Site Plan Review
Overview
Site Plan review is the process by which city staff review a proposed development to ensure that it meets the necessary zoning regulations and/or design standards for that property. Site Plan review is required for any new development in a Mixed Use Zone District (MU-N, MU-C, MU-C TOD or MU-C Interstate). Site Plan review is also required for new commercial or industrial development in standard zone districts, most major additions, or major site reconfigurations. Multi-unit residential developments also require Site Plan review if in a standard zone district such as R-3. The Site Plan review process is administrative.
Administrative adjustments from some standards within the mixed use zone districts may be available upon request. Please contact the Planner of the Day for more information.
The Site Plan review process is administrative. This means that there are no public hearings before City Council or Planning Commission.
Pre-Application Meeting
Prior to a Site Plan application, the applicant will need to schedule a pre-application meeting. Staff has initiated this meeting as a means of reviewing the proposal and to provide input on the site plan process and requirements. There is a $200 fee for the pre-application meeting.
Submittal Requirements
After the pre-application meeting, a formal application may be submitted. Please refer to the Site Plan Checklist below for all submittal requirements; staff is unable to accept incomplete applications.
Submittal Review
When the application is submitted, a staff planner will be assigned to handle the case. This person is the project manager for the case and will be the contact at the City throughout the entire Site Plan review process.
The case manager will review the submittal application for content. If all submittal requirements have been met, the proposal will be referred to outside service agencies (Xcel Energy, water district, fire district, etc.) and other City agencies (Public Works, Economic Development, etc.) for their review and comment, generally for a period of 15 days. After all comments have been received, the case manager will forward those to the applicant. Comments will address any areas in which the proposed development does not meet zoning requirements, such as setback/build-to requirements, site design, building design, parking requirements, etc.
Modifications to the application may be required as a result of these comments. The applicant must address all comments and resubmit the relevant documents and drawings to show that the proposed development meets the zoning requirements.
Administrative Approval
Once all comments and requirements have been met, the case manager will refer the Site Plan application to the Community Development Director for final approval. A copy of the approved Site Plan will be kept on file at the Community Development Department.
Next Steps
Approval of the Site Plan application does not mean that a building permit has been issued.
Once site plan approval is attained, the applicant may submit a building permit application with the Building Division.
Please be aware that this information is only a general overview of the process and submittal requirements. There may be additional requirements specific to each case and the overall length of the process can vary greatly depending on the circumstances of the case. As each Site Plan application is different, the purpose of the aforementioned pre-application meeting is for staff to review the conceptual plans and give the applicant more information specific to his or her proposal.
Questions?
Contact the Community Development Department at 303-235-2846.
Review timelines:
Site plans typically take roughly four to six months to process and are reviewed administratively.
Application Contents:
The site plan is used to confirm that new development, redevelopment, or significant façade improvements meet all applicable zoning or design standards. The following items represent a complete site plan application.
- Completed land use application form
- Application fee
- Proof of ownership—e.g. deed
- Written authorization from property owner(s) if an agent acts on behalf of the owner(s)
- Written request and description of the proposal
- Plan set—one PDF including sheets for site plan, landscape and/or streetscape plan, building elevations, photometric (in 24 x 36 inch format)
- One (1) color reduction of building elevations
- Civil documents, if required (typically provided at second submittal)
- Electronic (Adobe .pdf) files of all submittal documents—these may be provided via email or Dropbox/Drive link
Form and content of Plan Set:
Project Information
- Title of document—centered at top of page
- Vicinity map
- Scale and north arrow—scale not to exceed 1”=100’
- Date of plan preparation and name/address of who prepared the plan
- Legal description
- Appropriate signature blocks—see cover sheet handout
- Signed surveyor’s certification
- Case history with applicable land use case numbers (will be provided by staff)
- Statement of proposed uses and compliance with zoning
- Site data in tabular form (numeric and percentage), including the following:
- Total area of property, gross and net
- Building coverage
- Amount of open space required and provided—include breakdown of usable open space, hardscaped open space, and landscaped open space
- Number of parking spaces required and provided
- Gross floor area by use
- Number of residential units and density
- Justification of provided parking ratio, especially where shared parking is proposed
Note: Depending on the size of the site, it may be necessary to provide one overall site plan and additional pages to show the location of all buildings, fences, signs, parking, etc.
