Subarea Plans

Overview

Certain parts of the city require detailed plans where unique challenges and opportunities are examined within a specific geographic area. As directed by City Council, Long Range Planning develops subarea plans addressing specific areas in more detail than the Comprehensive Plan, with its "big picture" perspective. These detailed plans often incorporate a vision for future land use, growth and development, and serve as the guiding documents for positive change in that area.

South Thornton Planning Documents

Photograph of the North Valley Tech Center from Washington Street north of 88th avenue

The studies and plans addressing South Thornton focus on planning for the unique characteristics of the area generally south of Thornton Parkway. Starting with Original Thornton, the southern portion of the city consists of some of the first subdivisions in Thornton. The North Suburban Medical Center is located south of Thornton Parkway along Grant Street. Shown to the left is the North Valley Tech Center, a major economic generator for South Thornton.

South Thornton Revitalization Subarea Plan

Approved 2011

The Thornton Revitalization Advisory Board (TRAB) and the City Development Department completed a revitalization planning process focused on invigorating the southern portion of Thornton. The results of this planning effort are available in the South Thornton Revitalization Subarea (STaR) Plan designed to inform future revitalization efforts in south Thornton. The Plan was approved by City Council on August 23, 2011.

South Thornton Revitalization Subarea Plan [PDF/1.9MB]

Thornton Urban Center Study

Approved 2013

The focus of the Thornton Urban Center Study is to rejuvenate Thornton's original commercial core. The plan covers an area generally between I-25 and Washington Street south of Thornton Parkway, and provides guidance to help it develop in a way that is more sustainable, provide a framework for a greater mix of uses, and help integrate alternative forms of transportation. The objective is to make this area a special place where people from all around Thornton and the surrounding area will enjoy gathering and spending time. The study also produces a list of key catalyst actions that, if implemented, will help rejuvenate the area. The project was guided in part by the Denver Regional Council of Governments (DRCOG) Metro Vision 2035 Plan which describes the essential elements of an urban center.

Thornton Urban Center Study [PDF/9.5MB]

Healthcare District Subarea Plan

Approved 2016

The Thornton Development Authority (TDA) engaged a consultant team led by Denver-based Design Workshop in 2013 to analyze the potential for redevelopment of 30 parcels in the South Thornton area, as part of the TDA’s overall mission to promote economic revitalization in the city and encourage development that builds the employment base and fiscal position of the city. The project team narrowed the set of potential redevelopment sites, through a series of iterations, in order to determine which site (or sites) warranted the completion of more focused conceptual planning. This analysis process concluded that the areas to the east of I-25, between Thornton Parkway and 88th Avenue, in the vicinity of the North Suburban Medical Center (NSMC), represented the most viable areas warranting the completion of conceptual planning and assessment.

Healthcare District Subarea Plan [PDF/17.8MB]

Eastlake Planning Documents

Photograph of First Street and the frontages abutting it in the Eastlake neighborhood of Thornton.

The town of Eastlake was originally settled as a railway village more than 100 years ago and incorporated into Thornton in 1990. In 2003 Council adopted a Subarea Plan for Eastlake and the development code was amended to reflect the recommendations of that plan. Since 2003 updates to the plan have occurred, the current end-of-line station for the RTD North Metro Line was completed, a Station Area Master Plan was adopted and several other planning projects have happened.

Eastlake Station Area Master Plan

Approved 2015

The town of Eastlake was originally settled as a railway village in the early 20th century and incorporated into the city of Thornton in 1990. The 2015 Eastlake at 124^th STAMP takes advantage of the existing main street and small- lot grid creating an ideal environment for TOD. This station is the temporary end of line for the N Line.

Eastlake Station Area Master Plan

Eastlake Streetscape Conceptual Plan

Approved 2023

The Eastlake Streetscape Conceptual Plan carries out a number of implementation strategies contained within the 2015 Eastlake Station Area Master Plan (STAMP) and 2017 Eastlake Subarea Plan. The goal of the Streetscape Plan is to enhance the accessibility, walkability and streetscape ambiance of Old Town Eastlake and therefore encourage economic vitality by guiding development and investment in the area.

This project develops streetscape plans for Lake Avenue, the east side of First Street, and York Avenue from 124^th Avenue to Birch Street. The intent is to provide conceptual plans that facilitate the transformation of the transportation network into a livable complete streets concept. The Plan will include conceptual level costs for future implementation projects and conceptual designs that include landscaping, streetscaping, and streets and sidewalks that are Americans with Disabilities Act compliant.

Eastlake Streetscape Conceptual Plan [PDF/80.3MB]

Eastlake Subarea Plan

Approved 2017

The town of Eastlake was originally settled as a railway village about 100 years ago and incorporated into Thornton in 1990. In 2003 Council adopted a Subarea Plan for Eastlake and the development code was amended to reflect the recommendations of that plan.

Since 2003 there have been many changes that affect Eastlake and the surrounding area. The most important of these is the location of the Eastlake at 124th transit station, which is a transit stop on the North Metro Line, planned to open in 2018. This transit stop is located directly east of Old Town Eastlake and has been designated the temporary end of line until enough financing is acquired to build the line to the ultimate end of line station just north of Hwy 7.

This subarea plan update focuses on Old Town Eastlake and is bordered to the west by the railway line and proposed station, to the north by Birch Street, to the east by York Street, and to the south by two larger properties located south of 124th Avenue just to the east of the railway line. The plan boundary also includes the Post Office and adjacent commercial area just east of York Street.

Eastlake Subarea Plan [PDF/31.2MB]