Adding Fiscal Impact Review Criteria for Planned Unit Development (PUD) Plans, PUD Plans Amendments, Rezonings, and Use by Special Reviews

This is a new proposed ordinance related to updating review criteria and/or findings for land development applications. The ordinance would add review criteria/findings based on financial and fiscal impacts tied to the Long Range Financial Plan as review criteria relates to rezoning requests and applications for new Planned Unit Development Plans (or amendments to previously approved Planned Unit Development Plans) or Use by Special Reviews. You can learn more about the proposed updates to the Broomfield Municipal Code by reading below. Share your comments and/or ask your questions using the tabs at the bottom of this page.

Project Overview

The City and County of Broomfield is proposing an ordinance to amend the Broomfield Municipal Code Chapters 17-38, regarding Planned Unit Development (PUD) plans, 17-48, regarding Rezonings and 17-30, regarding Use by Special Reviews. The purpose of these amendments is to update the review criteria and findings used by the Land Use Review Commission (LURC) and City Council (Council) when evaluating land use applications for rezoning and zoning amendments (PUDs and amendments) and Use by Special Review requests. You can learn more about the proposed updates to the Broomfield Municipal Code by reading below. Share your comments and/or ask your questions using the tabs at the bottom of this page.

Background

The Importance of Strategic Decisions

As Broomfield nears "buildout", reinvestment and infrastructure maintenance responsibilities grow. Because every remaining land use decision carries fiscal consequences for decades to come, Broomfield’s Long Range Financial Plan (LRFP) provides a transparent, data-driven framework required to evaluate these high-stakes choices.

Long Range Financial Plan Update

On March 17, 2026, a City Council study session introduced the proposed update to Broomfield’s Long-Range Financial Plan (LRFP). The LRFP serves as an analytical tool, providing decision-makers with the economic data and metrics necessary to guide policy and ensure the City and County's long-term financial health.

Integrating Land Use and Finance

In addition to updating the LRFP, Broomfield is also launching a major update to the 2016 Comprehensive Plan -- referred to as Broomfield Together. These plan updates will consider the critical link between land use planning, market realities, and financial forecasting. This integration will allow Broomfield to consider how different land uses influence Broomfield's long-term fiscal sustainability.

The LRFP will consider anticipated land uses to:

• Forecast Impacts: Understand the long-term financial implications of specific land use decisions.
• Ensure Economic and Financial Sustainability: Verify that Broomfield can continue to afford its current levels of service, programs, and public amenities.
• Analyze Revenues and Expenditures: Use an enhanced model to see exactly how development agreements and economic trends influence future revenues and expenditures.

Proposed Municipal Code Amendment

The proposed ordinance would add new review criteria/findings to Chapter 17-38 of the Broomfield Municipal Code for new and amended planned unit development (PUD) plans (custom zoning plans) to Chapter 17-48 for rezonings, and to Chapter 17-30 for Use by Special Review requests based on the proposed project’s potential financial and fiscal impacts. These amendments codify the consideration of the long-term fiscal sustainability of the city and county. It would be applicable to any proposed new and/or amended zoning application, as new and amended land uses typically generate financial impacts for Broomfield, or to any Use by Special Review application request. Certain land use proposals may contribute positively to Broomfield’s long-term fiscal condition, while other proposals may have a neutral or even negative impact on Broomfield’s long-term fiscal sustainability. For example, many uses can add increased demands on city and county programs and services. The proposed new review criteria/findings would allow for Broomfield’s land use decision-makers -- LURC and CC -- to consider the financial and fiscal impacts of the proposal on Broomfield’s long-term financial sustainability.

While the LRFP provides the data, it currently lacks a formal mechanism to influence land use approvals. To bridge this gap, Broomfield is proposing an amendment to the Broomfield Municipal Code to revise review criteria for the Land Use Review Commission and City Council when evaluating development applications for rezoning requests, new Planned Unit Development Plans, amendments to previously approved Planned Unit Development Plans, and Use by Special Review requests.

The proposed ordinance amendments are not intended to apply the fiscal and financial review considerations to site development plans, or urban renewal site plans, as those types of land use applications do not introduce new or amended land uses unless also accompanied by a PUD amendment, rezoning, or Use by Special Review. Instead, these site plans typically ensure compliance with previously approved and established zoning entitlements.

The proposed ordinance language can be found in the Documents tab.

Public Engagement

You can engage with Broomfield staff regarding this proposed new ordinance using the Questions and Comments tabs below, or by emailing planning@broomfield.org. The project timeline on this page provides an overview of the next steps in the process. The second reading for the ordinance would be a public hearing where interested parties can provide public comment.

Also, the City and County of Broomfield staff will host a virtual meeting on June 30 at 6:00 PM to review the proposed ordinance and gather feedback. Please join us for this informative meeting. The login details can be found under the documents tab on the right.