A-3, A-2, A-1 (unsubdivided):
No maximum
A-1, well and septic: 6% of lot area including dwelling
A-1, public water or sewer: 7.5% of lot area including dwelling
A-1, public water and sewer: 12.5% of lot area including dwelling
8. A maximum of one mobile
home of 1,200 square feet shall be permitted for each 40 acre parcel
where allowed as a use by right.
9. A maximum of one single-family
dwelling is permitted on each individual lot.
Fencing
and Retaining Walls, Agricultural Districts:
1. All fences and walls
more than 42 inches in height require a building permit.
2. Any retaining wall
over 2 feet in height shall require preparation by a professional
engineer as a condition for a building permit, except where waived
by the Building Inspections Section.
3. Except in unsubdivided
agricultural areas, no external boundary electric fence shall be
allowed except by Special Use permit.
4. In subdivided agricultural
areas no fence of any type more than 42 inches in height shall be
permitted between the front setback line and a front property line.
5. Except as provided
in (4) above, the maximum height of any fence within an Agricultural
District is 96 inches, which may include 4 strands of barbed wire
forming the top 18 inches. Fencing consisting of only barbed wire
is allowed.
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Additional Information
Information in this section
was acquired from the Adams County Planning and Development Website:
http://www.co.adams.co.us/
Department
of Planning & Development
Western Service Center
12200 N. Pecos St.
Westminster, CO 80234
303.453.8800
Fax: 303.453.8829
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