Hey Denver, it's time for the weekly general session of your Denver City Council.

Tonight's coverage of Denver City Council starts now.

Good afternoon, everyone.

Thank you for taking the time to join us for Denver City Council meeting.

Tonight's meeting is being interpreted into Spanish.

Sam or Jasmine, would you please introduce yourself and let our viewers know how to enable a translation on their devices?

Of course, thank you.

Hello everyone.

My name is Sam Guzman with the CEO C joining you virtually through Zoom.

And along with my colleague Jasmine, we will be interpreting today's meeting into Spanish.

Please allow me a quick minute while I give instructions in Spanish on how to access interpretation.

Thank you very much, Sam.

Welcome to the Denver City Council meeting of April 13th, 2026.

Council members, please join me in the Pledge of Allegiance.

I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America.

And to the Republic for which it says one of the nation under God.

Thank you.

Council members, please join Councilmember Gonzalez Cutieres as they lead us in the Denver City Council land acknowledgement.

We also recognize the 48 contemporary tribal nations that are historically tied to the lands that make up the city of Colorado.

We honor as elders, we honor elders past, present, and future, and those who have stewarded this land for generations.

We also recognize that government, academic, and cultural institutions were founded upon and continue to enact exclusions and erasures of indigenous peoples.

May this acknowledgement demonstrate a commitment to working to dismantle ongoing legacies of oppression and inequities and recognize the current and future contributions of indigenous communities in Denver.

Thank you, Councilmember.

Madam Secretary, we'll call.

Council members Alvisas here.

Flynn.

Here.

Gilmore.

Here.

Heinz.

Here.

Cashman.

Lewis.

President.

Parity.

Here.

Romero Campbell.

Here.

Here.

Watson.

Here.

Madam President Sandoval.

Here.

Twelve members present.

There are 12 members present.

City Council has a quorum.

Approval of the minutes.

Are there corrections to the minutes of April 6th?

See none.

The minutes stand approved.

Council announcements.

Are there any council announcements this afternoon, colleagues?

Councilman Nobida as much to start us off.

Thank you so much, Council President.

I wanted to congratulate since my neighbor to District 6 is not here today.

Enjoy kids' activities, food, sustainable trip tips, free tree seedings, pollinator garden seeds, and activities for the whole family.

So it'll be a fun Saturday in District 67.

Thank you.

Thank you, Council President.

Councilwoman Sawyer.

Thanks, Madam President.

Just want to remind the residents of District 5 that this coming Sunday, April 19th at 8 30 AM.

We have our spring community cleanup day.

So this is a really fun day where the community comes together.

We clean half of our city-owned parks and repaint a number of our bus stop benches in District 5.

So please join us.

That is 8 30 a.m.

on Sunday, the 19th.

Just come to Montclair Rex Center.

You can pick up some breakfast and your supplies and head on out.

If you want more information, you can find it on our social media.

Thanks.

Thank you.

Councilmember Watson.

Thank you, Council President.

I want to read a statement from my office.

Speaking to the three shootings and the deaths in District 9 and the seven shootings over the past week.

Over the past week, our community has lost three neighbors since those violence in District 9.

And I'm devastated by the recent shootings in Five Points in the cold neighborhoods.

My heart is with the families who lost loved ones, the neighbors who are grieving, and every resident who's feeling fear right now.

Every family and neighbor deserves to feel safe in their home on their block and in their neighborhood.

Our District 9 office is working closely to with Denver Public Safety, the fall department of Denver Police and community leaders as patrols increase and these investigations move forward.

My focus is on immediate safety support for victims and impacted families and long-term violence prevention strategies to help stop this from happening again.

Neighbors are invited to an opportunity to come together, ask questions, and stay informed at the upcoming Cole Neighborhood Association meeting on Thursday, April 16th at 6 p.m.

at St.

Charles Recreation Center at 3777 Lafayette Street.

As we uh always elevate and partnerships are critical in these moments like this.

And I encourage residents to attend for more information on opportunities to engage in dialogue.

If folks are curious about next steps or information, you can always reach out to my office at District 9 at DenverGov.org.

But once again to all the family members throughout the uh Denver community, but specifically in District 9 families who are harmed or touched by these criminal acts in Cole and in Curtis Park.

Uh know that our hearts go out to you.

Um my office is here to provide support, and so it's a city as much need as much as you need, please uh let us know.

Thank you, Madam President.

Thank you for your comments, Councilmember Watson.

Council Pro Temer Ocembo.

Thank you, Madam President.

Oh, Councilwoman Trice, sorry, sorry, sorry.

Thank you so much.

Uh, two quick announcements.

Um there will be a um public meeting about the front range passenger rail on April 25th in Council District 3 at the Gonzalez Library Branch at Colfax and Irving.

Um so this is the proposed rail line between Fort Collins uh to Pueblo 1.30 p.m.

Uh so I encourage folks to attend if you're interested in that.

Um, and then secondly, I want to um uh share a cause for celebration.

Uh we have a small parcel called uh originally Cedar Park, then Crumley Park, um not officially parkland, uh, but it was a 12,500 square foot corner parcel at Knox and Cedar in the Barnum neighborhood.

Uh neighbor April Crumley successfully advocated for the bank who owned it in the 90s uh to donate it to Denver Urban Gardens who committed to maintain it since 1993.

Um, as many of us know, District 3 is largely a food desert, so we've taken on the task of growing our food wherever we can.

Uh last year, Denver Urban Gardens converted this park to a community and food forest, and this Saturday will be the ribbon cutting on the Crumley Park Community Gardens.

So super excited about that and really proud of uh the Burnham community for coming together on it.

Thank you.

Awesome, that's great.

Uh Council Pro Timber Mirror Camel.

Uh thank you, Madam President.

I just wanted to take a moment of personal privilege, and last Friday was um my senior council aides uh chief of staff, Macy Conant's birthday.

Um she is tremendous, wonderful help, and just wanted to wish her a happy related birthday.

Thanks.

Councilwoman Gonzalez could get us.

Thank you, Madam President.

Um, glad to hear I know the Crumbs in West Denver, that's amazing.

Um Councilman Catchman and I are still taking our uh tour, I guess, across the city, um, getting collecting feedback on the registered neighborhood organization uh report that was released after a year long of information gathering.

So last week we were in Northeast Denver and Northwest Denver.

We had great participation.

Folks come through.

Everybody is providing feedback on these great boards that we have.

So our next upcoming ones this week in Southeast Denver at the Eisenhower Rec Center, we will be on April 15th, which is Wednesday from 6 to 8 p.m.

And Southwest Denver will be at College Center from 6 to 8 p.m., which is on Thursday, April 16th.

And then we will have a virtual option available April 21st from 6 to 8 p.m.

All of these things can be found online at the Your City, Your Voice website under the Denvergov.org.

So if you want to sign up to get the Zoom link, you can do that.

But we're still collecting feedback, and we also have an online form that people can fill out if they're not able to make it to one of these one of these options.

You can still provide your feedback, and we'd love to hear from you as we continue down the path of addressing the registered neighborhood organization ordinance.

Thank you, Madam President.

Thank you.

We were done early because we had no snow.

So one of the benefits of not having snow is La Rasa Park is opening before Cinco de Mayo.

So join us Friday, May 1st at 4 30 at La Rasa Park.

And we'll have a really good celebration, some ceremony, and lots of community members.

See no other announcements.

There are no presentations, there are no communications.

And now I will read proclamation 26051.

Recognizing April 2026 as National Donate Life Month.

Whereas April 2026 marks the 23rd National Donate Life Month to raise awareness for organ eye and tissue donation.

Encourage Americans to register as donors and honor those who have saved and healed lives through the gift of donation.

And whereas Colorado leads the nation with nearly 900,000 Coloradans registering to be an organ eye and tissue donors at the Department of Motor Vehicle when you registered when you get your license.

And whereas donor alliance, in collaboration with community partners, educates residents about the life-saving benefits of organ and tissue donation.

Inspires them to register as donors and encourages them to share their decision with their family.

And whereas one donor can save up to eight lives through organ donation, help restore site for up to two people through corneal transplants, and save and heal more than 75 lives through tissue donation.

And whereas in Colorado and West most of Wyoming in 2025, a record 314 heroic organ donors made 1,306 saving life-saving transplants possible.

And 1,880 heroic tissue donors saved and healed nearly a hundred and forty four thousand lives through tissue graphs and whereas registering as a donor gives hope to the more than 1,300 people in Colorado waiting for a life-saving organ transplant while compassionately celebrating donors and their families for the gift of life.

Now therefore be it proclaimed by the city county by the council of the city and county of Denver that the council of the city and county of Denver formally recognizes the month of April 2026 as national donate life month in the city and county of Denver, and that the clerk of clerk of the city and county of Denver shall affix the seal of the city and county of Denver to this proclamation and that copies be transmitted to Phil Workman and the Donor Alliance Chief Administrative Officer Lord Jeffries.

It has been moved and seconded.

Comments by members of council, and I'll just start out.

Um just want to say thank you to the National Donor Alliance for asking me to do this every year.

It brings near and dear to my heart.

Um but it does make me give pause to the person who donated a life because even though one of my dear bestest friends life was saved, every year I do think about the person who lost their life and what their family has gone through to make sure that my friend is alive and raising his child.

Um that person isn't living, and I actually didn't start thinking about the guilt that that might come along with living.

I hadn't thought about that when my friend was on the um organ donor donor list.

I just kept thinking, are we gonna get an organ?

And then after, like about a year later, I thought, oh, I wonder if my friend has any guilt because this young person lost their life and that they're living.

So I know that the donor alliance helps donors, helps families go through that process, and I don't think it's an easy one to go through by yourself, and we need um organizations such as yourself to be able to help with that.

Um, I think it's a complicated and emotional process.

So I just want to say thank you to the people who you support who are on this side of the veil and living with us, and thank you to the families of the people who are on the other side of the veil with their ancestors, and thank you for providing that support because I really don't think that it's possible to go through this, even if you have the best support system, even if you have the best family, even if you have really good friends, I know there's really dark times and loneliness that come along with both sides of that coin, the the coin of life, the gift of life, and the gift of death, and so and both are permanent, right?

You mean that person per permanently gone, and then that means that person has to continually go to the doctor.

It's not just done once you get an organ, you go to numerous doctor appointments, and you're watched, and you have a team of doctors where when loved ones love you.

So even though you have the gift of life, it's still a double-sided coin.

So thank you so much.

Really, from the bottom of my heart, I cannot thank you enough.

Next up, we have councilman councilwoman albidares.

Thank you so much, Council President, for bringing up such an important issue every year.

Like I've shared before, and I'll share again.

This is so important.

And I think about the fact that my son wouldn't have a grandma.

My mom wouldn't have got to meet my son if she wouldn't have been able to get a kidney transplant.

And she also gave a kidney to her brother because that's one of the organs that you can donate while you're alive, and because of that, we had a better chance of her being able to get a kidney one day.

And so, yes, it's a it's something that I think of every day.

She has to take a wide variety of medications every day, so she doesn't reject that kidney, and it it's really inspiring and a good reminder that you can change a life in case something happens.

Hers was a young man that was in a motorcycle accident, and I think about him and his family often.

I think about motorcycles often.

I have loved ones that use them, and it's very scary to me.

But um, thank you for raising up this important issue, and again, thank you for all your work.

Thank you.

Thank you, Madam President.

Um thank you again for bringing this proclamation.

I'm so glad that you do it every year, and every year I have to say the same thing, which this is super awkward, but I have to abstain from this because our ethics rules require that we abstain from voting yes on anything where you have a financial stake in it, and I have a financial stake in a in a transplant company.

Um so with that said, I do also just want to acknowledge how incredibly important um transplants are, how and not just saving lives, um, but it is so it's so much deeper than that.

It is yes, there is a life that is saved.

There is also a life that is lost.

Um, but it is so much more extraordinary than that.

It is um people who have essentially given up and thought that their few that they were not gonna have a future, who are given a new lease on their life.

It is so special and so amazing and so sad all at the same time.

It's just an incredibly um wonderful but emotionally um fraught thing.

And so I just want to say thank you to everyone who is participating in supporting those who have received transplants, um, supporting the families of those who have lost loved ones who get to um choose to donate those those organs, and I just I'm so glad that you do this every year and so appreciative of people.

Sorry that I'm gonna have to abstain because I'm incredibly supportive of this, but I am.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Um see no other comments by members of council, Madam Secretary.

We'll call.

Council members Albidares.

Hi.

Flynn Gilmore, Gonzalez Cutieres.

Aye, Heinz, aye Lewis, aye.

Parody.

Aye.

Romera Campbell.

Aye.

Sawyer.

Abstain.

Torres.

Aye.

Watson.

Aye.

Madam President Sandoval.

Hi.

Madam Secretary, close the voting and announce the results.

11 ayes.

11 ayes, proclamation 0511 has been adopted.

We now have five minutes for the proclamation speech.

And I will be asking the um chief administrative officers, CAO for the Donor Alliance.

Laura Jeffrey's up.

Thank you.

Thank you so much, Council President Sandoval, and City Council members.

I am Laura Jeffries.

I'm the Chief Administrative Officer for Donor Alliance.

And Donor Alliance is a nonprofit organization that facilitates organ of tissue donation for the entire state of Colorado and most of Wyoming.

And we also manage the donor registry of Donate Life Colorado that you've probably heard.

On behalf of Donor Alliance of Donate Life, thank you.

Thank you for your personal comments as well.

It's a life-saving mission, and it is heartfelt by the employees that do the work every single day.

And thank you for proclaiming that April is National Donate Life Month.

With this proclamation, Denver joins the nation with a national awareness for the importance of organ eye and tissue donation.

Since 2003, Donor Alliance and the nation have been celebrating April to educate our neighbors, our family members, about the importance of registering to be a donor.

And please share that decision with your family, how important that is.

The theme is National Donate Life Month is to shine a light.

With this proclamation, you were shining a light on the honor and to honor the generosity of Organi and Tissue donors and their families, and we spotlight those amazing gifts, celebrating the lives of transplant recipients while highlighting the need.

As President Sandoval said, 1,300 people just in Colorado, 100,000 nationally.

That's more than a fill up the Bronco Stadium.

So that's a lot of people needing all of us.

And then tissue gifts, of course, thousands are impacted throughout the year.

You heard that 144,000 were impacted just in Colorado last year with those donations.

So we want to say how grateful we are to our donor and donor families and provide those gifts.

