Mixed-Use (MU) District

Purpose and Intent

The MU District is established to accommodate vertical and horizontal mixed-use development that combines a thoughtfully integrated and compatible mix of residential and nonresidential uses in locations consistent with the Comprehensive Plan. The MU District is intended to create a compact, pedestrian-friendly, and unique environment where people can live, shop, work, and play. Buildings shall be located along property lines to create a desirable sense of enclosure and consistent street wall with activated storefronts. 

Summary of Allowable Uses

Please refer to Section 18-168 for a complete list of principal uses; Section 18-334 contains a list of accessory uses; and Section 18-366 contains a list of temporary uses.

Legend:

  • (SUP): Special Use Permit required 
  • (L): Limited use standards apply
  • (TUP) Temporary Use Permit required

Note: If no item in the legend is listed next to a listed land use, it is permitted by right in the MU district

Main Uses

Agriculture and Animal Related Uses

  • Animal Clinic / Day Care, without Outdoor Runs
  • Community Garden
  • Crop Production (L)

Commercial Uses

  • Artisan Manufacturing (SUP)
  • Bank, Credit Union, Financial Services 
  • Bar / Lounge / Tavern (L)
  • Food Truck Court
  • General Commercial, 5,000 sq ft or less
  • General Commercial, more than 5,000 sq ft (L)
  • General Office / Professional Services, 5,000 sq ft or less
  • General Office / Professional Services, more than 5,000 sq ft (SUP)
  • Liquor Store (L)
  • Medical Clinic 
  • Micro Alcohol (L)
  • Personal Services (L)
  • Private Event/Banquet Facility (L)
  • Restaurant 5,000 sq ft or less
  • Restaurant more than 5,000 sq ft (L)

Entertainment Uses

  • Cultural and Arts Facility
  • Private Entertainment / Recreation / Fitness Facility, Indoor
  • Movie Theater (L)

Industrial, Automotive, and Transportation Uses

  • Catering
  • Commercial Kitchen (SUP)
  • Light Industrial, Indoor (L)
  • Mining (SUP)
  • Parking Structure (SUP)
  • Transit Passenger Shelter
  • Transit Station (SUP)
  • Well / Production Sites

Lodging Uses

  • Boarding / Rooming House (SUP)
  • Hotel and Motel (SUP)

Public and Institutional Uses

  • Civic Meeting Facility
  • Day Care Facility
  • Group Home
  • Hospital / Sanitarium 
  • Institutional Residential, Assisted Living and Long-Term Care (SUP)
  • Institutional Residential, Dormitory (SUP)
  • Library
  • Park
  • Post Office
  • Public Entertainment / Recreation Facility 
  • Public Service / Safety Facility
  • Recovery Residence
  • Religious Institution
  • School, Public or Private (SUP)

Residential Uses

  • Cottage Housing (single lot)
  • Duplex (single lot)
  • Dwelling, 2 Units Attached (1 unit per lot)
  • Dwelling, 3-8 Units Attached (1 unit per lot)
  • Dwelling, Live-Work
  • Multi-Unit Dwelling (single lot)
  • Multi-Unit Dwelling Complex (single lot)
  • Multi-Unit Dwelling, Above Ground Floor (single lot)
  • Triplex/Quadplex (single lot)

Utilities and Infrastructure Uses

  • Public Utility Facilities
  • Utility or Government Installation Other than Listed (SUP)
  • Water Treatment Plant, Reservoir and Water Storage Tanks
  • Wireless Telecommunications, Tower and Equipment (SUP)

Accessory Uses

  • Accessory Building / Structure
  • Accessory Community Center, Private
  • Accessory Food Truck Court (L)
  • Accessory Game Court, Private
  • Accessory Outdoor Merchandise Display and Sales
  • Accessory Outdoor Seating
  • Accessory Outdoor Storage
  • Accessory Retail / Restaurant
  • Amateur Telecommunications Facility
  • Golf Safety Net (SUP)
  • Home Occupation
  • Short-Term Rental (SUP) 
  • Solar Energy Collection System, Canopy
  • Solar Energy Collection System, Ground-Mounted
  • Solar Energy Collection System, Roof-Mounted
  • Swimming Pool, Private
  • Urban Garden
  • Wind Energy Conversion Systems
  • Wireless Telecommunications, Building/Structure Mounted (L)

Temporary Uses

  • Mobile Vendor
  • Pop-Up Retail / Restaurant 
  • Seasonal Sales 
  • Special Event
  • Temporary Concrete or Asphalt Batch Plant
  • Temporary Donation Collection Bin
  • Temporary Grazing
  • Temporary Parking Lot
  • Temporary Use, Other

Development Standards:

To access the complete development standards for the MU zone district, use this link to Section 18-84 of the Code.

