Sentinel NORTHGLENN/ADCO 3.21.13
Northglenn -Thornton
March 28, 2013
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A Colorado Community Media Publication
ournorthglennnews.com, ourthorntonnews.com
Adams County, Colorado • Volume 49, Issue 33
Thornton city staff outlines military benefits plan Revised amendent would extend military leave benefits up to five years By Darin Moriki
dmoriki@ourcoloradonews.com
Commerce City residents LeeAnn Archuleta, left, and her daughter, 5-year-old Freya Archuleta, slide down the snowy hill fronting the ballpark at Thornton’s Community Park, while Commerce City residents Nessa Montour, center, and Levi Williamson, right, look on
Commerce City resident Danaya Garcia, in front, gets some help from Freya Archuleta to slide down the snowy hill fronting the ballpark at Thornton’s Community Park.
SNOW DAY PHOTOS BY DARIN MORIKI
Thornton approves “mother-in-law” units By Darin Moriki
dmoriki@ourcoloradonews.com Thornton residents will have more housing options to consider after the City Council approved an ordinance allowing homeowners to construct small apartment units attached to their existing homes. The ordinance, which the council unanimously approved on first reading during its March 19 meeting, would amend the city’s building code to allow accessory dwelling units (ADU) throughout the city in singlefamily detached homes. Ward 3 council member Beth Humenik was absent and did not vote on the issue. The second reading of the ordinance will be during the council’s April 9 meeting at 7 p.m. in council chambers, 9500 Civic Center Drive. Current city codes only allow for accessory dwelling units — also known as mother-in-law apartments — in new developments. City Planning Manager Mike Mallon said the city has not received any applicaPOSTAL ADDRESS
tions since the ordinance was approved in Oct. 2011. Mallon said the proposed ordinance is similar to the one already in place but would add several specific requirements. These requirements include constructing no more than one accessory dwelling unit per lot; complying with all the setback and height requirements established for the main home; meeting the minimum and maximum site requirements for the accessory dwelling unit; and meeting the same development standards of the principle dwelling unit, including architecture and building materials. Mallon said the ordinance would also allow for one new parking space per accessory dwelling unit, which would allow a homeowner to construct a new parking pad next to the existing driveway. “The concept of accessory dwelling units has been before the City Council many times and is in response to City Council’s desire to increase affordable and alternative housing options for the residents of the
city,” Mallon said. “Tonight is kind of the culmination of incremental steps to get us to this point.” Humenik, who has spearheaded the push for accessory dwelling units in the city, said her efforts began in 2009 to address the lack of affordable housing options for the city’s aging residents. “It is more economical to have parents live in an ADU, in their own living space on their property,” Humenik said. “As my own parents are beginning to get older, we are now beginning to look at alternatives to high housing rents and ADU options that are available as well.” Humenik said the issue is becoming more pressing as aging residents move into the city to be close to family members but want to live an active, independent lifestyle. “There is more focus now on the `silver tsunami’ we are facing and allowing baby boomers to successfully age in place,” Humenik said. “ADU’s are a good, affordable housing alternative for our active older adults and senior population.”
NORTHGLENN-THORNTON SENTINEL
(ISSN 1044-4254) (USPS 854-980)
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Thornton officials are finalizing plans to amend a city code to provide financial and health benefits to city employees who serve in the military when they are called to active duty. The revised proposal, which was presented during the City Council’s March 19 study session, would amend the city’s personnel code to provide extended military leave benefits, including salary and healthrelated benefits, for a maximum of five cumulative years. Deputy City Manager Charlie Long said the new proposal dovetails the Federal Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act of 1994, which was designed to protect non-full-time militaryservice members in civilian jobs when they are called to active duty. The law, Long said, allows for an employee serving in the military to be re-employed in his or her civilian job, if the employee leaves that job to perform service in the military for a maximum of five cumulative years. The federal act also allows civilian employees in the military to elect to continue existing health insurance through an employer-based plan for up to 24 months while in the service. Long said narrowly tailoring the city’s personnel code after the federal act will clarify specific limitations and send a clear message that the city benefit is not intended to cover employees who may decide to pursue a military career. The long-standing intention, Long said, is to provide a continual income and benefit source for those employees serving under typical deployment periods and their families. “It protects the city from an incident where somebody takes a job with the city with an unspecified condition of employment,” Long said. “In the event that somebody is called in for duty for 10 or 15 years and maybe not against their will … the city could find itself in a position where … they are obligated to continue the program for anyone receiving the benefit.” Fewer than six city employees have been deployed for an average of two and a half years since 2001, he said. The second reading of the ordinance will be during the council’s April 9 meeting, 7 p.m. in council chambers, 9500 Civic Center Drive.
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