ARTICLE 10-5-2: BI BUSINESS AND INDUSTRY DISTRICTS AND USES

ARTICLE 10-5-3: BI DESIGN

ARTICLE 10-5-4: BI GREENSCAPE

ARTICLE 10-5-5: BI SIGNS

The purpose of this Chapter is to establish the districts and standards to implement the corresponding designations of the Future Land Use and Character Map set forth in the adopted Comprehensive Plan. More specifically, the Business Center (BC) and Industrial Park (IP) districts are designed to:

• Enable existing businesses to remain conforming to the regulations of this Code.
• Allow for the substantial improvement of existing businesses to abide by the new standards on a proportional basis to the level of improvement, as set out in Section 10-10-3.1, Administrative Compliance.
• Provide environments that are suitable for business and industry while maintaining a quality standard of development.
• Sustain and grow the local tax base with business establishments that generate a large share of the city's assessed valuation and hence, revenue.
• Serve the near- and long-term economic needs of the community through provisions for adaptive reuse as set out in Section 10-9-5.8, Adaptive Reuse Plan.
• Function as employment centers for both Littleton residents and others in the Denver metro area. 

(Ord. 20, Series of 2023) 

Effective on: 10/13/2023

The provisions of this Chapter apply to land that is depicted on the Future Land Use and Character Map as Suburban Commercial and Suburban Business Park. The applicable zoning districts are set out in Section 10-1-1.1, Base Districts.

Effective on: 10/28/2021

1. A.
   Districts.

   1. 1.
      Plan Implementation. The zoning districts that implement the Suburban Commercial and Suburban Business Park designations on the Future Land Use and Character Map include:

      1. a.
         BC, Business Center; and
      2. b.
         IP, Industrial Park.
   2. 2.
      Purposes. The purposes of these districts and their relationships to the Comprehensive Plan and former zoning designations are set out in Section 10-1-1.1, Base Districts.
2. B.
   Land Uses. The land uses are organized by general and specific use categories. As set out in Table 10-1-1.3.1, Land Use Matrix, a land use is indicated as being Permitted (P), permitted subject to Standards (S), permitted subject to approval of the Conditional Use (C), Accessory (A), or Prohibited (--). If additional standards apply to land uses, the applicable sections are cross-referenced in the far right column of the table.

Effective on: 10/28/2021

1. A.
   Purpose. This Section establishes the development standards for buildings in the BC and IP districts, as shown in Table 10-5-2.2, BI Lot and Building Standards.
2. B.
   Applicability. ​The standards of this Section apply to new development, redevelopment, or substantial improvement of properties within the Business Center (BC) and Industrial Park (IP) districts.

Effective on: 10/28/2021

1. A.
   Applicability. These building material standards apply to the Business Center (BC) and Industrial Park (IP) districts.
2. B.
   Building Materials.

   1. 1.
      Material Types. Refer to Subsection 10-1-3.2.A, Building Material Standards.
   2. 2.
      Building Materials Table. Displayed in Table 10-5-3.1, BI Building and Roofing Materials, are the applicable zoning districts and the allowable material types.
   3. 3.
      Alternate Materials. Refer to Subsection 10-1-3.2.A, Building Material Standards.

Effective on: 10/28/2021

1. A.
   Generally. All standards pertaining to landscape design, xeriscaping and use of native plants, plant material standards, tree protection and preservation, and general landscape and irrigation requirements are set out in Section 10-1-3.6, Greenscape Design Standards. Where impractical, these provisions may be subject to waiver requests at the sole discretion of the Director.
2. B.
   Minimum Planting Standards.

   1. 1.
      Site Landscaping. The minimum landscape plantings required within the Business Center (BC) and Industrial Park (IP) districts are set out in Table 10-5-4.1, BI Minimum Landscape Planting Requirements.
   2. 2.
      Canopy Coverage. The tree canopy coverage requirements for the Business Center (BC) district are set out in Subsection 10-1-3.6.E, Tree Canopy Coverage Requirements.
   3. 3.
      Adjustments. On sites where there are physical constraints for meeting the minimum landscape requirements of this Section due to site-specific conditions, the Director may authorize an adjustment as set out in Section 10-9-9.1, Administrative Adjustment.