Thank you for supporting National Donate Life Month to wait raise awareness to Organ I and Tissue Donation.

And what's most important is here how you personally were impacted, but I'd also ask Phil Workman, many of you know him and his story to come to uh share a little bit more about him.

He is an advocate for life volunteer, and he's personally in our Denver community sharing the importance.

Phil Thank you very much, and thank you, uh members of council.

I really appreciate uh all the comments that everyone said, pretty much stole my thunder because it was my story really is um you articulated it so well, and I guess that's why I'm not an elected official and can't get up and say just these great perfect things, which are heartfelt as well.

So I really appreciate that.

My story really, though, is two and a half years ago, and I have all these stories that I can still tell.

And I'm very grateful and thank you all very much.

Councilmember Albidrez, would you join?

Please join me in reading proclamation 260514.

Yes, Council.

Proclamation 260514.

Honoring Mary Sabina Mendoza.

Whereas the city and county of Denver takes pride in recognizing the extraordinary contributions of its citizens who have shaped the cultural, culinary, and entrepreneurial fabric of our great city.

And whereas Mary Sabina Mendoza, knowing known lovingly as Savina, a name she carries after her mother, was born on April 19th, 1943, the youngest of 13 children, and was raised in East Denver, Colorado, where she attended manual high school and began building the foundations of a remarkable life.

And whereas Savina embodied resilience, strength, and determination, qualities that would define her life's journey, and after marrying Ronald Dean Seawald, built a family and a life filled with love and purpose.

And whereas, following the tragic and untimely passing of her husband in 1972, Savina demonstrated extraordinary courage and resolve as a single mother of two young children, six-year-old and six-month-old, channeling her grief into purpose by using the proceeds of his life insurance to open La Loma restaurant in 1973, alongside her beloved older sister, guided by cherished recipes passed down by their mother, Grandma Mendoza.

And whereas Sabina cultivated a remarkable and enduring partnership with her sister, Vera, and brother-in-law, Art Padilla, who whose collaboration helped grow La Loma into one of Denver's most beloved and enduring culinary institutions.

And whereas in 1982, partner Sunny Brinkerhof joined the family business, and together Savina, Vera, and Art expanded La Loma to its iconic location on the hill in Northwest Denver, further cementing its reputation as a landmark of tradition, flavor, and authentic Mexican hospitality.

The name La Loma, meaning the hill, a reflection of both its geographic roots and the elevated standard of excellence, Savina established.

And whereas, under the administration of Mayor Federico Pena, La Loma earned widespread recognition, winning Taste of Colorado honors for eight consecutive years, a testament to its excellence and cultural impact, and after these repeated victories, Grandma Mendoza was invited to step aside from the competition and instead serve as judge, allowing the other others the opportunity to succeed while continuing to elevate the culinary community.

And whereas the Brinker the partnership with the Brinkerhof family has strengthened and sustained the restaurant's legacy, ensuring its continued success for generations to come.

And whereas throughout Minnie La Loma, throughout Mini La Loma and Savina's Mexican kitchen locations, guests are welcomed by the portrait of Sabina's mother, Grandma Mendoza, displayed in honor of her enduring legacy and the recipes she created, connecting each guest to the deep roots from which this institution grew, and whereas Savina and her family wish to personally thank William Joe Mark Brinkerhof for their vision in renaming Select La Loma restaurants as Savina's Mexican kitchen, honoring a legacy of 50 years ago that has provided livelihoods and opportunity for generations of families.

And while the beloved house on the hill is no longer, which makes me sad, its heart hindures as Savina's kitchen carrying forward her tradition of exceptional food and outstanding service and preserving the everlasting history of Mexican and Latino culture rooted in the cherished recipes that begin on the stove of Grandma Mendoza and ensuring Savina's spirit on the story stories live on for generations.

And whereas the youngest of 13 proudly carries her mother's name, Sabina Mendoza, a tribute that reflects the deep family legacy and the lasting impact she has inspired across generations.

Now therefore, be therefore be it proclaimed by the Denver City Council that the Denver City Council honors Mary Sabina Mendoza for her enduring contributions to the city and county of Denver, her pioneering spirit as a Latina businesswoman and founder of La Loma, and her lasting legacy of family, culture, and community.

That the clerk and recorder of the city and county of Denver shall affix the seal of the city and county of Denver to this proclamation and that a copy be transmitted to Mary Sabina Mendoza and family.

Councilmember Albírez.

Your motion to adopt.

I move that proclamation 26-0514 be adopted.

It has been moved and seconded.

Comments by members of council.

Councilmember Alviverez.

Thank you, Council President.

This is an honor to bring Sabina.

I remember the first time I walked into a La Loma restaurant.

It was so special to see tortillas being made like right in front of me.

I think that's something I'd only seen at home or visiting Mexico at that time.

And it was a very special moment.

And to be able to read your story as a single mother of one child and four children, I can't imagine having that many older brothers and sisters and having these two children, a six-month-old, you know, to take care of, and still having that dream and that strength to take a challenging moment, a moment where many people give up, a moment where you probably didn't know what to do, and turn it into an opportunity that will last for generations.

And that's something that's so important right now as we read every day that restaurants, legacy restaurants close in the city so often because of lack of succession planning, lack of investment, lack of a lot of the things that your family did here that you were able to do with the help of other people that wanted to see this into the future.

And that's the kind of planning and thought and care that it takes to save a legacy restaurant.

I admire you and your story so much, and it's an honor to bring this proclamation.

Thank you.

Thank you, Council Penn.

Thank you.

Councilmember Flynn.

Thank you, Madam President.

I really enjoyed seeing this on the agenda.

Thank you for bringing it forward.

Although it was a little bit out of downtown for those of us who worked downtown for you know in the 80s and the 90s, it was on our circuit of regular places we would go from a newsroom to uh uh we would go up to La Loma or Little Papinas or somewhere up on the north side to uh to have a lunch.

And uh just a historical note for the council.

And I wish I wish we could do this again.

But once a month, the city council used to go out and have lunch together.

And La Loma was one of the places where they regularly went.

And during nice weather, we would sit down on the porch there on the uh on the south side of the building.

I don't remember now.

Because it's not there anymore, you know.

Uh it was always great to go up there and to experience lunch outside of downtown uh once in a while, and go to a place that's such great food and great company.

And uh so I think that this is a really appropriate proclamation to bring forward and to honor this legacy.

I'm so happy to see that it continues, although not on Diamond Hill anymore.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Council Putumare Campbell.

Thank you, Madam President.

Um, I just wanted to say what a beloved restaurant and the story of family and coming together around food and having that place and centering incredibly special having grown up here in Denver.

Um, my mom grew up on the north side, and so La Loma was always a place that was a special occasion.

We didn't go out to eat that often, so you know, special occasion.

Um I grew up in Southeast Denver, and there's now a La Loma in Southeast Denver, and it's super exciting for all of us to have a restaurant, you know, represented just outside of the city borders, but still I'm gonna claim it.

Um but I celebrated my birthday there, and I did it with my family, and I couldn't do it with my mom this year.

Um, but to be able to all be together on a round table celebrating and eating and just having that time, thank you to all of you and your family for being able to continue that tradition and make it available to all of us.

Um, it's a real gift, and so thank you for that legacy.

Thank you, Madam President.

Thank you.

Um, growing up in Northwest Denver, working at La Casita, one of the competitors to La Loma, um, one of my best friend Jacinda Romero, her mom worked at La Loma as a waitress, and her father Pat worked at Romero, worked at La Loma in the kitchen.

And so um I would go there often and eat with um Linda and Pat Romero and running back and forth from to Jacinda's house.

We lived on Vallejo Street and we lived a block away.

And when we got tired of her mom bringing home food, we would go over to La Casita and get my family's food.

And who knew that I would end up marrying the great great grandson of Ms.

Mendoza that went the family that I had.

And so now my husband and I joke that we've had to blend two family very deep root family green chili recipes together and came up with our own, and I think we coined it dositas, if I remember right, and he makes it one way.

I make it a different, but it was the blend of our own.

Um and I've just had the really lucky opportunity to know Mary's sister.

Um she was my husband's grandma and know this family very intimately, and they immediately brought me in.

And um Mary has donated time on my campaign.

She would sit there and she'd make calls with my mom, and so thank you all for giving back to Denver in such an authentic way, and showing up and putting Denver on the map.

I really do believe it was these two restaurants that put Denver on the map for Green Chewy, and that's what we're known for.

So it's an honor to be um part of this proclamation.

Seeing no other members in the queue, Madam Secretary, roll call.

Council members.

Aye.

Go ahead.

All right, the other one.

Heinz.

Lewis.

Aye.

Parody.

Aye.

Romera Campbell.

Aye.

Sawyer.

Aye.

Torres.

Aye.

Watson.

Aye.

Madam President Sandoval.

Aye.

Madam Secretary, close the voting and announce the results.

Twelve eyes.

Twelve eyes, proclamation zero five one four has been adopted.

Councilmember Alvidres, who would you like to call up to accept the proclamation?

I would like to call up Savina herself.

Well, I want to thank you all and all the employees we brought up to have their families join us also.

Um this is great.

I I love it.

I thank my son for introducing me to all of this.

But thank you.

I you don't know how much I appreciate the acknowledgement and what my mom started and what I get to finish.

Thank God.

Anything else?

That is wonderful, Mom.

Um members of council, after working for two mayors and two governors, you I just want to pause and say what I learned over the years is council's such a hard job, but it's also the most rewarding job.

So I just wanted to thank all of you for pausing for a moment to recognize history.

And uh one of the things I learned from my mother was uh it's true, uh we on Thanksgiving, she would make us all go into work.

I am gonna bring her up on child labor laws because I did bust tables.

I did bust tables in second, third grade and fourth grade uh four nights a week.

Um I'm kidding.

Um but um the history is unbelievable because she taught me on Thanksgiving we would actually stop and it was our turn to serve the staff because they were our family.

And so they would come in and if they had they brought in 20 people, it didn't matter, it was our turn to cook for two days and then serve them on Thanksgiving and the brinker off.

So I want to thank uh um Sonny Brinkroff, uh Joe, uh Mark, and uh William.

We just had a lunch down at Civisa Cash Rock, and they brought in Carmelo from La Loma right here by the Brown Palace, uh, which is now Savina's, and the staff today.

We had lunch with them, and they talked about how wonderful the ownership was because they felt like they were treated with dignity and respect.

So I just to all of you, I just want to say thank you very much.

It means so much.

Joe sells our work there, Dennis Gallagher named the Carnegie Sadapes.

I mean, the history goes way back.

And so um to all of our friends across the city, Gonzalez family, because um it's so amazing um how many people we know because of the restaurant.

And so um, I want to acknowledge my my uh my family or my sisters here, and uh it all started with the tragedy when my dad passed away, but the memories outweigh that.

So um, on behalf of our family, thank you very much.

Thank you.

Pause just for a second as we do a transition.

Madam Secretary, please read the bills for introduction.

From the community planning and housing committee, 26-0389, a bill for an ordinance changing the zoning classification for 1057 South Gaylord Street in Washington Park with a reasonable condition.

26-0392, a bill for an ordinance changing the zoning classification for 5101 through 5115, North Milwaukee Street in Elyria Swansea.

26-0431, a bill for an ordinance authorizing a moratorium on data centers.

From the governance and intergovernmental relations committee, 26-0390, a bill for an ordinance amending the classification and pay plan for employees in the career service and for certain employees not in the career service.

And from the Parks, Art and Culture Committee, 26-0422, a bill for an ordinance approving a proposed donation of surplus American bison from the city and county of Denver to American Indian Tribes and American Indian Nonprofit Organizations.

Okay, Council members, this is your last opportunity to call up an item.

Councilmember Gonzalez Gutierrez, will you make the motions for us this evening?

Yes, Council President Pro Tem Romero Campbell.

Now I will do a recap.

Under resolutions, Council Resolution 26-0508 has been called out for comment by Councilmember Lewis.

Council Resolution 26-0394 has been called out for a vote by Councilmember Gilmore.

And Council Resolution 260430 has been called out for questions by Councilmember Flynn.

Under bills for introduction, no items have been called out.

Under bills for final consideration, no items have been called out.

Under pending, no items have been called out.

Madam Secretary, please put the first item on our screens.

Council resolution 260508.

A resolution authorizing and approving the expenditure of payment from the appropriation account designated liability claims, the sum of $32,000 and no cents made payable to Savannah Euturia and Bacchus Shanker in full payment and satisfaction of all claims related to civil actions, civil action captioned, Savannah, Turia, Yuturia versus Jodi Yenes Yeneza, and City Council of Denver, which was filed in the Denver District Court of the State of Colorado.

Case number 2025 CV034627.

Councilmember Lewis, please go ahead with your comments on Council Resolution 0508.

Thank you so much.

So after consistent feedback from my constituents, I see it as my responsibility to ensure that the public is aware of every tax dollar being approved as an expenditure in payment of funds for a settlement with the city and county of Denver.

My office is tracking every dollar by department in as a running total with the approval of 260508 tonight.

The city will approve settlements in the amount of 32,000 dollars to settle cases brought against the Department of Transportation and Infrastructure.

Your group of these items tonight brings the 2026 total for taxpayer dollars and city settlements to 479,500.

The funding is drawn from a liabilities claims pool of money that is refilled when necessary from the city's general budget and does not come out of the agency specific budgets.

Therefore, we must pay extra attention to this budget in this budget environment that we are watching out for how the city spends our tax dollars and we're making decisions for that making decisions for the future with this knowledge.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Madam Secretary, please put the next item on our phase.

Council resolution 260394, a resolution approving a proposed agreement between City and County of Denver and Gilmore Construction Corporation on call airside facility maintenance and repair services at Denver International Airport.

Councilmember Gonzalez Gutierrez, would you please put council resolution 0394 on the floor for adoption?

Council resolution 0394 be adopted.

It has been moved and seconded.

Comments by member of council on council resolution 0394.

Councilmember Gilmore.

Thank you, Council President Pro Tem.

This business uh is my brother-in-law's uh construction business, therefore I will be abstaining on this tonight.

You Secretary.

Uh roll call on council resolution zero three nine four.

Council members Albitares Flynn Gilmore State.

Gonzalez Gutierrez.

Aye.

Hines?

Lewis.

Aye.

Parity.

Aye.

Romero Campbell.

Aye.

Sawyer.

Aye.

Torres?

Aye.

Watson.

Aye.

Madam President Sandomov.

Aye.

Madam Secretary, close the voting.

