Eastlake Nonresidential Zoning Changes

The city is currently preparing a new nonresidential zone district for the Old Town Eastlake area intended to provide greater flexibility for nonresidential lots to adapt to potential commercial opportunities created by the new Eastlake & 124th train station, the Regional Transportation District (RTD) commuter rail stop and the current end-of-line station for the RTD North Metro Line (N-Line).

Eastlake Zoning Background

  • 2003 Eastlake Subarea Plan and Existing Eastlake Zoning.  In 2003, the city adopted the Eastlake Subarea Plan.  Based on plan recommendations, separate zoning districts were adopted for Eastlake in order to preserve the area's character and provide guidance for appropriate revitalization. 

  • 2017 Eastlake Subarea Plan Zoning Recommendations.  With the coming of the North Metro Line and its anticipated impacts on Eastlake, the city undertook an update of the subarea plan, which was adopted in 2017.  One of the implementation steps in the 2017 Eastlake Subarea Plan called for the rezoning of the predominantly nonresidential area in Old Town Eastlake to facilitate revitalization of the commercial area to serve Thornton residents, employees, commuter rail users, and visitors.  Currently, this area has five nonresidential zoning districts including Eastlake Business, Eastlake Service, Eastlake Office, Eastlake Transit-Oriented Development and Neighborhood Services on the northeast corner of 124th Avenue and York Street. 

  • Proposed 2022 Zoning. The 2017 Subarea Plan recommended consolidating the Eastlake Business, Eastlake Office, and Eastlake Service zones into one Eastlake Mixed Use Zone District. This was intended to allow specified landowners more flexibility in how they use their lot and remove restrictions on the types of commercial uses based on location.  No changes were proposed to the existing Eastlake Transit-Oriented Development Zone District concentrated to the west of the railroad tracks. Further, because all the lots have already been developed in the Neighborhood Services zone on the northeast corner of 124th Avenue and York Street these lots were not included in the proposed Eastlake Mixed Use zone district.

Proposed Eastlake Mixed Use Zone District

Old Town Eastlake Area 

The city is proposing an Eastlake Mixed Use Zone District that will consolidate the uses in the existing Eastlake commercial areas along First Street and Lake Avenue to allow specified landowners more flexibility in how they use their lot and to remove restrictions on use types based on location.  The city is also proposing the rezoning of the property on the southeast corner of the intersection of Birch Street and First Street from residential to commercial. The mixed-use zone district would apply to the existing Eastlake Business, Office and Service Zone districts and the one residential lot described above. Property owners have the choice to retain their existing zoning rather than apply the new Eastlake Mixed Use zoning.

Commercial Lots in Eastlake Village 

On the northeast corner of 124th Avenue and York Street, there are three additional commercial lots that were considered for rezoning to Eastlake Mixed Use district as part of the 2017 Subarea Plan. These lots are located in the Eastlake Village Subdivision and currently zoned Neighborhood Services. All of these lots are now developed so they have not been considered part of this mixed-use zoning proposal but are eligbile for the rezone at the owners choosing.  The city is only actively pursuing the properties along First Street and Lake Avenue. 

Eastlake Service Zone District

Properties currently in the Eastlake Service Zone District would also be eligible for the Eastlake Mixed Use zoning designation that would allow the existing service businesses to remain until the property owner formally changes the use of the property.  The properties in the Eastlake Service Zone District may retain their existing zoning if they choose to not rezone to the new Eastlake Mixed Use Zone District.  The 2017 Eastlake Subarea Plan recommended creating a Service Overlay District where there are currently service businesses (existing Eastlake Service zone) in order to support local businesses and historic land uses. Rather than create an overlay zone the city is proposing to allow property owners to rezone to the Eastlake Mixed Use zone with a special allowance to retain their existing use or remain in the existing Eastlake Service zone. 

Properties Eligible for Rezoning

Lots being considered for the new zoning are identified on this map.  Once the new zoning regulations are drafted, the city will contact all property owners whose lots are identified on the map to discuss the potential changes.  The new zoning would require City Council approval. If approved, the city would offer applicable property owners the option for a city-initiated rezoning. The new zoning would be optional and property owners can choose to retain their existing zoning or apply to rezone their property at any time in the future. The rezoning would not impact existing uses but rather expand the options for permitted land uses if a property desired to redevelop in the future.

Project Updates

This webpage will be updated as new information becomes available. For more information, you may also contact the Policy Planning Division through email at policy.planning@thorntonco.gov or by phone at 303.538.7295.





July 2022 Draft Proposals
Proposed Rezoning Resources
  • Map of Proposed Rezoning Area
    This map identifies the properties that may be eligible for the new zoning if approved by City Council and shows a comparison of the existing zoning designations and the proposed designations.
Other Eastlake Planning Projects