City's development review process improved to deliver better results

Published on March 31, 2026

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Commerce City has implemented improvements to its development review process designed to create clearer timelines, stronger collaboration with applicants, and more efficient project reviews. The Community Development Department has introduced several process improvements to support the city’s goal of completing development application reviews within a 3-2-1 review timeline, meaning there will be three weeks for the first review, two weeks for the second review, and one week for the final review, and a 2-1 review timeline for residential permits. The improvements are designed to reduce delays, improve communication with applicants, and ensure projects move through the review process more efficiently.

New pre-review step for development applications
A key enhancement to the review process is the addition of a pre-review step before applications enter the formal review cycle. During pre-review, staff will confirm that applications include all required materials before they are routed to reviewers across city departments and referral agencies. Incomplete submissions have historically been one of the most common reasons projects experience delays. Missing items, such as site plans, landscaping details, drainage information, or utility plans, can lead to multiple review cycles and extended timelines.

By confirming that all required materials are included up front, the city aims to create a smoother process for applicants and reduce the need for repeated review rounds. Higher quality submittals lead to a more efficient and higher quality review process.

Strengthened communication with applicants
Another improvement to the process is a new review meeting following the first review of significant development applications. During this meeting, staff from multiple reviewing departments, such as Planning, Engineering, Building Safety, and partner agencies, will meet with the applicant team to walk through review comments together.

This step allows staff to clarify comments, answer questions, and ensure applicants clearly understand what is needed for the next submission. The goal is to identify all key issues early in the process and minimize new comments in later review rounds.

Faster timelines for building permits
The improvements also extend to the city’s building permit process. While development applications operate under the 3-2-1 review goal for 80 percent or more of applicants, many building permits processed through Building Safety follow a faster 2-1 timeline, with two weeks for the first review and one week for the final review. These timelines support homeowners, contractors, and businesses seeking permits for construction and improvements.

Expedited review opportunities for significant development projects
Commerce City is also developing a program to help expedite review and provide predictable timelines for significant development projects that bring economic and community benefits. Projects that may qualify include:

  • Restaurants (dine-in)

  • Hotels

  • Grocery stores

  • Retail centers

  • Entertainment districts

  • Retailers over 50,000 square feet

  • Vertical mixed-use developments (retail and multifamily)

  • Multifamily developments with more than 100 units and at least 20% affordable housing

  • Urban Renewal Authority (URA) projects

For these projects, the city will work closely with applicants to chart the entire review process early on, including review timelines and expected hearing dates.

 

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