10 ayes.

10 ayes.

Resolution.

039 is adopted.

Madam Secretary, please put the next item on our screens.

Council Resolution 0430.

A resolution approving a proposed agreement between the city and county of Denver Mountain Parks Foundation for the seasonal operation of the Mountain Blue Sky Recreation Area under the permit issued to the Denver Mountain Parks Foundation by the United States Forest Service through 1231 2029 in Mountain Parks.

Councilmember Flynn, please go ahead with your questions on Council Resolution 0430.

Thank Madam President and apologies to Parks and Rec for the late notice.

Is that she may be here?

I was able to be here in person.

Okay.

Well, I prefer online, but thank you for being here.

Under the collection agreement we have with the Forest Service now, what scope do we do?

And what expanded scope are we going to ask the Mountain Parks Foundation to do, and how much revenue will we derive from it?

Thank you for the question.

And good afternoon, everyone.

I'm Shannon Denison.

I'm the director of Denver Mountain Parks.

The scope of the current collections agreement that we have with the National Forest Service allows them to collect a fee for Summit Lake on behalf of the city and county of Denver and perform some maintenance activities and then remit a portion of that back to us.

We still have enforcement obligations, cleaning obligations at Summit Lake Park, and it doesn't include Echo Lake Park.

And my apologies, you had a list of questions.

I was wondering if you might break those down individually for me.

Yes.

Okay.

Yes, and I'm happy to currently do up there.

We do more than just Echo Lake Lodge and Echo Lake Park.

We do the Mount Blue Sky recreation area as well for the Forest Service, or does the Forest Service do anything itself?

It's a little bit confusing.

So Denver Mountain Parks and the Forest Service have had a collaborative partnership for over 100 years.

We have two properties on the mountain.

We have Echo Lake Park and we also have Summit Lake Park.

Summit Lake Park is inside the fee area on Mount Blue Sky, so you have to go through the fee station in order to get up to Summit Lake Park.

We manage both parks.

We uh are responsible for maintenance, operations, enforcement, and resource protection at both locations.

Uh over the last few years, the Forest Service has operated the fee station, collected fees, and has done some really basic uh toilet pumping, uh excuse me, toilet cleaning.

We still do the toilet pumping and emptying trash and doing uh very limited fee vehicle enforcement, and the rest of the responsibilities for the management of Summit Lake Park were still uh maintained by the city and county of Denver and Denver Mountain Parks.

So there was a lot of duplication of efforts on the mountain between the Forest Service and between Denver Mountain Parks.

Over the last century of operations, there's been a little bit of a flip-flop in who's being the lead at any given time between Denver Mountain Parks and the Forest Service.

Denver Mountain Parks was the lead for about the first 30 years or so.

Um, and then uh the Forest Service has been the lead over the last few decades, and now Denver Mountain Parks is is going to be taking the lead again if this agreement is approved.

I don't know if you're able to answer this or if from your own knowledge or if you hesitate, but what's prompting this?

Uh is it the uh cutbacks at the federal level, especially with the Forest Service that's prompting them to kind of I don't want to say dump this on us, but to present us with this great opportunity.

That's what you say.

There are several things that uh sort of all happened at the same time.

One is that the Forest Service has indeed lost some capacity, but there is precedent for this.

Uh Pikes Peak is managed in a very similar way.

Pikes Peak is owned by the Forest Service but managed by the City of uh Clotta Springs.

Uh there's also a similar agreement in place in uh Glenwood Springs for transportation and operations at Hanging Lake.

Uh so the Forest Service does rely on their partners when there is local expertise, and this is a case where Denver Mountain Parks does have a lot of expertise in management of that site.

We already have a strong presence on a daily basis for the management at Echo and Summit Lakes.

There was also some staff turnover and an opportunity to rethink how were we delivering services to visitors and how do we ensure that they have a good experience?

When we had two different agencies trying to manage the same areas, it was very confusing for visitors, um, the fee structure was not clear, um, and I think that it didn't always give them a great uh experience.

And this will streamline it and simplify it for visitors.

It's also a great opportunity with the uh bond investment that will be going into Echo Lake Lodge, and it's really an opportunity to reimagine um how we're managing and uh making best use of Mount Blue Sky.

And so there's a strong Denver presence up there already between the Denver Botanic Gardens, the Denver Zoo, the Denver Zoo Conservation Alliance, University of Denver has a presence up there and Denver Mountain Parks.

So this really makes a lot of sense.

Yes, and there will be revenue from the fee structure to help cover that staff.

We estimate the revenue will be around $900,000 a year.

And for this first year, we estimate our cost to be around $450,000.

We hope to staff up a little bit more next year.

Kate Fritz, could you from the Denver Mountain Parks Foundation?

I love the foundation.

I love the work we do.

So this is in no way meant to be any criticism.

But does the foundation do any management operations at any of our mountain parks?

Currently, the foundation does not.

Thank you for your question, and thank you for the opportunity to be here.

So the foundation serves simply as an administrator of this contract and of this relationship.

It really, if you think about the way that the foundation was conceived in 2004 and going forward, this is really the embodiment of what the foundation is supposed to be.

We are here to facilitate things that the city cannot for whatever reason accomplish on its own in a direct way.

And so that's the role that the foundation will be playing.

We have a uh a contract uh controller um CPA who is um available to us to help with any accounting and um reporting requirements that we will have and to make sure we've set up structures and program sort of um processes so that we can manage that.

We also are growing our volunteer capacity.

So I know one of your questions was with respect to the cleanups.

Um we are increasing our volunteer capacity now so that we can backstop the city where needed to be able to facilitate uh anything that happens in that regard, where there's additional sort of volunteer people needed for cleaning, making sure that things are clean built.

I doubt that that will be the case because the city's really got this in hand.

I think I read in in the documents that there's a we expect about a hundred thousand or experience about a hundred thousand visitors there per year.

Is that the number I recall?

So we will we be able to keep up with the demand for uh cleaning the restrooms and emptying the trash and and uh operate the shoot the shooting range still being operated up there, or is that all good questions?

So, yes, we will be able to keep up with the maintenance on the mountain.

The shooting range is a separate facility that's still owned and maintained by the Forest Service, and this does not involve the shooting range.

Okay, thank you.

Um thank you for your answers that a lot more clarity for me.

Uh, Madam President, this is a great example of where the um ordinance we passed just last week providing contracts up front will be a great help.

Um once I delved into it, it was very confusing.

And so I had a constituent reach out to me.

Um I apologize for the late notice, but thank you for being here.

Thank you for the questions.

Okay, country.

Uh yes, thank you.

Um, I think Shannon, I have another question for you on it.

So um, I think Denver Parks and Rack, um, you all worked on the renaming of Mount Athens to Mount Blue Sky.

Is that correct?

We did not work on that.

We did provide support for the renaming, but that wasn't something that we were directly involved in.

Okay.

All right, great.

Well, so it is renamed though.

Yes.

Um, and so um there was conversation about um since Denver Parks and Rec is managing or Mountain Parks is managing the entrance um to the site, etc.

And the city is generating revenue.

Where are the conversations about enrolled American Indian tribal members having free access?

The contract and the permit both provide free access for enrolled tribal members to the mountain.

It's a very important place, and we know that it's very relevant and important to our local native community, and so they will not be required to pay a fee to access the site.

And how are you going to assure that that happens?

Is there a registration?

Um that folks will get a placard, or are you um how will that happen?

Typically, if they can show tribal ID at the at the entrance station, they'll be granted passage through.

Okay.

So is there a plan um for Denver Parks and Rat to um share that more broadly with the community, especially um community in the Denver metro area, but also the entire state since that's um uh a pretty big amazing precedent to be able to do?

Are there plans for maybe flyers to be shared with all of our council offices, letting community members know that um if they decide to go up there they need to take their um tribal cards so that they can gain free access.

We are very happy to do some increased outreach and communication about that once uh if this is approved by council.

Um I think that's our our trigger point to really start ramping up our communications about this externally, and I would love to provide some written information and flyers and uh get this out to the native community because I think it is really important and it's something that I'm really proud of that we were able to accomplish.

Congratulations, thank you so much.

Thank you.

No other questions.

Thank you.

Um go back to my screen.

This concludes the items uh this concludes the items to be called out.

All bills for introduction are ordered published.

Council members remember that this is a consent or block vote, and you will need to vote aye.

Otherwise, that this is your last chance to call out an item for a separate vote.

Councilmember Gonzalez Cutier is will you please put the resolutions for adoption and the bills on final consideration for final passage on the floor?

I move that the resolutions be adopted and bills on final consideration be placed upon final consideration and do pass in a block for the following items.

Series of 26, 0 through 0382, 0383, 0393.

That's rolling.

0385, 0386, 30387, 0399, 0398, 0402, get stuck here.

0403 0404, 0406, 0407, 0408, 0409, 0410, 0411, 0412, 0413, 0414, 0415, 0416, 0417, 0418, 0419, 0420, 0423, 0430, 0388, 0397, 0342, 0379, 0381, 0395, 0400, 0401, 0508, 0366, 180 25, 1861, 252086, 26036.

Thank you.

Madam Secretary, we'll call.

Council members.

Oh, I have been seconded.

And sorry, it has been moved in seconded.

Now, Madam Secretary will call.

Thank you.

Council members Alvidres.

Aye.

Flynn.

Aye.

Gilmore?

Aye.

Gonzalez Gutierrez.

Aye.

Heinz?

Aye.

Lewis?

Aye.

Parity.

Aye.

Premier Campbell?

Aye.

Sawyer?

Aye.

Cotas?

Aye.

Watson?

Aye.

Madam President Sandable.

Aye.

Madam Secretary, close the voting and announce the results.

Twelve ayes.

Twelve ayes.

The resolutions have been adopted and the bills have been placed upon final consideration and do pass.

Tonight there will be a required public hearing on Council Bill 0206, changing the zoning classification for 3601 North Monaco Street Parkway in Northeast Park Hill, a required public hearing on 0207, changing the zoning classification for 2625 East, 203rd, East Third Avenue in Trade Creek, and a required public hearing on Council Bill 0208.

Changing the zoning classification for multiple properties in Bear Valley, College View, South Platte, Harvey Park, Highwood Park South, and Martin.

Martin.

If there are no objections from members of council, we will recess until 5:30.

Before reconvening the regular meeting, City Council will provide a half-hour general public comment session to hear from the public on city matters, except for any matter that is scheduled for a legally required public hearing.

The general public comment session will begin at 5 p.m.

Hey Denver.

Here's what's happening around the mile high this week.

What's a better sign of spring than tulips?

The Botanic Gardens is going to be full of them and more.

They'll be blooming all across the gardens.

As you explore, keep an eye out for pockets of other colorful spring flowers in the ground and in the trees.

Experience an unforgettable evening of hand selected films.

Celebrate we have three required public hearings tonight.

As a reminder, council members need to turn on their video on ma'am.

We have proclamations to actually council will now reconvene from our earlier session.

There's no unfinished business from earlier session.

There are two proclamations being read this evening.

Councilmember Watson, could you please read proclamation 0512?

Thank you, Madam President.

Proclamation number 260512, honoring the life and legacy of Creighton C.B.

Jones Jr.

Creighton C.B.

Jones Jr.

was a pillar of Denver's historic Five Points neighborhood, whose life and leadership helped shape the cultural and economic foundation of black commerce in the city for decades.

And whereas alongside his wife of 70 years, Betty Whitaker, he co-founded C and B Cleaners in 1958, building not only a successful small business but a vital community institution that served as a gathering place, resource hub, and symbol of self-determination, and whereas Mr.

Jones embodied a build her own table philosophy, creating opportunity where none existed, and opening doors for generations of entrepreneurs, neighbors, and community members.

And whereas, as president and treasure of the Five Points Business Association, he served as a trusted connector and quiet strategist, helping broker relationships, support black owned businesses, and strengthened the economic vitality of Five Points during its historic peak.

And whereas his business became an unofficial town square where stories, wisdom, and community ties were shared freely, reflecting his role as both a businessman and a steward of a neighborhood history and culture.

And whereas Mr.

Jones's life spanned and reflected critical chapters of American history, including the eras of segregation, the civil rights movement, and the evolution of black enterprise in Denver, making him a living archive of community memory and resilience.

And whereas he was a devoted husband, father, grandfather, and mentor whose values of integrity, loyalty, and service continued through his family and many lives he touched.

And whereas Creighton C.B.

Jones Jr.

passed away on December 16th, 2025, at the age of 90, leaving behind a legacy that remains woven into the fabric of five points and the city and county of Denver.

Now therefore be proclaimed by the Denver City Council, Section 1, that Denver City Council recognizes and honors the life and legacy of Creighton C.B.

Jones Jr.

and his indelible impact on the Five Points community.

Section two, that the clerk and recorder of the city and county of Denver shall affix the seal of the city and county of Denver to this proclamation and that a copy be transmitted to the Jones family.

Council person, I move that 260512 be adopted.

It has been moved and seconded.

Comments by members of council.

Councilmember Watson.

Thank you so much, Council President.

First and foremost, uh the Five Points community has been called the Holland of the West.

And the reason why it was called the Hollow of the West was a place and space that black communities not only felt safe but are celebrated.

It was a place and space for black communities elevated commerce, family life, recreation in our own communities without having to rely on others to lift us up to give us a hand or anything.

We led.

Mr.

Jones and his family have been stewards of that history.

They have been stewards of a history long forgotten and now a more gentrified five points.

It is my opportunity as the city council member representing the Fine District 9, including Five Points, that at any time, any moment, every day that I can to work alongside families to elevate those stories to elevate those histories so those names do not go on on spoken and do not go and do not become forgotten.

As she uh we walked um uh around 26 and Walton right at the points, um, and hearing her voice spoken word, the history of her family and the importance of the role her family has played on that video.

And it is because of your leadership, your grandfather's leadership then, your leadership now, and that of your families is why we sit here in honor of calling his name and reminding folks of the great legacy, not only your family, but so many African American families that have long been lost.

Um, but hopefully, with these types of proclamations, these um this family's history and legacy will be remembered.

Thank you, Madam President.

Councilwoman Carity.

I just wanted to say I'm sorry for your loss.

Um you had him for so long, and the loss of so recent.

Um, and also that from what I know, he definitely passed his values on to his family.

Um we see faces that we know very well around here, and um it's pretty beautiful to get to hear about um your ancestor.

Thank you.

Thanks, Councilman Watson.

Thank you, Chris.

Thank you.

