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Councilwoman Sandoval's Monthly Meeting Slide Deck
Denver District 1 Newsletter: August 2025
Planning and Community Development Committee
Tuesday, August 12, 2025
Report from Council District One: Melissa Horn, Council Aide for Land Use, Policy, & Communications, reporting from Councilwoman Sandoval’s office.
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The Vibrant Denver Bond Two Highland projects have been included in the proposed $950 million bond that will go to voters in November: Improvements to Hirshorn Park (a $1 million playground replacement) and implementation of elements of the 38th Ave Corridor Multimodal Final Plan ($55.3 million). That project will design and construct multimodal improvements on W. 38th Ave. between Sheridan Blvd and Fox St., including but not limited to widening sidewalks where feasible, constructing pedestrian crossing improvements, adding landscaping and green infrastructure improvements where feasible, improving traffic and bus operations and safety via signal improvements and improving bus stops. The specific improvements and locations will be informed by further design and community engagement. For more information For details, visit 2025 Vibrant Denver Bond.
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Single Stair Buildings Denver Community Planning and Development and the Denver Fire Department, in partnership with City Council sponsors, are hosting a series of town hall events related to taller single stair building regulations for development within the City and County of Denver. Interested stakeholders are invited to participate in any of the three in-person focus groups and/or the online survey to provide feedback, ask questions, or voice concerns to City Council and city staff. The allowable parameters for these buildings would be a maximum limit of 6000 s.f. building footprint and no more than 5 stories tall. This regulation is aimed at apartment/condominium buildings. As currently proposed, no tall trees would be allowed in front of these buildings. Learn more, take a survey and find out about upcoming focus group meetings here.
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Unlocking Housing Choices: Community Planning and Developing is launching an inclusive community process with the goal of allowing more middle housing* forms in Denver’s residential neighborhoods through potential updates to the Denver Zoning Code and other city rules and regulations. Importantly, the project would focus on this goal while working to preserve existing affordability and ensure that new development adds more attainable housing stock.
*Middle housing refers to small multi-unit structures like duplexes, tandem houses, fourplexes and other house-scaled, middle housing building forms.
For more information, an opportunity to get involved and to sign up for a newsletter, Learn more and sign up for e-mail updates on this new effort at Unlocking Housing Choices - City and County of Denver. At this website location, you can find access to the presentation at the original Advisory Committee Meeting on July 23, including a recording of the meeting, under “Project Archives”. -
Denver Resilient Landscapes: In partnership with other city agencies, Denver Community Planning and Development (CPD) is working on potential updates to landscape requirements to increase and promote a more climate resilient city. Climate resilient landscapes are designed to use less water, can survive during times of drought, help to reduce heat in the city, and support pollinators, among many other benefits. This process will consider potential amendments to the Denver Zoning Code.
In 2024, the State of Colorado passed a bill (SB 24-005) that prohibits new non-functional turf and artificial turf in commercial, industrial, and institutional development in Colorado. This project will address the requirements of this bill and go beyond to look at the future of all landscape to ensure it meets the vision of the Denver community.
There will be series of pop-up events across the city in the coming months to collect input and explain the effort, particularly one at Rocky Mountain Lake Park on Saturday, September 13 from 9-11 AM during a cleanup event. For more information and to take a survey about what would be important to you in this endeavor, go here.
Committee Discussion Items
Single Stair Building proposal: PCD Committee members commented on the prohibition of trees in front of these buildings that would have single stairs only. Currently, all multistory buildings need a minimum of two stairways. In a building with only the proposed one stairway, the interior layout would need to be designed so that no apartment door would be more than 20’ from a stairway.
Bike Improvements on Tejon – status report: Following the recent death of a bicyclist at 38th Ave and Tejon in a traffic crash, there is increased interest in the proposed Tejon Street Bikeway from 32nd Ave to 46th Ave. When the PCD had last communicated with the design team from DOTI, the plan was 30% complete and completion of that plan awaited the results of a parking study that would evaluate the parking plan that was being implemented in eastern Highland. Since then, nothing has been heard from DOTI, and it was proposed tonight that the HUNI PCD and the PCD from Sunnyside United Neighborhood, Inc (SUNI) meet with the DOTI design team to complete the plan for neighborhood evaluation. This request is pending a response from DOTI.
Updates
Federal Boulevard Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) Planning: Planning is proceeding but no new meetings have been scheduled.
Speer and 23rd Avenue bridges at I-25:
There will be an open house event on Monday, August 25 from 4-7 PM at the Colorado DOT HQ at 2829 W Howard Pl to explain the proposed new interchange connecting Speer and I-25. To learn more go to the CDOT site.
You can make online public comments at that website
from August 22- September 5.
Follow-Up
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The variance for an ADU at 3450 Lipan was approved by Denver’s Board of Adjustment-Zoning.
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The proposed ADU in the rear at 3302 Federal goes to the Landmark Commission for review next week. HUNI PCD recommended approval two months ago.
Next Meeting, Tuesday, September 9, 2025 at 5:30 pm on MS Teams
Planning and Community Development Committee
Tuesday, July 8, 2025
3450 Lipan Street: Reviewed an application for a variance to construct an Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) in the front 65% of a shallow triangular lot. The committee recognized the need for this variance on a difficult site and voted to send a letter to the Board of Adjustment-Zoning stating this.
