CAC Meeting
May 10, 2006
Recorded by Carol Brzeczek

This was brainstorming meeting. Here are some of the more relevant comments.

The meeting opened with the public comment. Tom Kristopiet addressed the group telling them that he was around in 1959 through 1976 and participated in the Complan. He said that the plan did not mean very much.

He told them that their current process was just like the old process and they will get what they got before. He thought they needed a new process and a fresh look. The issue is revitalization, renewal and rejuvenation.

Dave Randall told CAC that he had warned them at their first meeting that they would be rushed down the road of “new urbanism” and it is happening. Randall attended the Littleton Leadership Retreat where the three speakers were all from the “new urbanism” bandwagon and that this group needs to broaden their approach and look at other kinds of projects.

CAC Reports
Jean – We need to dig deeper about what the citizen’s love about Littleton.

Greg – They need to love where Littleton is going and we need to get the word out.

Emily – Wanted to know if they should be advertising what they are doing to those that do not live in Littleton so they can find out what appeals to those that don’t want to come to Littleton.

Jean – People who have been here a long time like it the way it is.

We need to dig deeper about what the citizen’s love about Littleton

Ray – The Complan needs to look at the future not the status quo.

Emily – We need to ask those that may want to move here why they aren’t moving here.

Greg – Need to identify how many languages we need to communicate our message.

Littleton Leadership Retreat

Ray – Magnificent. Glad to see younger people and of the 99 participants there was only 1 that believed the experience was negative. Yes, they did talk about “new urbanism” – it’s here. We have to free up housing for those that don’t want yards.

Rick – The words “new urbanism” weren’t used at the Retreat that much. He thought Chris Gibbon’s presentation on Economics 101 was fantastic. “We have a real threat” on our borders and he named Sheridan.

Stephanie – She was asked to serve on the CAC and felt overwhelmed initially. But, after the Retreat she feels much more qualified to serve on the CAC.

Rick – The technology that showed what the current streets in Littleton could look like was a great tool.

Sonia – It was clearer to her what a city can and can’t do.

Steve – We have to be advocates of good things that are happening in Littleton. The naysayers know how to apply pressure and the happy citizens do not show up at council meetings.

Cindy – We need to form an educational element to show how good density can look and feel.

Bob – Was impressed with the wave of comprehension and understanding that swept through the attendees.

Steve – Wanted to know if the vacant properties presentation given at the Retreat would be made to the CAC. He now understands where the opportunities are in Littleton.

Sonia – We need to explore ways to work with the owners to redevelop the underutilized shopping centers.

Stew – Mentioned that there are 3 different stakeholders (political, private and civic) and you need the cooperation of all three.

Ray – One way to get them motivated is with tax incentives. If they (current owners) realized where Littleton is going and how successful it will be, they would want to be part of it plan.

Rick – Developers don’t know what is here but after spending 5 minutes with city staff they know whether or not if they want to come.

Ray – It is very exciting what is happening in downtown Littleton.

Draft of a Vision Statement

There is an axiom, “retail follows rooftops” and that needs to be turned around.

Greg – Thought there needed to be code changes – the most valuable property is mixed use property.

Ray – Marketplace is going to change neighborhoods. There will be scrape offs.

Emily – The answer is not always scrape offs. Citizens do not want to loose the stability of the community.

Rick – He has noticed that some yards are not maintained – people are graveling over their yards or just not taking care of them.

Stew – The challenge for us is the redevelopment of commercial property and that will attract business. We have the “rooftops” – what is important is what is under those rooftops.

Cindy – We need diversity in housing options to attract diverse people.

Jean – In talking to people in the older neighborhoods, change scares them. We need to talk about transition. How do we create pedestrian corridors and where do we put them? Pedestrians are isolated and this is a weakness of Littleton’s.

Rick – Take 4 feet off the streets – streets are too wide. Change has to be managed.

Steve Mc – Show people what Woodlawn could be.

Julie – We need to identify the qualities we want in Littleton. Her list was:
More sophistication
Young and old mix
Prosperous
Healthy
Educated
Detailed oriented
Creative

What are we trying to create?

Rick – More hip – modern material – modern signage.

Stew – Bob Chipman had condensed the Retreat is what he thought was accurate – “Lively, livable Littleton”

Rick – We can’t rest on our laurels – we have to compete against those cities around us.

Bob – We have to market Littleton.

LaDonna – We need high quality communication – we have a history and it needs to be part of the vision.

Ray – Narrower streets make better neighborhoods but Denver Water Board and the Fire Department require 30’ wide streets.

Steve H – Littleton needs to be a participatory city.

Prep for the Public Meeting

Maps will be up on the walls for people to look at. Marilee Utter, one of the presenters at the Retreat, will give a presentation. The CAC’s responsibility is to be the “ears”. Susan, Mary and Dennis will summarize each of the public sessions.

CAC Study Session with Council on Mary 23 – Topics for discussion

What does density look like? Aging population.

Rick – How do we remodel those older homes without scraping them off? The older homes in Littleton are on small lots – but the homes are small too.

Greg – Section 8 housing needs to be included – it should be mixed in with everything.

Stew – We don’t control Section 8 housing.

Rick – Section 8 housing could be done by going into small houses, in the older neighborhoods, and remodel them.

Final Thoughts

There was one – and I failed to get the name of the individual but he had a great idea.

“We need to hear from developers that do not do mixed use for supplemental information.”

Next meeting is June 8th.