Madam Secretary, we'll call Councilmembers Albitrez.

All right, Lynn.

All right, Gilmore, Gonzalez Gutierrez.

Heinz, aye, Lewis, aye, Parity, aye.

Premier Campbell, aye, Sawyer, aye.

What is Watson?

Aye.

Madam President Sandoval.

Aye.

Madam Secretary, close the voting, announce the results.

Twelve eyes.

Twelve eyes, proclamation 0512 has been adopted.

We now have five minutes for the proclamation acceptance.

Councilmember Watson, who will you be inviting up to accept the proclamation?

Yes, Council President Kim Ray and any members of her family that would like to join her.

You have a few moments to share your thoughts.

Thank you.

Um good afternoon.

Um, Councilmember Watson and members of City Council.

On behalf of my family, um, I want to thank you for this incredible honor.

Um, we are deeply grateful to Councilmember Watson for recognizing the white, the life and legacy of my grandfather, Crayton Jones Jr.

In such a meaningful way.

Um, to see his story lifted up by the city of Denver means more to our family than words can actually express.

My grandfather believed in this community.

Sorry.

Um, he believed in the five points.

Okay.

And he believed in people and showing up, lending a hand, and building something that will last beyond himself.

To our family, he was a husband, a father, a grandfather to this community.

He was a steady presence, a mentor, and a friend.

It is truly humbling to know that his impact is remembered, not just by us, but by the city he loved and the community he helped shape.

And I want to also take this opportunity to also honor my grandmother.

She wasn't able to attend tonight.

Um, her name is Betty Jones.

But for 70 years, she stood beside him as a partner in life and in business and in community.

And so much of what he built, they actually built together.

So thank you for honoring his legacy and in doing so on us honoring theirs.

Um we are sociers, very grateful.

Thank you.

And all children, we've got three generations here tonight, so thank you.

Thank you.

Any other words.

My father built some very strong children.

We are all leaders.

And without his words, one of the things that I can remember him always saying, and I think I was eight years old.

He said, when you get up in the morning and you get dressed, and you leave that house, you're to leave an impression, a legacy, and you do your best.

He said, if you're going to do no matter what you do, that means he'd been sweeping the gutters of the street.

Because I didn't realize he was getting up at 7 a.m.

in the morning and going down on the five points and sweeping the streets to make sure that they was clean before everybody started working.

But he said, when you do that, you do your best, you don't do it because you feel like everybody wants you to do it.

You do it because you want to do it, and that you want everyone to know that the five points meant something.

Up until the day he died, he wrote down the five points every day.

And we did that last journey for him.

His last ride.

The five points is his heart.

And he'll never, I don't think too.

He'll always love the five points.

Because that was his home.

That was our home.

When I tell people I was raised up in, I slept in Park Hill.

But my home was the five points, because that's where we've been since 1958.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Um I'm the daughter of Greg Jones Jr.

I have my sisters, my nieces, my nephews here.

And I didn't realize how much my other meant to me until he passed.

And as my sister said, he and my mother are instilled in our hearts and our souls and the work we do in our fingertips in the feet.

We don't stop.

I don't care how tired we are, we still go.

And it's because of my parents.

My father was a hard man.

And he was strong, strong man.

He cared about five points.

He cared about his family.

And he wouldn't do anything.

He would do anything to make sure that we were fed.

No matter what my father did, it was always his best.

And it was all he knew to raise eight kids, not on welfare, not on food steps.

He did it all with his own two hands.

And I remember he would change tires if anybody could come and talk with him.

It was a counseling office as well.

And they just talked with him just somewhere to go.

And I remember any time of the day, he would open his doors and let somebody come and talk with him.

Just an ear.

Five points, unfortunately, don't have that now.

It wasn't the normal mom and pop shop.

It was a place to go when you had nowhere to go and no one to talk to.

That is what my mother and father built and instilled with us that we also know no matter what, you can come and talk to us, and we all have an ear.

So thank you for recognizing my father.

Recognize the hard work he and my mother's done and putting this in place for him.

You don't know what this means to us.

Thank you.

Hello.

I'm um Daddy's first daughter at birth.

And I was hard of hearing, but I was always following him, and I call him Betty, you know, mom's bitty.

And so anyway, um, uh I followed everything he does, everything he does.

I um I always try to get his approval.

And uh I remember he gets the kids because we were too young or at school.

He would get the kids and then um put them to work, whatever he needs around in the back, you know, around the cleaner or whatever, and pay them to, you know, them get them motivated to work, and they would keep on, you know, and they got older, and uh he would have um um like his friends, you know, they need money, uh, and they overloaded with clothes.

He would um have them have you know work and uh even uh retired guy just to be there, you know.

So um now as we got older, um people would see us, one of the customers would see us, and then they run down to him and say, I think your daughter here, I think you're done here, but they can never say we did anything wrong.

Uh-huh.

So um, and you know, they retired, and you know, and I I um seeing how hard they work, we uh we would be there past midnight, uh, so that he can fit the pipe when something goes wrong to um get the cleaner going the next morning.

You know, he can't let the money uh so anyway, um I call them 80 going on 18 after they had uh close the business because they were in the street every day, and I'm calling like where y'all being, you know, I'm the parent now.

So um he uh he came up with all the ideas, he you know, getting the cleaner, you know, decorated first, and then they got the money from the government to you know have everybody can you know upgrade outside and make make it really look nice because he he believed in uh trying to make everything look right and and get our business going and then RTD.

They lost money because of uh the light rail.

So um thank you guys for helping them, you know, to uh keep us going.

Um but other than that, you know, uh everything, everything everywhere I go, it was like he was at the back of my head.

Yeah, don't do that, you know.

Gotta get approved.

And and uh so he made me the person I am, he protected me, and um and and then we all go there every Saturday after you know, and uh after school helping him because he believed uh we're supposed to be there to help.

And um the other kids didn't get that opportunity.

So he always said, honor that father, that mother, um your life of you know, live long.

And everybody was coming to them as a married capital.

Why?

You know.

So everybody come in and get advice and and and uh and and they were always about investing, investing, investing, not just working, you know.

They had the truck and they had the sandwich shop, they had the beauty salon, and uh they would get them believing we should work hard and keep investing.

So thank you.

Councilmember Watson and Parity, would you please read proclamation 0513?

Application.

Um, three celebrating the 10th anniversary of Prodigy Ventures.

Whereas 2026 marks the 10th anniversary of Prodigy Ventures, which has supported young adults primarily from Northeast Denver through workforce readiness programming that prepares them for success in the 21st century economy.

And over the past decade, nearly 300 young adults, ages 18 to 24, have participated in its apprenticeship programs within craft coffee houses.

And whereas Prodigy Ventures has reinvested more than 2.5 million dollars in wages into the local economy through its apprenticeship model, generating an estimated $2.10 in local economic impact for every dollar invested.

And whereas Prodigy's three craft coffee houses serve as vital community hubs, providing hundreds of community groups with free meeting space each year and fostering a culture that honors diverse lived experiences through intentional relationship building and shared responsibility, and whereas Prodigy Mentors offers a comprehensive 12 to 18 month apprenticeship program in which young adults develop both technical craft and professional skills while also receiving holistic support services, including access to mental health counseling, one-on-one coaching and mentoring, and job placement assistance.

And whereas prodigy's programs and spaces are rooted in the concept of spiritual hospitality, creating environments where individuals feel safe, valued, and empowered to be their full and authentic selves.

And whereas Prodigy Ventures is committed to investing in the potential of young people.

Cultivating an environment where individuals can realize their inherent greatness while upholding a shared standard of excellence in both customer experience and craft coffee.

And whereas Prodigy Ventures continues to be recognized as a high-quality craft coffee house in Denver and values its long-standing partnership with a city and county of Denver.

Now therefore be proclaimed by the city and county of Denver, Section One, that the Denver City Council recognizes April 2026 as Prodigy Coffee Month in celebration of its 10 years of impact and continued contributions to the community in section two that a clerk and recorder of the city and county of Denver shall fix the seal of the city and county of Denver to this proclamation and that a copy be transmitted to Jesselyn.

I'm gonna destroy your last name.

Shaharazai.

Shaharazai.

Executive Director of Prodigy Ventures.

Thank you.

Councilmember Watson, your motion to adopt.

Um move that proclamation number 260153 be adopted.

It has been seconded.

Comments by members of council.

Councilmember Watson.

Councilmember Perry go first.

Council Member Parry.

So um yeah, I can keep this really simple.

I um really just am so impressed by um the way that this nonprofit um operates, and the the reason that I um have become such a fan is just because I'm basically a customer.

I am in there every single morning with looking for all the familiar faces.

Um my kids go to school across the street from the um global location.

I also go a lot to um the one on 40th Avenue.

And I um first time I walked through the door was probably a random thing, but then you immediately notice um everything about the mission is all over the walls, and you know, and you can tell when you're walking into a workplace that people are um where people are treated well and where they're proud and happy to work.

Um, and so it is the best place to go and chat with um the employees because they're great, um, they're prodigies, they're amazing.

Uh and so I've just like had a really wonderful time um having Prodigy Bright in my morning for a very long time.

Uh so I'm super tickled to get to co-sponsor this with Councilmember Watson.

Thank you.

Thank you, Councilmember Parity.

And and I would add, uh before I was in this seat, I would go to the the uh prodigy on four.

Um and I began going to the one in Globville um in the process of of of being elected to this seat.

And the one thing that I always um recognized um once I hit prodigy, especially one in Globeville, every little nook and cranny um there were community members having dialogue.

Um it wasn't just you weren't just there sitting uh drinking coffee and eating uh sweet sweets.

Uh you were there to talk and to engage.

I think the last um time I was there um a few months back, there are four different meetings in different corners, and the office was filled with another group of community members.

Um that speaks to the importance of this community gathering space, uh, not just the coffee house.

Uh your place where people feel welcomed, where people feel loved and listened.

You're a place to organize, a place to have birthday parties and to do all the fun things.

And so thank you so much for always being that welcoming spot in Globeville and all the other communities that you're in.

Um, and congratulations for your 10th year anniversary.

Thank you.

Councilmember High.

Thank you, Madam President.

Um, thank you both for sponsoring this.

Um, you have a bunch of us elected officials here at the table.

Um, so not only is it a community powerhouse, it is a political powerhouse.

I had not heard of Prodigy until Leslie Herrod invited me to uh to break bread there and and have a cup of coffee and um and so a bunch of local electeds here.

Certainly um you are a political powerhouse as well.

So all the uh community meetings that you're talking about, um you know you your reputation um is is throughout the city and beyond.

So thank you so much for your 10th anniversary.

Uh here's to another 10 years.

Thank you, Madam President.

Council Pro Timber Mara Campbell.

Thank you, Madam President.

I just want to say uh Prodigy Coffee House has just been a staple in I think community and being able to have a place to connect.

Um I moved our nonprofit organization um just about a block and a half away during 2020 off uh 40th street, and it was I think a labor of love for the for Prodigy to stay open and to be able to just work with the young people.

I echo the sentiments about just the young people that we met that were working there and the job training um was just tremendous, and I think not only good conversations with those who were you know on the counter, working behind the counter, but also those um opportunities to meet and just build communities.

So congratulations to you in 10 years, and here's to another 10.

Thank you, Madam President.

Thank you.

Councilmember Albitrez.

Hi.

Flynn.

Hi.

Gilmore.

Hi.

Hi.

Lewis, aye, Parity.

Aye.

Romero Campbell.

Aye.

Sawyer.

Aye.

Torres.

Hi.

Watson.

Aye.

Madam President Sandoval.

Aye.

Madam Secretary, close the voting announcement results.

12 ayes.

12 ayes proclamation 0513 has been adopted.

We have five minutes for the proclamation acceptance.

Councilmember Watson and Parity, who we'd be inviting up to accept this proclamation.

Yes, and Shah Rosai.

Guys would be.

I'd love to welcome them up as well.

All right.

Thank you.

Thank you so much, Madam President and City Council.

So excited to be here this evening to accept this proclamation.

I'm joined here tonight with some of our apprentices, uh, board members and staff.

And we're just grateful.

We see a lot of familiar faces we see in our shops every day.

And we it just speaks to how much uh importance goes into community.

Um years is nothing to sneeze at, not as a nonprofit, and certainly not as a small business.

We survived COVID, we're working through tariffs, and we continue to rise to the occasion of the growing need for workforce programs, particularly for young adults in Northeast Denver.

Prodigy was born out of the realization from a group of educators.

Some are who are here with us today this evening who are still staying with us and still um committed to this impact that there is a gap in traditional workforce, uh traditional work and education systems.

We've curated a community that's really rooted in spiritual hospitality, where we're pre creating a space where folks can truly and authentically be themselves.

And you see that every day in the way that the apprentices show up and then the way that our community is welcomed into those spaces, whether it's the free meeting rooms that we um are hosting hundreds of community groups every year, or if it's folks in Nooks and Crannies having important conversations.

Uh again, thank you so much.

We're gonna have a tremendous community celebration on Saturday, April 25th at 4 o'clock at our original shop at 40th in Colorado.

Most of your staff have heard from members of our board and community.

We would love to have you join us for that and help celebrate such an important feat.

So thank you.

And anyone else?

Yeah, I I knew Michael Guzman wanted.

Hey y'all.

Buenas tardes.

I'm so glad to come in front of you as a member of the board of directors for Prodigy, their treasurer this year, supported by uh the board, and I work behind the scenes with wonderful people who volunteer their time, effort, and their talent and their treasure to make this a reality.

But the superstars are our apprentices, and so I just want to say thank you very, very much for honoring our traditions.

You know, spiritual hospitality is a particularly unique and um uh focused way of doing things within the Latino and the indigenous community, and that is how we open our doors, but we bring everybody in.

It's not just part of the community in a traditionally red-lined district where we have suffered injustice.

Uh, prodigy brings hope, and that hope is immeasurable in a time where we face so many uh difficult decisions that we have to make as a community, but prodigy brings it home, and how much can be resolved over a cup of magic water or herbal tea when we take a minute to sit back and enjoy each other's company and actually get to know each other, the relationships here are what matter, and we see our young people going forward, present representing their communities, representing our cultures and bringing it home.

So, to all of you, welcome any time.

Love to see you there, and thank you again so much.

Muchissimas gracias Bomatum.

Thank you so much.

We have three required public hearings tonight.

As a reminder, council members, you turn their vote on, turn their video on during the vote.

For those participating in person when called upon, please come to the podium.

On the presentation monitor on the wall, you will see your time counting down.