Table 18-84.1. MU District dimensional standards by use.

Regulation

Duplex / Triplex / Quadplex;

 Dwelling, 2 Units Attached; 

Dwelling, 3-8 Units Attached; or

Dwelling, Live - Work

(with alley access or no vehicular access)

Duplex / Triplex / Quadplex;

Dwelling, 2 Unit Attached; 

 Dwelling, 3-8 Units Attached; or 

Dwelling, Live - Work 

(with front vehicular access)

Multi-Unit Dwelling;

 Multi-Unit Dwelling Complex; or 

Multi-Unit Dwelling, Above Ground Floor

 (with or without alley)

Cottage Housing

(with or without alley)

All Other Uses 

(with or without alley)

Lot Area, Minimum per Dwelling Unit (square feet)1,0002,000N/AN/AN/A
Lot Width, Minimum per Dwelling unit (feet) [1]1530N/AN/AN/A
Front or Street Side Setback, (feet) 

10 Minimum 

[2]

10/20 Minimum

[2] [3]		25 Minimum / 35 Maximum Arterial; 
10 Minimum / 15 Maximum Collector or Local    
[4] [5]		25 Minimum / 35 Maximum Arterial; 
10 Minimum / 15 Maximum Collector or Local    
[4] [5]		15 Minimum / 25 Maximum Arterial; 
10 Minimum / 15 Maximum Collector or Local    
[4] [5]

Interior Side Setback, Minimum (feet) 

[6] [7]

55101010

Rear Setback, Minimum (feet)  

[7] [8]

10 / 015 / 5201020
Building Height, Maximum (feet) [9] 45 / 1645 / 1665 / 1645 / 1660 / 16
Frontage Build-Out on Primary Street, Minimum (%) [10]N/AN/A50 N/A50
Lot Coverage, Maximum (%)9393808080
Distance Between Buildings Up to Two Stories, Minimum (feet)N/AN/A101010
Distance Between Buildings More Than Two Stories, Minimum (feet)N/AN/A202020
Table 18-84.1 footnotes:
  1. Lot width for front-loaded dwellings can be reduced to match the alley-loaded dwellings if shared driveways are used.
  2. See Section 18-573(d) and 18-574(d) for setback reductions in green court and motor court configurations.
  3. The first number applies to a porch with or without living space above or to the building if there is no porch. The second number applies to front-loaded garages.
  4. No vehicular circulation or parking is allowed between the building and street where a maximum setback is listed.
  5. Primary entrance required on at least one of the street facing façades where a maximum setback is listed.
  6. Standard shall not apply if a fire-related partition wall meeting all Thornton Building Code requirements is provided.
  7. Standard shall depend on required buffer yards as detailed in Section 18-600.
  8. The first number is for the principal structure. The second number, if indicated, is for an accessory structure or alley-loaded garage with no driveway. 
  9. The first number is for principal structures and Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) above a garage. The second number is for all other accessory structures.
  10. For the purposes of this provision, primary street is defined to be at least one arterial street. If no arterial streets abut the project site, primary street is defined to be at least one collector, private street or other access easement abutting the site. 

MU District, Additional Standards 

Use this link to Section 18-84(b) to access the additional provisions. 

  • Required mix. New development in the MU District shall provide a compatible mix of allowable uses identified for this district in the Principal Use Tables 18-168.2, 18-168.3, 18-168.5, 18-168.6, and 18-168.7 in Article IV from two or more of the following use categories:
    • Commercial;
    • Entertainment;
    • Lodging;
    • Public and Institutional; and
    • Residential
  • A minimum of 25 percent of the ground floor area of the development shall include uses from any of the use categories listed here. 

  • Development may additionally include allowable principal uses from other use categories as well as accessory and temporary uses that are compatible and complementary.