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Refer to Subsection 10-1-3.6.F, Bufferyard Requirements, for provisions related to the district bufferyards and where they are required or exempted.

Effective on: 10/28/2021

1. A.
   Applicability. The sign requirements in this Section apply to the BC and IP districts.
2. B.
   Master Sign Plan. Refer to Subsec. 10-1-3.10.G.
3. C.
   Sign Types.

   1. 1.
      Table Symbols. Table 10-5-5.1.1, BI Sign Types, uses the following symbols:

      1. a.
         "P" means the sign type is permitted.
      2. b.
         "--" means the sign type is prohibited.
   2. 2.
      Unlisted Sign Types. Sign types that are not listed in the following tables are prohibited in these districts.

(Ord. 18, Series of 2022; Ord. 13, Series of 2025) 

Effective on: 8/28/2025

1. A.

   Purpose. The purpose of this Subsection is to provide design standards for new construction and minor and major additions or alterations of buildings in the BC district. Where impractical, these provisions may be subject to waiver requests at the sole discretion of the Director.

2. B.

   Applicability. The standards of this Subsection apply to:

   1. 1.
      New. New principal buildings;
   2. 2.
      Minor Additions or Alterations. Added or altered portions of an existing principal building; and
   3. 3.
      Major Additions or Alterations. Added or altered portions of an existing principal building when the addition or alteration exceeds 25 percent of the building’s existing gross floor area.
3. C.

   Site Orientation.

   1. 1.

      Street-Facing. The primary building entrance shall face the street of greater functional classification.

   2. 2.

      Parking Setback. All parking and vehicular use areas shall be set back from public rights-of-way per the standard set out in Table 10-5-2.2, BI Lot and Building Standards. This area shall be credited toward the common open space requirement and shall be landscaped according to the standards in Section 10-5-4.1, BI Landscaping.

   3. 3.

      Street-Facing Side or Rear Elevation. Buildings that share a lot line with a connector street may be oriented with a side or rear elevation facing the street provided it is constructed with a primary material on 50 percent or more of the building façade or on 25 percent of the building façade together with a Type B bufferyard, as set out in Subsection 10-1-3.6.F, Bufferyard Requirements.

   4. 4.

      Service Areas. Loading docks, truck parking, trash collection and compaction, and other functions shall be located in an interior side or rear yard and shall be screened from public view. Such screening shall consist of an opaque wall that is equal to or greater than the height of the vehicle, equipment, or object being screened. Alternatively, a fence and a Type C bufferyard, as set out in Subsection 10-1-3.6.F, Bufferyard Requirements, may be used along all lot lines in public view.

4. D.

   Building Design. See Figure 10-5-3.2.A.1, BC Illustrative Building Design.

   1. 1.
      Proximate Street-Facing Elevations. (See Figure 10-5-3.2.A.2, BC Design Measurements)

      1. a.
         Intersections. Buildings, in whole or in part, that are within 350 feet of an intersection of two commercial streets shall provide primary building materials on 100 percent of the front and corner street building elevations. The primary building materials shall wrap onto the adjoining side elevations for a distance equal to 25 percent of the building wall length.
      2. b.
         Commercial and Connector Streets. Buildings, in whole or in part, that are within 250 feet of a commercial or connector street shall provide primary building materials on 75 percent of the front building elevation or the elevation facing, or approximately facing, the street. The primary building materials shall wrap onto the adjoining side elevations for a distance equal to 20 percent of the building wall length.

Figure 10-5-3.2.A.1 BC Illustrative Building Design

Effective on: 10/28/2021

1. A.

   Purpose. The purpose of this Subsection is to provide design standards for new construction and minor and major additions or alterations of buildings in the IP district. Where impractical, these provisions may be subject to waiver requests at the sole discretion of the Director.