For those participating virtually when called upon, please wait until our meeting host promotes you to speaker.

When you are promoted, please accept the promotion.

Turn your camera on if you have one and your microphone.

All speakers should begin by telling begin their remarks by telling council their name and cities of residence, and if they feel comfortable doing so, their home addresses.

If you are available, if you have signed up to answer questions, only take your name and note that you are available for questions or comments from council.

Speakers should have speakers will have three minutes.

There's no yielding of time if translation is needed.

You will be given an additional three minutes for your comments to be interpreted.

Speakers must stay on the topic of the hearing and must direct their comments to council as a whole.

Please refrain from profane or obscene features and refrain from individual or personal attacks.

Councilmember Gonzalez Gutierrez, will you please put council bill 260206?

Changing the zoning classification for 3601 North Monaco Street Parkway in North East Parkville on Florida Final Passage.

I move that council 0206 be placed upon final consideration as we pass.

It has been moved and seconded.

The required public hearing for Council Bill two zero six.

Hello everyone.

My name is Joe Green, the community planning and development.

And I just wanted to start by saying that this is a tough one.

So staff has recommended denial and planning board has unanimously recommended approval.

So we'll walk through it.

You should have documents of deliberation in your staff packet, which walks through planning board's argument, but I'll also try to point out both sides as I walk through the review criteria.

So getting into it.

As always, we'll start with the request, uh exactly what the applicants proposing, and then we'll get into the location and the context.

We'll talk about the process that the application's been through thus far, and then we'll get into the review criteria.

So starting off the lot is currently vacant.

It's just over 6,000 square feet.

It's on the corner of Monaco in 36th.

Um and the requesting to go from E S U D X to ETUC.

So what that means, we have a single unit district in the urban edge neighborhood context.

It has a minimum lot size of 6,000 square feet.

So basically, right now they can build a house with a detached accessory dwelling unit on a lot, a minimum lot of 6,000 square feet.

They're proposing to go to a two-unit district, also in the urban edge neighborhood context.

It has a slightly smaller minimum lot size, 5,500 square feet.

And this would allow them to build a duplex or a tandem house, and each of those units could have an accessory dwelling unit.

This is along Monaco Parkway.

It's a designated parkway, so this has a 20-foot setback.

This would apply to the current zoning or the proposed zoning.

We just wanted to call it out.

Denote it.

Getting into the location about where we are exactly in the city.

We're in the Northeast Park Hill neighborhood.

You can see the big arrow kind of pointing to it there.

And as I said, the existing zoning is ESUTX, but you can see from this map that it's kind of surrounded by ESUDX as well.

There's some two-unit zoning just to the southwest.

And if you went just a few blocks off the map to the right, you'd also see a chunk of ETUC two unit zoning.

There's quite a bit of duplexes in this area and multi-unit in this area.

So on the block itself, there are eight duplexes across the street.

There's multi-unit uses behind it, there's multi-unit uses.

And you can kind of see those uses scattered throughout the area.

You can see a picture of the vacant line on the top picture there, a picture of some of the single unit houses on a single unit house that's kind of representative of the single unit houses in the area.

Then we have some multifamily across the street, it's department building.

Triplex just planning it.

So getting into the process, the application has been through standard process.

It came in back in September of 2025.

Planning board in February.

It was noticed.

Then we went to committee on March 3rd.

So the applicant does have a letter of support from the Northeast Park Hill Coalition.

But we haven't received any other comments from any other of the RNOs or any neighbors.

The applicant did do some door-to-door knocking, especially to the adjacent neighbors.

And she's here today, so we can ask her about how that went.

And then again, as I said, planning board unanimously recommended approval.

I'll walk through a little bit more in a little bit more detail as we get into the review criteria about exactly what they said.

Again, I'd urge you to read those documents of deliberation.

I don't want to put words in their mouth, and I'm sure I won't cover everything.

But they generally said that the Park Hill neighborhood plan supports this rezoning, and because the Park Hill neighborhood plan uh supports this rezoning, it also meets Blueprint Denver's guidance about how to apply residential low.

Future place types, which we'll talk about in just a minute as well.

So getting into the review criteria, as you all know, there's three review criteria that we have to find to be true in order to say yes to a rezoning.

We'll start with consistency with adopted plans.

In this case, we have three plans.

They're kind of hard to see on the screen, but we have comprehensive plan 2040, big citywide plan, blueprint Denver, Citywide Land Use Plan, and then we have the Park Hill Neighborhood Plan, which was adopted in 2000.

So it's quite old.

We're going to walk through all of those.

So starting with Comp Plan 2040.

Kind of big picture, it talks about the need for a mix of housing types in all neighborhoods, and that we should promote infill development where we already have infrastructure and services.

So kind of at a high level, we think that the application is consistent with this plan.

When we dive a little bit deeper into Blueprint Denver, designates this area as the urban edge neighborhood context, which generally talks about uses the applicant is proposing the two-unit district in the urban edge neighborhood context.

So we generally find it to be consistent with this guidance.

When we look at the future place types that Blueprint Denver has, it calls it residential low, so it envisions it to be single and two unit uses on small or medium lots, and it talks about how duplexes can be thoughtfully integrated if they're found to be compatible.

So again, this is a two.

It's generally going to meet this guidance.

But when we look kind of on that same page where it talks about future place low, it has this very specific guidance about how we should apply that guidance to rezoning applications.

And it says that two unit uses are not appropriate in all areas.

And unless there's an existing pattern of two-unit zoning, that request is going to depend on the small area plan or significant neighborhood input and the small area plan or that neighborhood input need to show an intent to set a new zoning pattern for the area.

So that leads us to the first question.

Do we see an existing pattern of two-unit zoning?

So this is the zoning map.

When staff looks at it, we see an existing pattern of single unit zoning.

Despite there being a lot of duplexes in the area, that's the existing use.

That's the kind of the current built environment.

But when we just look at the zoning pattern, we don't see a pattern of two-unit zoning.

So then the follow-up question is does the neighborhood plan state an intent to set a new pattern for the area?

So I have a little bit more on the neighborhood plan coming up, but at a high level, it has about three policies that talk about a compatible mix of housing types and densities.

And then it talks about protecting single the single family character in the Park Hill neighborhood.

So while it has some language about incorporating a mix of housing types, we don't believe it's specific enough to meet Blueprints Denver's guidance about setting a new intent for a new zoning pattern in the area of two units.

So we don't think that the neighborhood plan is calling for a new pattern in the area.

And then the second question is there enough neighborhood input to show an intent to set a new pattern in the area.

So we do have a letter of support from the Northeast Parkhill Coalition.

We don't have a whole lot of information about neighbors in the neighborhood.

We have the kind of RNO letter.

So we don't think that this is enough outreach to again set that intent that duplexes should be allowed throughout the neighborhood.

So we do not think it's consistent with Blueprint Denver.

And I'll walk through Planning Board's argument here when I get to the Park Hill Neighborhood Plan because I have the policies laid out a little bit more.

So these are the policies.

There's a lot of words up there, but again, I just wanted to show the three policies.

The first three policies talk about incorporating housing density mix in the neighborhood.

They kind of talk about it in different ways, but all three of them mention that.

And then you have that bottom policy that talks about protecting the single family residential character in Park Hill.

So when staff is looking at this, we see that it does call for that housing mix in the neighborhood, but when you look at the neighborhood, especially the residential part of the neighborhood in Northeast Park Hill, it already has a mix of housing density.

There's areas that allow two units, there's areas that allow row homes, there's areas that allow multi-unit.

Um so we think that this plan guidance was implemented as a part of the 2010 zoning code update.

It's also worth noting here that before 2010, this whole area was zoned R2 in the Chapter 59 zoning code, which would have allowed duplexes and small scale multi-unit.

Um so then the last bit of guidance that protect the single family residential character in Park Hill.

Um reinforces that the uses are kind of separate from each other.

When planning board read this, we thought that the first three policies there that I listed, the rezoning is very clearly consistent with, and when they talk about the single family residential character, they note that where it says specifically, uh it talks about rezoning from R3, which would allow a lot more intense multifamily uses to R2, which would have allowed the duplexes and small scale multifamily.

And they said that because when it's specifically saying to rezone to R2 down from R3, that those uses duplexes, small scale multi-family, are actually considered part of the single family character of Bark Hill.

Well, at least some board members said that.

Does this rezoning further the public's interest?

It obviously could further the public interest by adding additional housing options, but most of our plans, especially Brute and Blueprint Denver talk about a citywide approach for incorporating this type of housing into single unit neighborhoods, and it wants us to consider things like affordability and neighborhood compatibility.

So we think it would be more in the city's interest or in the public's interest to implement it at a holistic citywide approach.

And then finally, we have the consistency with the purpose and intent statements found in the Denver zoning code.

Generally, it's consistent with with most of those.

When we look at the specific intent of the UTUC district, it talks about those two unit uses and the lot size.

Again, those two unit uses Blueprint Denver's very specific about when we should allow those.

So because this doesn't align with that plan language, we don't think it meets this criteria either.

So for that, we recommend denial based in on fine based on finding the review criteria have not been met.

Um I'm available for questions.

The applicant is here in person, and thank you very much.

Thank you so much.

We have two.

I think we have two.

We have two individuals signed up to speak this evening.

First up, Jesse Paris.

Yes, good evening, members of council, those watching our home, those in the council chambers.

My name is Jesse Bashawn Parrison.

I'm representing for Black Star Action Movement for Self-Defense, Positive Vaccine Commercial Social Change, as well as the Unity Party of Colorado.

The Northeast, now North Park Hill Coalition, Frontline Black Nose, Sabaca's Black Experience Enhanced, the Revolutionary Agenda, and I resign at the roach and bearbug infested legacy laws in Darrell Watson's district of District 9, the fine district nine, historically black district of Fire Points.

Um I'm in full support of this rezoning tonight.

Um as I just stated, I'm a part of the coalition that um gave a letter of approval to this.

We need more housing options in the city, and having grown up in that area of Park Hill and been a recent resident prior to living in Fire Points.

Um I was tired of seeing a vacant lot.

That vacant lot has been vacant for years, so I'm glad to see the city is finally doing something with it.

I just want to know exactly what's gonna be here.

Is it gonna be an ADU?

Is it gonna be roll homes?

Is it going to be um duplexes?

Is it gonna be a combination of both?

Because I don't really get that from the presentation.

They said it allowed for the uses of all the above, but I don't really get that from the presentation.

So if the occupant or the person I present it could answer those questions, I would greatly appreciate it.

Otherwise, I'm in full support of this.

I'll see you all on the next floor.

Thank you.

Next up, we have Elizabeth Hennessy.

Hello.

Uh my name is Elizabeth Hennessy, and I am an architect and a contractor, and the owner of 3601 North Monaco Parkway.

Um we bought this property, we were had the intention of building a prototype net zero duplex.

That's something that we're kind of into as a construction firm.

I've always been familiar with Northeast Ender.

I know that Northeast Denver has a strong, healthy component, duplex, multifamily zoning component.

I know that because when I moved to Denver many years ago, I lived in a duplex on 32nd in Pontiac.

The issue of what happened to the R2 zoning that was in place between 1940 and 2010 kind of is intriguing.

And yet the 2010 zoning ordinance decided to forbid any new duplexes being built in that community.

And I just was kind of confused about what happened to duplex.

Why were they all of a sudden not worth building?

So I did ask around, I got no feedback, and I can only assume that in 2010 that a middle income person could buy a house in Denver.

That is not the case anymore.

Fifteen years later, we need duplexes.

We need duplexes because duplexes are affordable, less expensive.

Mostly we need more affordable housing.

Two units per lot instead of one.

I want to point out the 3600 block of Monaco has 23 lots.

The duplex, the lot that I want to develop, has a nuke duplex to the north, a triplex to the east, a duplex to the south, and two triplexes across the street.

There is it is difficult for me to understand why adding one more duplex to this mix is a problem.

And I think that when you consider how much desperately we need affordable housing, the solution is as will be recommended in Denver's own plan for unlocking housing choit.

It is time that we go a little bit easy on the single family zoning.

Thank you.

That concludes our speakers.

Do we have questions from members of council on Council Bill 0206?

Councilwoman Lewis, start us off.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Um so I see from the exist existing land use map that there are 17 lots that have either double or multifamily units.

CPD's analysis of the existing zoning shows that none of this use is permissible under the current zoning.

Is that correct?

Uh it's almost correct.

So if you have an existing duplex or if you have existing multi, basically, if it's been if it was legally established and it's been continuously operated as that use, you can rebuild it just as it was.

So you couldn't build it on a vacant lot, but if you tore down a duplex, you could rebuild the duplex.

Okay, thank you.

Um so we have a bunch of land use that does not correspond to the zoning that is in place now.

And so can you talk to me about how we got here?

Yeah.

Um I guess two parts.

So first, you know, we can rebuild those things.

Um, but yeah, the property and all the properties around it were rezoned in 2010.

And I have a little bit of information about how that rezoned, what the criteria were for that rezoning.

Um for the 2010 rezoning as a whole.

So basically in 2000, we had the Park Hill Neighborhood Plan, which had those policies that I talked about in 2002.

We had a Blueprint Denver citywide plan that called this area single family residential.

Um there is a single family duplex designation in that plan as well.

So this was specifically that single unit only um recommendation.

So this plan came out two years later after that park hill neighborhood plan.

Um so there was first criteria is adopted plan guidance for the 2010 rezoning, the second was the existing zoning and existing entitlements, and then the third criteria was the existing conditions.

So, like what was there now, all of those duplexes in this case.

Um I think taking the citywide guidance of the single family residential along with different ways of interpreting the Park Hill neighborhood plan.

Maybe they meant that that duplexes should be incorporated everywhere, maybe they meant that they should be have a mix of housing throughout the neighborhood, maybe not all next to each other.

Um and then looking at the existing entitlement, they eventually landed on the single unit zone district, and I wasn't there, obviously, but that's kind of my understanding of how that happened, if that was your question.

Did I get that right?

Okay.

You answered it.

Um so the small area plan mentions um the preservation of single family character, and yet the area around the lot are not single family use.

The small area plan also states a goal to zone for a variety of compatible housing types and densities, and so how does CPD resolve that contradiction?

It's definitely difficult.

Um we talked about this one a lot, as you can imagine.

Um I think the I think I lost the strain of your question a little bit.

Could you tell me one more time?

I apologize.

The small area plan also states a goal to to zone for a variety of compatible housing types and densities, and so how does CPD resolve that contradiction?

