Minturn Forward: Land Use and Subdivision Regulation Update Project

Minturn Forward Code Update Project Overview:

The Town is updating its land use, development, and subdivision regulations (Chapters 16 and 17 of the Minturn Municipal Code), and moving the Town forward after the recent adoption of the 2023 Minturn Community Plan which is intended to guide the Town’s land use and development decision making over the next 10-15 years.

Project Goals:

For several years, the Town has identified numerous issues related to its land use regulations (rules stipulating how property owners can use and develop their properties) and the need to update Chapter 16 - Zoning, and Chapter 17 - Subdivisions of the Minturn Municipal Code to better regulate the types and character of new development and to provide more understandable, user-friendly, and more predictable requirements and processes for anyone wanting to develop or subdivide property.

The Minturn Forward Code Update Project is aimed at achieving four primary goals:

Align the code with the Town’s Strategic Plan.
Implement policies and strategies of the 2023 Minturn Community Plan.
Create a more complete, consistent, and user friendly set of land use and development regulations using clear graphics and non-technical writing/terms wherever possible.
Craft regulations and processes that fit Minturn and address important community issues.

Zoning District Update

At this stage in the Minturn Forward process, the Town has shifted its focus to updating Minturn’s zoning regulations and will be working alongside the Town Council, the Planning Commission, and the community to do so. The update to the zoning regulations strives to achieve the following outcomes set forth in the Community Plan and Strategic Plan:

Simplify and improve the usability of Minturn’s zoning regulations by eliminating “Character Areas” and consolidating zone districts. The Town’s existing zoning regulations are organized around twelve (12) “Character Areas,” each with unique zone districts and regulations. This has resulted in a complex system with twenty-seven (27) zone districts.
Update the purpose statements for the Town’s zone districts to ensure that they align with the Community Plan and clearly describe the intent of each zone district.
Update (as necessary) the types of land uses and development (e.g., housing, businesses, parks, open space area, etc.) permitted in the Town’s zone districts to ensure that they align with the community’s vision for Minturn.
Update (as necessary) the dimensional standards (e.g., minimum setbacks, maximum building height, etc.) for the Town’s zone districts to ensure that they are compatible with the character of existing development in Minturn’s neighborhoods, align with the Community Plan, and are clearly explained.

If you would like to provide input on the proposed changes to Minturn’s zoning regulations, please use this input form to do so. You are also invited to participate in the public Open Houses being hosted by the Town at Town Hall (302 Pine Street) in June (2025).

Public Open Houses

Open House #1	Open House #2	Open House #3
Monday	Thursday	Tuesday
June 9, 2025	June 19, 2025	June 24, 2025
4:00 - 7:00 p.m.	4:00 - 7:00 p.m.	4:00 - 7:00 p.m.

Please see the following informational packets about proposed changes to the following zone districts:

No changes are proposed for the following existing zone districts. Therefore, these zone districts are not included in the input form or as part of the Open Houses.

100-Block: A
100-Block: B
Bolts Lake: Holding Zone ("Bolts Holding Zone")
Bolts Lake: Mixed-Use Zone ("Bolts Mixed-Use Zone")
Bolts Lake: Open Space & Recreation Zone ("Bolts Open Space & Recreation Zone")
Bolts Lake: Residential Zone ("Bolts Residential Zone")
Game Creek: PUD Holding Zone (to be renamed “PUD Holding Zone”)
Maloit Park: Mixed-Use Zone
Maloit Park: Recreation & Open Space Zone
Mountaintop Residential Ranch & Estate Lot Zone
Minturn North PUD
Belden Place PUD
Midtown Village PUD

Project Phasing and Timelines:

Phase I: Community Outreach & Engagement (March 2023-August 2023)

Phase I will kick off the project with various community outreach activities and opportunities aimed at gathering community input before performing a more technical review of the existing code or drafting any new code language or rules. Phase I will include the following tasks:

Formation of stakeholder groups - professionals who use the existing zoning and subdivision codes and who can provide critical feedback on what works, what doesn’t work, and ideas for change.
Formation of focus groups - other user groups such as homeowners, business owners, or impacted property owners who may have a different perspective on existing rules or proposed changes to the Town’s land use regulations.
Information campaign - using the Town’s website and newsletter, as well as direct mailings, the Town will work to keep the public informed about project timelines, milestones and opportunities to participate.

Importantly, prior to the adoption of any new land use or subdivision regulations affecting private property rights, public notice will be provided to all affected property owners, and staff will present proposed code revisions to the Planning Commission and the Town Council in public meetings and/or work sessions.

Phase II: Code Assessment (August 2023-October 2023)

During Phase II, Town staff will be squarely focused on technical review of the existing code to document previously identified issues, as well as new areas of concern. This step will be completed by the Town’s Planning Department as well as consultants hired by the Town with expertise in evaluating code language and policies, and recommending revisions.

The code assessment will be informed by public input gathered during the first phase of the project. The result of the code assessment will be a report providing recommendations for code amendments, a road map for making those changes and suggested prioritization - which parts of the code need to be addressed first.

Phase III: Drafting (November 2023-November 2025)

Drafting of new code language will logically follow the completion of a code assessment and the presentation of a report to the Town of Minturn Planning Commission and Town Council. Given direction from the commission and council, staff will move forward with drafting new sections of the Town’s land use and development regulations. This phase will also be an opportunity for staff to report back to stakeholder and focus group participants on proposed draft changes, and to verify that public input gathered during Phase I was listened to and incorporated into our new code language where and when appropriate.

MODULE 1 (Tentative Timeframe July - December 2024) - Sections of Land Use Code to be addressed:

Article 5: Land Use Application Requirements & Procedures Article 8: Subdivision Application Requirements & Procedures
Article 8: Subdivision Application Requirements & Procedures
Article 12: Environmental Impact Report

MODULE 2 (Tentative Timeframe January - August 2025) - Sections of Land Use Code to be addressed:

Article 2: Zone Districts
Article 3: Use Regulations & Standards
Article 4: Dimensional Requirements

MODULE 3 (Tentative Timeframe July - October 2025) - Sections of Land Use Code to be addressed:

Article 6: Development / Design Standards
Article 7: Subdivision Standards
Article 9: Community Housing Standards & Guidelines

MODULE 4 (Tentative Timeframe September - November 2025) - Sections of Land Use Code to be addressed:

Article 1: General Provisions
Article 10: Annexation
Article 11: Disconnection of Land
Article 13: Areas and Activities of State Interest
Article 14: Terms & Definitions

Phase IV: Public Review and Adoption (November - December 2025)

The last phase of the project will include presentation of updated sections of the Town’s land use and development code to the Planning Commission and Town Council for review, comment, and approval.

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