Littleton Planning Commission

The Littleton Planning Commission is a city-level advisory and quasi-judicial body serving the City of Littleton, Colorado ^[1.2]. It operates under the authority of the Littleton City Charter and the Unified Land Use Code (ULUC) [1.2, 1.16]. The commission consists of eight members, including seven regular members and one alternate, all appointed by the City Council ^[1.16]. Its primary mandate includes reviewing master plans, land annexations, initial zoning, and rezoning proposals ^[1.2]. The commission also has final authority over conditional use permits ^[1.3]. It reports its recommendations to the City Council for final legislative action [1.2, 1.16]. While the commission itself does not have a separate public budget, it is supported by the Community Development Department and the City Clerk’s Office [1.2, 1.19].

Historical Background

The Littleton Planning Commission was officially established in 1956 following a period of political tension regarding city expansion ^[1.13]. A new pro-annexation City Council, led by Mayor Randall, appointed the first members after the previous administration hastily created the body ^[1.13]. H. Ray Baker served as the inaugural chairman with a six-year term ^[1.13]. The commission was built to manage the town’s rapid post-World War II growth and prevent unwanted influences from neighboring Denver [1.13, 1.17]. Littleton transitioned from a statutory city to a home-rule city in 1959, which solidified local control over land use ^[1.17]. In 2021, the city adopted a new Unified Land Use Code to modernize its development processes and zoning regulations [1.16, 1.20].

Current Events

As of March 2026, the Littleton Planning Commission is managing several high-profile land use cases. On March 23, 2026, the commission reviewed PC Resolution 08-2026, which proposes rezoning the remaining Trailmark Subdivision parcel from Corridor-Mixed to Small Lot Residential ^[1.4]. During the same meeting, commissioners voted to continue the Trailmark rezoning hearing until April 27, 2026, to allow for further review ^[1.12]. The commission also approved a conditional use permit for a project at 799 West Littleton Boulevard under PC Resolution 06-2026 [1.4, 1.12]. Additionally, the body is currently overseeing the Littleton Boulevard Subarea Plan, which began its stakeholder engagement phase in early 2026 ^[1.7]. This long-range plan aims to address historic preservation and economic development along the city's primary corridor ^[1.7].