So I think with a compatible uh uses and types, I think again, we're reading that plan guidance as more holistic across the whole neighborhood.

So, you know, there's some places that allow duplexes just down the street.

There are some places that allow row homes, so kind of across the whole thing, there's a compatible mix of housing types, but not necessarily integrated.

Um as far as this area not having single unit uses, I'd say that the what you can see if you look a little bit more broader at the zoning in the in the neighborhood, like the areas that were rezoned to two-unit, like the entire block is two unit in those areas.

So again, not exactly sure how those got mapped.

This there's obviously a lot of duplexes on this block, but it looks like just from looking at the map that the rezoning was really focused on kind of areas that were entirely two unit to keep two unit, and then matching the single unit zoning that's just to the south in Park Hill for the rest of the neighborhood.

But I don't know if that answers your question to your satisfaction.

Oh, yeah, sorry.

Yeah, I I guess I'm I guess I'm trying to figure out how you I mean if you look at if you look at the map, and this is the area in my district that has the majority of duplexes and multifamily housing, and so it feels like a contradiction, but it's uh feels like a contradiction that we're not addressing in real time.

Um and so I just I I just wonder how you all how you all think about that as you all are making the decisions to move forward a recommendation or to oppose such.

Yeah, I think it's difficult when the we have such an old plan.

Um obviously the there's a new plan coming for the area that will sort a lot of this out, hopefully.

Um but when we have a really old plan with zone districts that don't even exist anymore.

Um we're kind of analyzing an old plan with a new lens, and the plan is just so specific about existing zoning pattern, not an existing um uses.

Um the Park Hill neighborhood plan is just not specific enough.

We have other plans that are so specific that when we land is just you know matching what's there right now, um, and hoping that a plan soon will kind of iron things out.

That's it.

I don't have any other questions.

Council member Flynn.

True, the uh near Northeast area plan, the NPIs one part of the website says coming soon, but I'm gonna follow the initial scoping has been done, correct?

So it's underway.

So I don't know if it's at a public release.

Can you answer that one?

Yeah, yeah.

Speaking to the mic, until we have a yeah, you could totally raise it.

We just have a hard time hearing in this room.

Thank you.

Go ahead.

It sounds like it has been publicly released that the plan is is out there, yeah.

It is uh 25 years old.

Yes.

So it's a little dated.

So it needs updating, so I'm glad you're doing that.

Uh but the guidance and blueprint is pretty clear that uh about establishing a new pattern, what's the intent, what's the process for rezoning?

And if this were a year from now and we have the near Northeast plan in place, we don't know what it will recommend here.

Uh but in the interim, when the criterion is consistency with adopted plans.

I would have to say I would have to agree with the planning office.

So I'm wondering if you could discuss, was this brought up at all at the planning board?

The fact that blueprint says this, but you're voting that.

It certainly was discussed, and they asked me a lot of questions as you'd expect.

Park Hill Neighborhood Plan did support it, and therefore Blueprint Denver supported it.

They just disagreed.

Okay.

Councilman Lewis.

Yeah, just to um more specifically for you, Councilman Um Flynn, the first near Northeast Um Advisory Committee is actually on the 22nd.

So it's kicking, it's we're here just to provide you with the updated information.

Thank you, that's it.

Thank you.

See no other questions.

The public hearing is closed.

Comments by members of council on Council Bill 020 6.

Council member Lewis?

Yeah, sorry, thank you.

Coming a little slow.

Um, so uh I'll be supporting this because I believe that the rezoning meets the plan guidance of blueprint blueprint 2040 and the small area plan and also meets the existing neighborhood context of the neighborhood, given that there are 17 lots with this kind of use in the immediate area.

The small area plan specifies that the residential character of the neighborhood should be preserved.

The rezoning accomplishes that and it preserves a use type that is already present in the area and in keeping the residential context.

Additionally, while the small area plan does not state that single file single family area should be preserved, that same recommendation of the small area plan also mentions that in order to accomplish the goal, higher and higher intensity zoning ought to be down so downzoned into the zoning that converted this use type at the same time this small area plan was passed.

And so, in other words, the area plan seems to endorse the use of multi multi-unit residential types, such as a duplex in order to keep the residential character of the neighborhood.

And so I'm in favor of this rezoning, and I encourage my colleagues to support that.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Next up, Councilmember Albitrez.

Thank you, Council President.

Um I had a very similar issue to this in my district previously, and it is very hard to understand how we can have in my case it was two houses on one lot, and they wanted to put a duplex.

So what you said about some of these houses being able to rebuild wasn't the case for this instance.

And I think that when our residents are out in their neighborhood and there's duplexes everywhere, and they can't build a duplex, it's a very confusing.

And when you talk about the existing context of a neighborhood, and we can literally go and see duplexes, it makes it it makes these votes even harder.

And I understand better now than ever why you're recommending to know on this, but it doesn't make sense to me.

It doesn't make common sense to me.

And um that's concerning to me when I think about the context of the neighborhoods and the fact that this is the kind of density people want.

So we struggle with that context.

People talk about density and they think about high rises everywhere, but then we do the gentle density, and that's illegal as well.

And I think that's very frustrating for the people.

So I all support Roman Lewis in this and in voting yes, just as I did in my district when this came up.

Thank you, Council President.

Thank you.

Councilmember Flynn.

But I think we have to wait for that.

And in the meantime, if we don't stick with our uh criteria, one of which is consistency with adopted plans, and the uh that consistency requires that we uh uh when there's a rezoning now, I don't have the functional uh that uh is there an intent to establish a new pattern?

We don't know that yet.

We don't know that yet because we haven't done the broad community outreach on it yet.

And so uh if we're coming here a year from a year and a half from now, it probably uh it might be appropriate, but I don't feel that we should prejudge that and and approve a rezoning.

That in my view does not uh is not consistent with the guidance and blueprint, and so I agree with the staff and I'll be a vote, uh no vote on this.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Councilman Tars.

Um, thank you, Madam President.

I'll be supporting.

Um I this one I was comparing to um another one that we had a few months ago where we had this difference of opinion, and in that case, there were literally no other duplexes, not just on that block, but in that area, and I find that to be the biggest difference from what I see here.

I also find it really ironic that the one letter of opposition came from another a nearby neighbor who is also a duplex.

So um I'll be supporting you.

Councilmember Watson.

Uh thank you, Council President.

Um, I I want to start saying uh first, uh my first home in um here was a duplex.

And I just think the opportunity from unlocking housing choices to I don't believe the adoptive plans are consistent.

And when it's inconsistence, when there's inconsistency, I think there's opportunity to look at the former, uh not former, the current Park Hill plan that asks for this level of density.

And all the development around there has that similar density, and so I will be supporting this.

Um I think it's uh a good use of LIF base and um we're we're coming Northeast uh plan um to make sure we have some consistency within our area plans.

Thank you, Madam President.

Thank you.

Councilmember Heinz?

Uh thank you, Madam President.

Um I sat on before I was elected, I sat on Blueprint 2019, and um uh you know, in part of the sausage making process, you you see the the picture from a couple hundred pages in in each of these plans, and sometimes you see things that uh seemingly contradict other pages in the same plan, and so um so I I don't I'm not sure that I disagree with uh CPD.

It's that maybe I'm interpreting some of the language in a slightly different way, and um, and so uh that's that's both the magic and the curse of having 200 pages in a citywide plan and often another 200 pages, you know.

When I was elected, we were in the middle of the East Central Area Plan, which is also a couple hundred pages, um, where you could find things that said yes and no at the same time, and it and in many ways um, you know, it it'll it intentionally had some room for interpretation, but um uh so that is both the blessing and the curse, and but that is we have three charges legislation, the budget, and land use, and so hopefully we're um kind of leaning in what into those three charges include including land use.

Um as uh as an aside, I wouldn't make this decisions based on um the uh the intended building because this is uh about the zoning of the parcel, not about the building itself.

Um but I would think it's very much in the public interest given our climate right now that we have more architects that are interested in uh net zero homes.

So thank you for that.

That's not a criteria that I'll use to judge, but I want to compliment you nonetheless.

Thank you.

So I'll be supporting it, Madam President.

Compliment so you thank you, Madam President.

Um thanks, CPD.

I so appreciate you.

I'm gonna vote with you guys and say no tonight, but I'm just gonna be very honest with you.

I I hate that for the reason that everyone, you know, here has talked about.

Um, but I will say, you know, we have a property owner in District 5 who came.

Um we have an area plan, the near Southeast area plan, um, which recommends duplexes in specific neighborhoods, and she wanted to build duplexes and was told no for other reasons.

So, like we have to be consistent for the people who come in front of us, even when we don't want to.

Because just because this project is absolutely fantastic, and um and we all want it to be built for all the reasons we've talked about.

Well, it is not fair to the other people who come in front of us who get told no because what they want to do is inconsistent with the adopted plan.

And um, I will also just say I wish there was someone from the mayor's office here so I could stare them down and point out that this is why we desperately need updated area plans for a hundred percent of the city because blueprint timber says one thing above all else.

It says look to the small area plan, and this small area plan says no.

And that is an absolute shame, but I have to be consistent in my vote, even though I don't want to, so I'll be a no tonight.

Thanks.

Thank you, Councilwoman Parity.

Yeah, I I will just say quickly that just as in committee, I was um persuaded by reading the um details uh uh that are on one of the slides here, but um as as plotting board was that actually when we talk in these documents about the single family residential character of Park Hill, that is intended to include duplexes, which are single family homes.

So um I uh in context, especially the language that talks about um to when it's like protect the single family residential character of Park Hill, it goes on and says specifically extend R2 zoning to area zoned R3, R2 is two unit.

So um that that's basically what persuaded me is just is just that reading um along with the other the other factors and the public good and public interest and all that.

Thank you.

Thank you see no other members in the queue, Madam Secretary, you'll call it the case.

Council Member Albiderez.

I Flynn.

Gilmore.

Gonzalez from the Adams.

Hi.

Lewis.

Parity.

America.

Aye.

Madam Pro Tem.

Aye.

Thank you.

Sawyer?

Torres?

Aye.

Watson.

Aye.

Madam President Sandoval.

Aye.

Madam Secretary, close the voting and announce the results.

Ten ayes.

Ten ayes.

Council Bill Zero Two Zero Six has passed.

Thank you all very much.

Councilmember Gonzalez Gutierrez, will you please put Council Bill Zero Two Zero Seven?

Changing the zoning classification for two six two five East Third Avenue in Cherry Creek on the floor for final passage.

It has been moved in second.

Required public hearing for 0207.

May we please have the staff report?

We might have some technicalities to just do as well.

Tim will help you.

We we could phone a friend.

All right.

Thank you.

Good evening, Council.

My name is Wolf Prince.

I will be presenting the uh staff report for 2625 East Third Avenue.

I request to rezone from C CN with conditions, the CCCN four.

This evening I'll review the request.

The location and context, the process, and of course the review review criteria.

Some background on this property.

Again, the request is rezoned from former chapter 59 CCN with conditions to Denver Zoning Code Urban Centers, Cherry Creek North four stories.

And is currently office and retail, and the request is to rezone to redevelop as a mixed use option that includes count condo housing.

Continue on to the location and the context.

This is located in Council District 5 with Council Member Sawyer.

And it's located in the Cherry Creek statistical neighborhood.

As for the existing zoning, again, this is CCN with conditions, former chapter 59, and the surrounding areas predominantly CCCN four as well as five.

And for reference, the existing zoning is related to ordinance 2007, 00225, related to the existing former Chapter 59, Cherry Creek with Condition, which is in your application packet.

Also, this site is applicable to the Cranmer Park view plane.

This being a four-story district, it is would not, it would still comply with this viewplane.

Continue on to the existing context with land use.

Again, this is commercial retail, which is the majority of Third Avenue, and we have multi-unit residential to the north, some mixed use throughout, and then also public quasi public with a park and school nearby.

Looking at the building form and scale, we have the subject property here at the bottom right.

We can see a two-story commercial building.

Along Third Avenue, we have a various sizes, but we have a common one-story commercial nearby, as well as the two and a half story townhouses that we see to the north.

Continue on to the process.

This received its informational notice at the end of November.

It was noticed for planning board in January and had its public hearing on February 4th, where it had unanimous a recommendation for approval.

It was held at the CPH committee at the beginning of March and was noticed for this hearing at March 21st, and we are here today for the City Council public hearing, April 13th.

As for public engagement and public comment, the applicant has done public outreach to the surrounding area.

And this includes one RNO letter of support from CCNA.

They have also worked together for a neighborhood agreement that was also included as part of the packet.

And there have been five comments in opposition, two from the same person, a total of four people all together in opposition, stating concerns concerns of height, traffic, and buffering in green space.

There have been a total of eight comments in support.

And then also we did receive a request for a protest petition packet that was made, but it was not received in time to complete the service to provide the packet in time for the deadline one week prior to this hearing.

The requester was informed of this, but they were also informed that they may submit continue to submit comments or sign up for the hearing.

Excuse me.

Continue on to the review criteria.

As with all applications, I'll review the three criteria for review, starting with consistency with adopted plans and starting with comprehensive plan 2040.

This meets several visions and the proposed rezoning rezoning furthers plan 2040 by enabling a mixed-use development at an infill location where infrastructure is already in place and will allow for the increase of additional housing and commercial opportunities to improve the vibrancy and economic vitality of the commercial corridor and surrounding neighborhood.

Looking at these visions individually, vision two, strong neighborhoods and authentic neighbor strong and authentic neighborhoods, meets two goals in particular.

Goal one, create a city of complete neighborhoods, and goal two, enhance Denver's neighborhoods through high quality urban design.

Vision three, connected safe and accessible places, meets goal three to maximize the public right of way to create great places.

And vision four, economically diverse and vibrant, meets goal one to ensure economic mobility and improve access to opportunity.

And then lastly, vision eight, environmentally resilient, meets goal eight to clean our soils, conserve, and grow responsibly.

Continue on to Blueprint Denver.

This site is identified as urban center for its neighbored context.

This context contains high intensity residential and significant employment areas and typically contains a mix of uses with good street activation and connectivity.

Continue on to community future place.

This is identified as community center, which has a mix of office, commercial, and residential uses.

Buildings are larger in scale than local centers and oriented the street and other other public spaces, there and there is a strong sense of urbanism.

Heights and future place type and this feature place type are generally 12 stores, but we'll review the uh more detailed criteria in the Cherry Creek North Plan.