Sample Site Data Table
Graphical Information
- Legend
- Property lines and dimensions
- Adjoining property lines, buildings, access, and parking
- Location of improvements that are proposed and those that are existing and will remain:
- Buildings—identify floor area, setback dimensions, proposed land use
- Parking and loading areas—identify accessible parking
- Open space/landscaping—identify size (sq ft) and type (eg living, sod, hardscape)
- Fences, walls, or hedges—identify height and material
- Exterior lighting
- Signs—identify type and height
- Trash containers or storage area—identify height and material of screen walls
- Areas for outside storage/display—identify height and material of screen walls
- Easements, utilities, or other encumbrances that may impact development
- Accessible routes from public sidewalk(s) into site connecting all accessible buildings, facilities, elements, and parking spaces
- Drainage ways, pond areas, ditches, irrigation canals, lakes and streams—if applicable
- Streets and rights-of-way both adjacent and within the site—include names, widths, location of centerlines
- 100-year floodplain—if applicable
Landscape Plan
- Title of document (centered at top of page)
- Scale and north arrow (scale not to exceed 1”=100’)
- Legend
- Property lines and dimensions
- Proposed buildings and parking areas
- Proposed open space/landscape areas—identify dimensions/square footage
- Proposed materials for all landscape and hardscape areas—identify type of ground cover, pavers, and plant material
- Schedule of proposed plantings, including:
- Amount of open space required and provided—include breakdown of usable open space, hardscaped open space, landscaped open space, required and provided shrubs, required and provided trees, required and provided street trees
- Species name—common and botanical
- Quantity of each species
- Size of plants/trees—gallon size of container, caliper or height of trees
- Type of ground cover
- Quantity of ground cover—identify total size in square feet and as a percentage of total open space
- Supplementary notes—regarding irrigation, size of plant container, balled and burlapped, depth of non-living material/rock/bark, etc
Sample Landscape/Plant Schedule
Architectural Elevations
- Title of document (centered at top of page)
- Detailed elevations for each façade
- Detailed elevations for accessory structures
- Detailed elevations for trash enclosures/screen walls
- Material and color information
- Structure dimensions—overall building height, overall building width, floor-to-floor heights
- Summary table of materials and transparency by façade—where material or transparency standards apply, include a table identifying required and proposed materials
Sample Building Materials Summary Chart
Streetscape Plan
It may be possible to combine this sheet with the Landscape Plan as long as public street trees are disaggregated in the plant schedule. Refer to the Wheat Ridge Streetscape Design Manual for streetscape design requirements.
- Title of document (centered at top of page)
- Scale and north arrow (scale not to exceed 1"= 100’)
- Location of all existing and proposed streetscape elements/furnishings, including:
- Sidewalk and amenity zones—location, dimensions, materials
- Street trees—identify spacing dimensions
- Street lights
- Pedestrian lights
- Street furniture—benches, trash cans, etc
- Bus stops
- Signs
- Irrigation system
- Utilities and utility boxes
- Curbs and ADA ramps
- Schedule of proposed plantings, including:
- Species name—common and botanical
- Quantity of each species
- Size of plants/trees—gallon size of container, caliper or height of trees
- Type of ground cover
- Quantity of ground cover—identify total size in square feet and as a percentage of total open space
- Supplementary notes—regarding irrigation, size of plant container, balled and burlapped, depth of non-living material/rock/bark, etc
- Schedule of proposed streetscape furnishings, including:
- Manufacturer
- Product number
- Color
- Quantity
Photometric Plan
- Title of document (centered at top of page)
- Scale and north arrow (scale not to exceed 1"= 100’)
- Site plan showing the location of all exterior lights and a numerical grid of lighting levels in foot candles or as isoilluminance curves
- A fixture schedule that includes all luminaries shown on the plan and specs for each fixture:
- Manufacturer and model
- Fixture type and wattage
- Mounting height of all fixtures
- Cut sheets showing the design and finishes of all fixtures, including designation of cutoff fixtures
Applicants must ensure that all of the above requirements have been included with submittal. If any items listed on this checklist have been excluded, the documents will NOT be distributed for City review. In the event that any revisions need to be made after the second full review, applicable resubmittal fees shall apply.
Site Plan
Required signature blocks
OWNER’S CERTIFICATE
The below signed owner(s), or legally designated agent(s) thereof, do hereby agree that the property legally described hereon will be developed in accordance with the restrictions and conditions contained in this plan, and as may otherwise be required by law. I (we) further recognize that the approval of this Site Plan does not create a vested property right. Vested property rights may only arise and accrue pursuant to the provisions of Section 26-121 of the Wheat Ridge Code of Laws.
____________________________________
[Insert name of owner(s) or agent(s) who will sign]
State of Colorado )
) SS
County of Jefferson )
The foregoing instrument was acknowledged before me this ____day of ________, A.D. 20___ by__________________.
Witness my hand and official seal.
My commission expires: _____________________
____________________________________
Notary Public
CITY CERTIFICATION
Approved this ____ day of ______________, ______ by the City of Wheat Ridge.
ATTEST
_______________________________
Community Development Director