Department of Utilities
Reference: Land Use and Development Code Article 10 Amendments
To: Mayor Gregory Mills and Members of City Council
Through: Michael P. Martinez, City Manager
Prepared By: Scott Olsen, Director of Utilities
Date Prepared: July 30, 2026
PURPOSE
Requesting City Council and Planning Commission’s consideration of amendments to Article 10.02 - FC - Floodplain Control District of the Land Use and Development Code.
BACKGROUND
Article 10.02 - FC - Flood Control District regulates land use and development within the 100-year floodplain of the City of Brighton. The 100-year floodplain is the area of land that may be impacted by flooding during a 100-year storm event. A 100-year storm is a storm that has a one-percent chance of occurring in any given year. It does not mean that it occurs every 100 years.
Natural drainageways in the City with associated 100-year floodplains are the South Platte River, Second Creek, Third Creek and the Beebe Draw surrounding and below Barr Lake.
Brighton joined the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) on November 16, 1977. The NFIP is a national program that offers flood insurance coverage in participating communities. Participating communities are required to have minimum flood control regulations aimed at reducing flood damage, such as Article 10.02.
Communities can also join the Community Rating System (CRS), which provides discounts on the insurance premiums if communities have standards higher than the minimums. Brighton’s existing floodplain program and regulations meet the requirements to join the CRS, but minor modifications to definitions and the variance process are needed in general. Overall, Brighton’s floodplain regulations will remain largely unchanged, and the updates will not place any residents into non-compliance.
The proposed amendments include updating definitions as shown in the redlines to match state and federal requirements, and clarifying that a variance can only be granted to properties one half an acre in size and smaller.
It is important to note that these updates are required to remain in the NFIP, not just to join the CRS. The required updates were simply discovered during the CAV completed as part of the application process for the CRS.
ATTACHMENTS
• Article 10.02 redlines
• PowerPoint presentation