Um and then lastly, future street type, uh, East Third is a main street collector and Clayton local.

As for the growth area strategy, this again is identified as community center and corridor, which we anticipate 20% of jobs and 25% of housing by 2040.

And there are some additional blueprint uh Denver policies that we would like to highlight for this rezoning that are implemented through this, including general policy one promote and anticipate plan growth in major centers and corridors and key residential areas connected by rail service and transit.

Also general policy three to ensure Denver zoning code continues to respond to the needs of the city, highlighting strategy A to rezone properties from former Chapter 59 to the Denver Zoning Code.

And the remaining two housing policy number eight to capture 80% of new housing growth in regional centers, community centers, et cetera.

And then lastly, design quality and preservation policy number three, create exceptional design outcomes in key centers and corridors.

Moving on to the Cherry Creek area plan from 2012.

But this has been identified as areas of change, and then also the Cherry Creek shopping district.

This uh the shopping district sub area has two additional goals.

Goal two, make reinvestment economically viable in the entire district, and goal four, in particular for this site, transition from higher buildings along second to lower buildings along third.

Continue on with Cherry Creek Area Plan, feature land use map, identifies this as town center, which includes a mix of uses for housing, commercial office, and hospitality.

And then maximum height, maximum building height, uh this site is identified as four stories.

Um so based on all that those information from the three plans, we find it consistent uh with both Comp Plan 2040, Blueprint Denver, and the Cherry Creek Area Plan.

Uh continuing on with the remaining um criteria.

We believe this will implement um public interest by allowing a mix of up mixed use opportunity uh in the commercial corridor for for housing and additional uh commercial uses, especially near transit and other amenities.

And this is also consistent with neighborhood context, zone district purpose and intent, and will meet the regulations of C C C N four.

Um so from that from the staff report and information shared this evening, CPN recd recommends approval of the application, finding all review criteria have been met.

Happy to answer further questions, uh, as well as the applicant is here in person as well.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Um we have how many people?

A number of people in the 11 uh people here for speakers.

So let's go ahead and get started.

Uh Trent Ambler.

Hello, I'm Trent Ambler.

Um, I actually own and live directly across the street at 324 Clayton Street.

Um, I'm just here to suggest that you guys vote to support.

I'm in favor of this rezoning.

Um, I think for several reasons.

It's an old building, it's old zoning, um, and it's as is a kind of a problematic property.

The way that the parking lot spills out into the alley.

Um the way traffic flows, there's a blind corner around there, um, foot traffic and vehicle traffic.

Um, it's unique in that it's inconsistent with pretty much all of the rest of third in its zoning.

Um, there's been several recent rezones on third to C C and four, C C N four.

Sorry.

Um, the Mendocino Farms Building is I think the most recent one that was redeveloped.

Um, these projects, that one is office.

These guys, I believe, are gonna go more residential.

Um, but these projects actually enhance the neighborhood.

They bring um new use cases, new restaurants, new retail, um specifically if they're gonna go residential, it's gonna bring residents to the area.

Um so I suggest yes, I'm in favor.

Thank you.

Next up, we have Rick Murphy.

Sorry if I didn't pronounce your last name correctly.

Pronounced it perfectly, thank you.

Uh thank you to the council.

My name is Rick Murphy.

I'm here on behalf of the Clayton Court Town Home House Association, which is the HOA for the seven uh townhomes that are directly to the north of the subject property.

Um, also with me uh is Mr.

Scott Robinson, who owns the townhome that is directly to the north of the property.

Um was going to speak tonight, but I guess there was some issue with the sign up.

So if the council would allow him, he would he would like to speak as well.

But um uh I'll proceed with with mine now, two and a half minutes of time to uh just state the position of the of the townhouse association, which is that the townhouse association is is certainly in favor of development and an improvement of uh properties nearby and and in the neighborhood.

Um but the townhouse association would like uh to consider and uh for the city council to impose a reasonable condition on the development.

And that relates to the current zoning, which was approved in 2007, uh, which allowed for development of this property, um, probably in a very similar way that the current developer would like to develop it, but with the preservation of a 29 foot uh setback essentially from the northern property line.

Um, current C C C N four uh zoning, it would be a 10 foot setback that would be required.

So we're we're talking about is essentially a 19 foot setback uh additional setback on this approval as a can as a reasonable condition.

The reasons for that are that while overall the context of Cherry Creek is and Cherry Creek North is that more and more has been developed.

More restaurants, more housing has uh or condo housing anyway, has come to the area.

In this specific spot, the uh property borders townhomes to the north, it borders Bromwell Elementary School to the northwest, and it's a unique portion of Cherry Creek North where the context of the neighborhood is really defined by the elementary school and really defined by the residential neighborhood to the north.

And if this development is allowed to go all the way to that 10 foot uh line, then it's going to severely impact the traffic flow, particularly uh during pick up and drop-off time for the school.

It's also going to impact the neighbor, the neighboring property owners who purchased their homes in part in reliance on the fact that they knew that this condition was present for the potential development of this property that 29 feet would be maintained.

If that's changed, then it sort of deprives these property owners of the benefit of their bargain.

Um this is an up zoning uh from its current condition and and would allow a lot more density, a lot more height, and uh impact the solar bulk plane, particularly with regard to Mr.

Robinson's property, which is the one directly to the north.

So we would request that the city council approve with conditions, and that condition being maintaining the 29 foot setback requirement and green space from the 2007 ordinance.

Thank you.

Thank you.

And for the individual who'd like to speak, if you want to go back to our council secretary, the one with the computer, she can help you and add you can.

Next up, we have Jesse Paris virtually.

Yes, good evening, members of the council, those watching at home, those in the council chambers.

My name is Jesse LaShawn Paris, and I'm representing for Black Star Action Movement for Self-Defense.

Positive action commitment for social change, as well as the Unity Party of Colorado, the Northeast Denver Residence Council or North now's North Park Hill Coalition.

Um Black knows the revolutionary agenda, Shabacas Black Disparus Enhanced.

And I reside at the Road and Bad Bug Infested Legacy Laws in the Fine District 9.

Uh uh Bons District of District 9, this is non-historically black district of five limits.

And I also a candidate on the ballot for House District 8.

Um, I'm gonna ask the usual questions that I usually ask when it comes to these kind of rezonings.

What is the AMR level for this housing?

Cherry Creek, I'm guessing it's gonna be at least 80% to 110 a.m.

percent AMI.

Um, has there been a has there been a traffic study done?

Has there been a community uh benefits agreement signed?

And has there been a um uh parking study done?

If someone could please answer those questions, I would greatly appreciate it.

All right, I'll see y'all on the next one.

You next up we have Daniel Nichols.

Hi guys, thank you.

Appreciate uh you taking the time.

I signed up just to really answer questions.

Our team is gonna um kind of answer everything and give the presentation as well as city staff pretty much said everything that we wanted to.

Um, you know, this process has been uh about a year and a half now of public outreach and have met with most of you and and hopefully answered a lot of the questions, met with uh the neighborhood association, the bid um steering committee, um, and tried to answer every question and tried to work with um as many people as possible.

So um, you know, I appreciate your time on this.

Um we hope to have your support on this and uh any questions you guys have during the process, happy to answer.

Thank you.

Next up we have Melinda Humphrey.

Good evening.

My name is Melinda Humphrey.

I'm a current resident and homeowner at 250 Columbine Street.

And I have been for the past 12 years.

I've lived in District 5 for over 26 years.

I'm very familiar with this property that we are discussing this evening.

I'm here to support um cessate my support for the rezoning of 2635 East Third Avenue, allowing this property to move into the Cherry Creek North mixed use, brings a property into alignment with the current zoning framework used today throughout the Cherry Creek North neighborhood.

The rezoning would improve clarity, predictability, and consistency in how the property can be used and developed in the future.

Currently, the Cherry Creek North, or excuse me, the Cherry Creek Dance Building is no longer serving its highest and best use, and the rezoning is the first step towards giving this corner of Cherry Creek new life.

And new life on this corner is great for all residents and visitors of the Cherry Creek North neighborhood.

The current owners of the property have been have prioritized community engagement from the beginning of their rezoning efforts.

They have gone above and beyond to communicate transparency with nearby residents such as myself and within the neighborhood groups.

They have shown their commitment to being good neighbors and long-term stakeholders in the community.

An updating legacy zoning parcels into the Cherry Creek North Zone District is a logical and next necessary step in the future of the neighborhood, and would ensure the consistent rules and predictability development patterns have been shown through across the district.

So thank you for allowing me to be here tonight.

Thank you for your time and your consideration.

I am in support of the rezoning efforts.

Thank you.

Next up, we have Mala Bay show.

Next up, we have Peter Wall.

Good evening, Councilmembers.

Peter Wall here on behalf of the applicant.

Uh happy to answer any questions you all may have this evening regarding our community engagement process.

Um there's a couple of folks online that signed up online to speak, but I don't think they're able to make it.

Um, one is Stephanie, uh, the longtime owner of Cherry Creek Dance.

Um, she's owned the property in the business since 1993, uh, wanted to um convey her support for this rezoning tonight, and the other is Daniel Lewis, um, who is the adjacent property owner to the west across the alley, who also wanted to uh have us convey his support as well.

And again, here to answer any questions you all may have.

Raiders virtually Lou.

Yes, thank you, Madam President and Council.

My name is Lou Raiders.

I live uh just in the block north of the subject property at 444 Clayton Street in Cherry Creek, and I have been involved in zoning matters uh in Cherry Creek for a long time.

I'm currently the chair of the zoning committee for Cherry Creek North Neighborhood Association.

We take these rezonings very seriously.

We do a tremendous amount of outreach through the registered neighborhood organizations, and in this case, we uh we even flyered all of the neighbors at the townhome complex across the street.

We had uh meetings set up, we did enter into a good neighbor agreement.

That was a question of one of the speakers, and it was a community benefit agreement that addressed what would be the common concerns that were expressed by the opponents, including making sure that this property was developed in a way that gave extra consideration to those townhomes, including that the setbacks, if this is residential, those can be utilized.

If it's commercial, those setbacks are not.

This is um a situation where the new zoning will meet uh a GRH 3, meaning that there's increased setbacks and then stepbacks.

So we have greater uh breadth for distance between the buildings.

We also asked for uh higher and more robust landscaping to help um separate.

We asked that the retail on the main level would be on the corner of Clayton and Third.

So it would be set back a little bit from the residential portion of the neighborhood.

So and these are conditions that we agreed to with the understanding that this developer who is who knows Cherry Creek very well.

They've been in this family business of developing a neighborhood for a long time.

They're trustworthy.

Uh, they agreed to those conditions, they signed that community benefit agreement, and have worked very hard to make sure that the process was very inclusive.

I do believe that the condition that was on there was not for future, it was for a potential expansion into a basically a performance portion of the building, which never occurred.

So the additional uh area that they're talking about is 29 feet was never even needed because they never did make the change that was being asked for at that rezoning.

So I believe that we have thought to carefully address the concerns of the entire neighborhood and specifically those in the immediate proximity of this property.

So uh we have uh taken this out to the neighborhood.

We strongly support it, and we encourage counsel to do the same.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Next up we have Kaitlin Fonder.

Good evening, Madam President and Council.

My name is Caitlin Quander.

I'm the land use counsel to the applicant.

My address is 675 15th Street in Denver 80202.

Um, as you heard, the applicant did extensive outreach to neighboring property owners, tenants, and residents.

This included multiple meetings and presentations to the Cherry Creek North Neighborhood Association.

Um, and we appreciate their association vote and also the letter of support.

And um thank you to Lou Raiders who just spoke.

She kind of covered everything I was going to cover.

Um, as she noted, because of some of the concerns raised by the townhome owners to the north, the neighborhood association requested and we agreed to enter into that development and community benefits agreement.

This is signed by both parties, and it will also be recorded and run with the land.

Um honestly, Lou Raiders kind of covered a lot of the conditions that are within it, so I will not repeat myself.

Um, but we really did spend a lot of time thinking about how can we mitigate any concerns related to those townhomes to the north that have that GRH3.

It's a protected district, so you have a setback and then that upper story step back to really decrease that.

And um one of the association's points was that if you use those patios, it can kind of be noisy towards those homes.

So one of the restrictions is that we cannot use those upper story setback patios um for any kind of commercial, like if it was an office outdoor patio, it cannot be used that in that way.

And so that restriction would run with the land to try and kind of um mitigate any concerns of noise or impacts to the north there.

Um I would also notice note that it includes a partnership uh with the town homeowners to the north to underground, um, the utilities that are along that alley.

So, as part of their construction, if the townhomes want to join and kind of underground all the way up, we can make that happen.

Um, good neighbor construction practices, regular presentations and continued communication with the association as the design evolves.

And then I'll just um note that there is in Cherry Creek North a design review board.

This project would go through that process as it typically does.

So there is that additional level of high quality design.

Um I will stop there, but certainly available to answer any questions about the develop uh the community benefits agreement or um the kind of historic old zoning with conditions and the reasoning.

Again, Lou Raiders touched on that history too, so I didn't need to.

Um we believe it meets all the criteria, and we request uh a vote in yes in favor of this evening.

Thank you.

Thank you very much, council.

I appreciate all the work you do.

Um I'm the adjacent home, I'm the adjacent homeowner to this proposed development.

And um there's a few things that um that they have done a lot of outreach, they have done a lot of things, but it feels like there is a uh a process here that is flawed.

And when I say that, I appreciate everybody's work here, but it's a given that this is going to go through, and I don't understand how that works when I speak like that.

What I'm saying is the planning board um had it done, Lou Raiders had it done.

But I got to tell you, when I bought my property in 2017, there was an ordinance that I read that said there's a 29-foot um easement, not exactly an easement, but it basically said that.

And it said nothing will get built here.

And it said it runs with the land, it said it runs with who's um who owns it today and who will own it in the future.

And you're changing that.

And that's not fair to homeowners who buy certain pieces of property with existing things that are showing what it is.

When there's a few, I mean the person who's um the president or the chair of the planning board is the attorney who's you know presenting for the applicant.

It just feels like we're we're on grease slit uh greased slides, and and I don't have any place to go with this.

It just doesn't feel right.

What I would like to make sure that you understand is that um when we bought these properties, it had this there and it and it showed it.

I'd also like you to understand that um what we're asking for is the barrier that's currently there, and that barrier um if you because it's a step zoning, it's not gonna take very many feet off of their total development.

And I would love it if they could tell me exactly what that was.