Report from Council District One: Melissa Horn, Council Aide for Land Use, Policy, & Communications, reporting from Councilwoman Sandoval’s office.
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The Vibrant Denver Bond list of projects has been finalized and now will go to City Council for a Vote on August 4th to Refer the list to the November 2025 Ballot. For details, visit 2025 Vibrant Denver Bond.
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Modernizing Parking Requirements: The Denver City Council will vote on whether to adopt the Modernizing Parking Requirements text amendment at a public hearing on Monday, August 4th, at 5:30 p.m. This involves eliminating all minimum parking regulations citywide. For details, visit Modernizing Parking Requirements.
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Unlocking Housing Choices: Community Planning and Developing is launching a community process with the goal of enabling more middle-income housing in Denver’s residential neighborhoods through potential updates to the Denver Zoning Code and other city rules and regulations. The project would focus on preserving existing affordability and ensure that new development adds more attainable/affordable housing stock. Project kick off is Wednesday, July 23rd at 4:00 p.m. Learn more and sign up for e-mail updates on this new effort at Unlocking Housing Choices - City and County of Denver.
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Denver Resilient Landscapes: In partnership with other city agencies, Denver Community Planning and Development (CPD) is working on potential updates to landscape requirements to increase and promote a more climate resilient city. Climate resilient landscapes are designed to use less water, can survive during times of drought, help reduce heat in the city, and support pollinators, among many other benefits. There are some interesting FAQs about turf grass (among other things) that will be addressed going forward in this project. Learn more here.
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Federal Blvd Bus Rapid Transit: The project team has announced that one pair of stations serving Highland will be moved from 35th Avenue to 32nd Avenue, providing access east and west of Federal. The Speer/29th Avenue stations will remain in the plans as better connections to North High School, the 32 bus, and businesses along 32nd Avenue. Stay up to date Federal BRT.
Next PCD meeting: Tuesday, August 12 at 5:30 pm
Planning and Community Development Committee
Tuesday, June 10, 2025
3302 Federal Blvd: The PCD committee was supportive of the ADU design and plans on writing a positive recommendation to the city’s Landmark Committee, the next stop in the approval process.
Report from Council District One: Melissa Horn, Council Aide for Land Use, Policy, & Communications, reporting from Councilwoman Sandoval’s office.
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The Vibrant Denver Bond has gathered from the community and is now prioritizing projects. The website includes a newsletter signup and list of projects. Or you can click here. There are 3 projects in District 1 - 1) West 38th Ave Multi modal transportation upgrades, Tier 1; 2) Woodbury Library upgrades, Tier 1; and 3) Hirshorn Park upgrades, Tier 3. Contact District 1 Councilwoman Amanda Sandoval’s office if you have input.
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Modernizing Parking Requirements: The Denver City Council will vote on whether to adopt the Modernizing Parking Requirements text amendment at a public hearing on Monday, July 14, at 5:30 p.m. This involves changing how much parking will be required for commercial and multi-unit residential development in the future. Draft of the proposal is here.
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Unlocking Housing Choices: Community Planning and Developing is launching an community process with the goal of enabling more middle-income housing in Denver’s residential neighborhoods through potential updates to the Denver Zoning Code and other city rules and regulations. The project would focus on preserving existing affordability and ensure that new development adds more attainable/affordable housing stock. Learn more and sign up for e-mail updates on this new effort.
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Denver Resilient Landscapes: In partnership with other city agencies, Denver Community Planning and Development (CPD) is working on potential updates to landscape requirements to increase and promote a more climate resilient city. Climate resilient landscapes are designed to use less water, can survive during times of drought, help reduce heat in the city, and support pollinators, among many other benefits. Learn more here. There are some interesting FAQs about turfgrass (among other things) that will be addressed going forward in this project. Learn more here.
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Federal Blvd Bus Rapid Transit: There are pop-up meetings planned for the near future and a more formal meeting planned for as yet TBD time. Stay up to date: https://www.codot.gov/projects/studies/denvermetrobrt/federalbrt.
New Business: No opening date yet for the I-25 Dog Park.
Next meeting: Tuesday, July 8, 2025 at 5:30 PM.
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New Property Research Tool
The city has launched a new version of denvergov.org/property, a research platform allowing residents to view details of approximately 240,000 properties throughout the city and county. The newer technology allows for a cleaner viewing experience on computers, tablets, and mobile devices. The technology includes a simplified intelligent search, assessed value of the properties, easier path to appeals and a properties' transfer and permit history.
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38TH AVENUE CORRIDOR STUDY
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Public Meeting
The city hosted its third and final public meeting for the West 38th Ave Corridor Study. The project team shared a recommended long-term vision to guide future transportation improvement projects and development on the corridor, opportunities for near-term safety improvements at key intersections, and next steps for the study and the West 38th Ave corridor. You can view the meeting materials and the recommended long-term vision for the corridor here.
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Community Feedback Form
This is your last chance to provide feedback on the West 38th Ave Corridor Study. Please share all thoughts, comments, and questions in this form. The community feedback form will close Friday, May 2, 2025.