2. B.

   Applicability. The standards of this Subsection apply to:

   1. 1.
      New. New principal buildings;
   2. 2.
      Minor Additions or Alterations. Added or altered portions of an existing principal building; and
   3. 3.
      Major Additions or Alterations. Added or altered portions of an existing principal building when the addition or alteration exceeds 25 percent of the building’s existing gross floor area.
3. C.
   Site Orientation.

   1. 1.
      Street-Facing. The primary building entrance shall face the street of greater functional classification.
   2. 2.
      Parking Setback(s). All parking and vehicular use areas shall be set back from public rights-of-way and property lines per the standard set out in Table 10-5-2.2, BI Lot and Building Standards. This area shall be credited towards the common open space requirement and shall be landscaped according to the standards in Section 10-5-4.1, BI Landscaping.
   3. 3.

      Street-Facing Side or Rear Elevation. Buildings that share a lot line with a connector street may be oriented with a side or rear elevation facing the street provided it is screened by a Type C bufferyard as set out in Subsection 10-1-3.6.F, Bufferyard Requirements.

   4. 4.

      Service Areas. Loading docks, truck parking, and other outdoor operating areas shall be located in an interior side or rear yard and shall be screened from public view. Such screening shall consist of either an opaque wall or fence that is equal to or greater than the height of the vehicle, equipment, or object being screened. As set out in Subsection 10-1-3.6.F, Bufferyard Requirements, a Type A bufferyard shall be planted on the outer side of the wall or fence. Service areas that must adjoin local or connector streets by reasons demonstrated and accepted by the Director shall be screened by a Type B bufferyard.

4. D.

   Building Materials. See Figure 10-5-3.2.B.1, IP Illustrative Building Design.

   1. 1.
      Proximate Street-Facing Elevations. (See Figure 10-5-3.2.B.2, IP Design Measurements)

      1. a.
         Intersections. Buildings, in whole or in part, that are within 200 feet of an intersection of two commercial corridors shall provide primary building materials on 25 percent of the front and corner street building elevations. The primary building materials shall wrap onto the adjoining side elevations for a distance equal to 10 percent of the building wall length.
      2. b.
         Commercial Corridor and Connectors. Buildings, in whole or in part, that are within 100 feet of a commercial corridor or a suburban or neighborhood connector shall provide primary building materials on 10 percent of the front building elevation. The primary building materials shall wrap onto the adjoining side elevations for a distance equal to five percent of the building wall length.

Figure 10-5-3.2.B.1 IP Illustrative Building Design

Figure 10-5-3.2.B.1 IP Illustrative Building Design

Figure 10-5-3.2.B.1 IP Illustrative Building Design

Figure 10-5-3.2.B.1 IP Illustrative Building Design

Figure 10-5-3.2.B.2 IP Design Measurements

Figure 10-5-3.2.B.2 IP Design Measurements

Figure 10-5-3.2.B.2 IP Design Measurements

Figure 10-5-3.2.B.2 IP Design Measurements

2. 2.
   Distant Street-Facing Elevations.

   1. a.

      Intersections. Buildings, in whole or in part, that are greater than 200 feet from an intersection of two commercial streets shall provide primary building materials on no less than 10 percent of the front and corner street building elevations. The primary building materials shall wrap onto the adjoining side elevations for a distance equal to five percent of the wall length.

   2. b.

      Commercial and Connector Streets. Buildings, in whole or in part, that are greater than 100 feet from a commercial or connector street may be constructed of secondary materials.

3. 3.

   Overhead Doors. Overhead doors shall not be parallel, or approximately parallel, to a commercial corridor or suburban connector.

5. E.
   Outside Storage. Outside storage shall be screened from public street rights-of-way with a fence or wall that is one foot above the top of storage materials, together with a Type B bufferyard as set out in Subsection 10-1-3.6.F, Bufferyard Requirements.

Effective on: 10/28/2021