But if you took that 29 feet, because the first you know, 10 feet plus the next 15 feet, you're not gonna get on levels three and four anyway.

So there's only a four square foot a four-foot difference for 105 feet, so 800 square feet on floors three and four, which is the most valuable for them.

They probably don't even care about on the first floor because the retail never works, and nobody likes having to build it because they can't um do it as well.

And so we're what we're asking for is a very minimal thing relative to the whole development, and I'd like you to consider that, and I'd like them to consider that.

All right, thank you so much.

Do we have questions from members of council?

Councilwoman Sawyer.

Thank you, Madam President.

Um I I want to talk about the waiver.

So the waiver is existing in the current zoning, and it is for that 29-foot buffer zone between the parking lot that is the current um Cherry Creek Dance parking lot and the townhomes.

Um, this is the first time during this rezoning process.

Um, was the first time I've ever heard that the reason that waiver exists is because there was um planned development for the Cherry Creek Dance site that was going to be like a like a recital area, and then it never happened.

Um do you do know where that came from?

Do you know anything about that?

Well, well, first of just to clarify, it's it's that's a condition, it's not a for it's not a formal waiver.

That's fine.

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

Um but as for the development history, um that's I don't know further beyond that other than the historical information that's been provided.

And thank you.

Yeah, Peter Wall on behalf of the applicant.

Uh we know about that from kind of two sources.

One's Lou Raiders, who's been working on zoning issues in Cherry Creek North for a very long time.

So trust very much in Lou and seeing that condition uh come into fruition in 2007, and then also from Stephanie herself uh with Cherry Creek Dance.

Property owner.

Yeah, yeah.

Okay, great, thank you.

Um, so is there in moving to the Cherry Creek the current Cherry Creek zoning, the CCCN zoning that covers everything else inside the Cherry Creek Business Improvement District area, which this is.

Um was there discussion about potentially keep adding that waiver keeping that condition um to this zoning?

What is blueprint say about that?

Uh well, with the CCN district, the standard setback for rear is zero, but with the protective district, it is 10.

As for beyond that, that has not been discussed or well did not come up through the process of um pre-application or the rezoning process.

Um I don't believe there's anything definite in blueprint.

Yeah, in the community benefits in the community benefits agreement, but regarding blueprint, we don't have um visions or calls related to that specifically.

Okay, Peter, maybe you should just come closer instead of having to walk all the way back up.

So in your commun, no, you can come all the way to the mic.

I'm asking you this question now.

So in so it's you guys, you were the ones who negotiated the community benefits agreement, correct?

Yes, that's correct.

Okay, great.

So um if it's not if this 19 feet, which is what we're left talking about here, uh, is not in the the condition is not remaining in the zoning.

Um, but it is addressed in the community benefits agreement.

Is that right?

It's not we're we're not adding that addition.

There's the 10 foot that's in zoning, and then there's the stepbacks that go with the C C C N4 zoning.

But that additional 19 feet is not addressed.

What is addressed is that 10 feet that you have, that that separation from the protected district.

We have enhanced landscaping standards to actually create additional buffering between our building and then Mr.

Robinson's property that he owns to the north of us.

Owns but does not live in, correct?

I believe I believe that's accurate, correct?

Okay, correct.

Um so the define enhanced um landscaping.

Like what does that mean?

Yeah, veget well, I probably will defer to Caitlin.

We can give you the exact language, but it's vegetation that's above and beyond what code requires, and particularly from a height and growth standpoint, and also making sure that it's well maintained.

The goal was to actually create additional privacy between the 27 feet of the back of the building, which is the first that's how high you can go, and that's the first step back.

So to actually create some additional, you know separation between the two, but give them that additional privacy, and it was done so in order to add some additional green vegetation that we'd have to maintain uh in the foreseeable future.

That was my next question is who's gonna maintain it?

Because that current 29 feet is not maintained.

It's that's why I wanted to be very clear on that about me maintaining it.

Okay, thank you.

And uh Caitlin Quander.

The only other thing I would add is that that landscape plan with the taller shrubbery enhanced landscaping, that plan needs to be submitted to the Cherry Creek North Neighborhood Association and reviewed and approved by them before it's implemented.

So they could certainly comment and you know, want a different type of tree or something taller, and we would work through that with them.

Okay, great.

And then Caitlin, one other I think additional question for you.

Um do you have a sort of draft basic architecture design of what's being built there?

Or are you just which you do not have to under our zoning code rules, come with a design and present it here?

Are you just at this time asking to move this parcel into the Cherry Creek North zoning, but without a specific plan yet in place?

Um and I'll maybe have Daniel come up and you can talk about the current status, but they have Shares Atkins um as the architects and have had done some kind of preliminary massing, and that's what was shared with the Cherry Creek North Neighborhood Association in those meetings.

But I think that's about where they are.

Okay.

Great.

Daniel, did you have anything you wanted to add to that then?

Yeah, I mean, I know you gotta come up because online, yeah, got it.

Um yeah, I mean, I think that it's one of our kind of public outreach things as well.

I mean, uh, you know, it the two kind of options right now for us are office and residential, and I think that um what we've heard from the neighborhood and and from the community is that we want more residential in the area.

I mean, so right now, because we didn't know which direction this was gonna go, we didn't want to spend the money when take the time to really create an in-depth plan yet.

Um, but uh the concept is residential, and that's what we're hoping to do.

Okay, really appreciate that.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Councilmember Flynn?

Thank you, Madam President.

Um was there any discussion?

And if I had read through the whole staff report, I might have seen it.

Uh and I didn't read through the whole thing of this ordinance that uh Mr.

Murphy sent to us in his written comments 2007, by which it looks like there's a uh a restriction running with the land that the 29 feet will not be built on.

Was there any discussion planning board or CPD about the applicant that says you can't build on this?

Because it seems to me that this request meets the criteria and and it's consistent, but there is this restriction, and it's not a matter of the rezoning.

The rezoning doesn't remove the the ordinance, but there's an ordinance that was passed.

I'm looking at it here.

So from um some of the planning board discussion and just general discussion, we believe that the uh the condition runs with the zoning, not the land.

It's tied to the zoning.

So the city council in 2007 passed an ordinance.

That said, no permit shall be issued and except in strict compliance with the aforesaid reasonable condition.

Said reasonable condition shall be binding upon all successors and assigns of said owner, who along with said owner shall be deemed to have waived all objections as to the constitutionality of this reasonable condition.

So I don't believe if I vote I on this, I'm overriding a law that passed 19 years ago.

Explain that to me.

Do we have Nate Lucero?

Can I phone a friend?

Nate, are you with us?

5020.

Is there do you see an attorney online?

Thanks, sir.

Okay.

Nate, will you accept the promotion?

Yes, hello, members of the council.

They just promoted me.

Sorry for the delay there.

Um city attorney.

I um so the question, Councilman Flynn, um, just let me repeat it, and you tell me if I got it wrong.

Um you're asking about the ordinance, which speaks to the reasonable condition that was placed on the property when the property was rezoned previously, correct?

Yes, sir.

Yes.

So now we're in front of council, um, or this application is in front of council to change that zoning.

So Denver is very unique in that it allows um zoning with waivers and conditions, and in this case, it had a condition.

That custom zoning is now there's now a request before council to change that zoning.

Um, and the present application before council does not have a condition attached to it.

Does that answer the question?

I I think so.

I I uh still have a problem saying this this vote removes that condition.

No, thank you.

Thank you, Councilmember Heights.

Um Thank you, Madam President.

Uh so uh me, I don't even know where to look.

I'll just look over here.

Um if we're voting on land use, I I mean I I tend to agree with Councilmember Flynn that I think it meets the condition.

Uh like how critical, I mean I wonder if I'm trying to decide if this ordinance, which council member Flynn read part of, how critical is it?

Oh now I'm now I've got a camera somewhere.

Um how how critical is it for this uh for us to consider this?

I mean, in some ways, I think it might not even be worth considering either it is or it isn't.

I still think it meets the criteria whether this ordinance is attached or is removed based on our vote.

It's do you understand the nature of the question?

Yes, thanks for the question.

Um I think the best way to think about this is um that the ordinance which councilman Flynn read from is a zoning ordinance for this property, and it is a custom zoning.

So think of it as a zone or a PUB zone district.

Um council sees those from time to time and changes the zoning um to a standard Denver zoning code zone district on a fairly regular basis.

Um we have a similar situation here where the zoning is a zoning with a condition, which is a custom zone district, and now council is being asked to consider rezoning the property to a standard Denver zoning code zone district.

So uh thank you, Mr.

Lucero.

The um so when we conditions, those are actually ordinances, we're adding law to the and it's not just uh a writer, we are actually passing a law that effectively changes the zoning.

Am I am I getting that right?

Whenever you approve a rezoning, um council adopts an ordinance, and yes, that becomes the law for that for that property.

Whatever property is covered by the rezoning, um, they knew they now have a new zone district, and uh and they must comply with the standards and regulations for that zone district.

Um so yes, tonight, if council approves this zoning, it will be approved by an ordinance, um, which changes the previous ordinance, and um that's you know, in your legislative process, you amend and adopt ordinances all the time.

It's it's really no different.

Uh thank you.

And as the council member that represented Terry Creek for four my first four years, there's a lot of PUDs happening in Cherry Creek, and CCCN in many ways is its own little special entity as well.

So thank you, Mr.

Lucero.

Um thank you, Madam President.

Thank you.

Um I have a question for Christopher, I think, the last speaker.

Scott, sorry, sorry, Scott.

Do you live next door?

I want to and the idea is to move back in after it gets redone.

That's not my question.

I asked you a simple question.

Do you live Nick?

Like, do you go like tonight when you drive home and your ballot?

Is your ballot go to that?

327 St.

Paul.

Okay.

Okay.

Thank you.

I've done it since 2017.

Got it.

Thank you.

See no other questions from members of council.

The public hearing is closed.

Comments by members of council on council bill 0206.

Councilmember Sawyer?

Thanks, Madam President.

Um I do think that this fits all the criteria.

I am concerned about the um the existence of this 29-foot parcel.

Um I I understand uh that certainly understand Mr.

Robinson and other neighbors' concerns about it.

Um, and I think that that's fair.

I also think that um, you know, when you look at the map that we were shown, this is one parcel that is cut out of what was always meant to be the uh boundaries of this CCC on zoning.

And so the reason this wasn't rezoned at the same time as everything else was because of this condition that was associated with the land and how it got there and why it got there is one of those lost to Denver legend sorts of things.

Um we can't function based on Denver Levit legend.

We have to function as council members looking at the three criteria that we are provided and the information that we are provided and make a determination based on that.

And so I do think that it fits this criteria.

I do want to say thank you, particularly to the Cherry Creek North Neighborhood Association and the work that their zoning committee did um in partnership with the property owner to hand to to hammer out a good neighbor agreement and a community benefits agreement.

I think that that um addresses a lot of the challenges that I had um with relations to that 29-foot um condition that was on the land previously, um, and I really appreciate their work in that.

Um and so I'll be supporting this tonight.

Thanks.

Thank you.

Councilmember Heights.

Thank you, Madam President.

Um I bet I'd add to Councilmember Sawyer is a thank you specifically to Ms.

Raiders.

Um she's underselling herself, uh she was a land use attorney.

Um so um so in my first term uh we created a good neighbor agreement that was something like 80 pages, um, where normally good neighbor agreements are one page.

Um and uh and so I just want to thank her for um her diligence and leading the the zoning committee for Cherry Creek North.

Um CCNNA has a has a strong uh very experienced leader um with uh with her at the helm.

So um that helps me uh in addition to doing my own independent research on the good neighbor agreement, um having her at the helm just helps me uh recognize that it is a strong agreement that does factor into uh the conversations that we've already had and uh communities had.

So thank you.

Thank you, Madam President.

Thank you.

Um I'll also be supporting this tonight, and the I'll state the reason why.

Um most people know I love land use.

I've rezoned my whole entire neighborhood for ADUs before they became popular, and it was via ordinance.

I have worked on four overlays, the sunny side extravaganza, which are two separate overlays.

I have a highland overlay, I have the bungalow overlay, and all of those overlays are all via done ordinance, and they have to be read into the record.

They're not something that runs with the land, they can be changed because they are ordinance, and that's something that I had to learn really early on when I got elected was if I wanted to change land use policy, what was the mechanism that I used, and it's via ordinance.

And so if this was a deed restriction, if this was a different tool that was established to get this 29-foot setback, I would actually honor that.

I 100% honor when um things are in used a different tool, but this was via ordinance, and in 2010 we changed our whole entire city code via ordinance.

It wasn't via anything else, it was via ordinance.

We went from chapter form or chapter 59 into the 2010 zoning code via ordinance.

So I'll be supporting this because we that's our role as land use commissioners is to change things, land use via ordinance.

What's interesting is the deed the good neighbor agreement will actually run with the land.

That's not an ordinance.

That's actually recorded via another tool that we have in Denver, and it's actually recorded with the clerk and recorder.

And we have nothing to do with that.

That's a separate third-party agreement.

Both people sign it, and then it gets recorded with the land.

So I'm very attuned and understand which tools we have in our toolbox and feel very comfortable moving this forward.

I believe it meets and exceeds all the criteria.

Madam President, Madam Secretary.

Council members Albidas.

Hi.

Flynn.

Hi.

Gilmore.

Gonzalez Badieras.

Hi.

Heinz?

Hi.

Lewis.

Harry.

Hi.

Romero Campbell.

Aye.

Sawyer.

Hi.

Torres.

Hi.

Watson.

Madam President Sandable.

Hi.

Madam Secretary, close the voting announce results.

11 eyes.

11 eyes.

Ordinance 02, 07.

Thank you.

Councilmember Gonzalez Gutierrez, will you please put Council Bill 08 changing the zoning classification for multiple properties in Fair Valley, College View, South Platte, Harvey Park, Harvey Park South, and Martin Marston on the floor for passage.

Council Bill 0208 be placed upon final consideration and due pass.

It has been moved and seconded.

The required public hearing for Council Bill 208 is open.

Maybe please have the staff report.

Thank you, Council President.

I'm Libby Glick with Community Planning and Development, and I will be presenting the rezoning or the presentation for the Far Southwest legislative rezoning.

So first we'll go through the overview and then the proposal for this entire package, the process, and then I'll go through the existing zoning and the proposed zoning by neighborhood, and then finally we'll go through the review criteria.

So the Far Southwest area plan was adopted in December of last year.

It outlines the vision for the neighborhoods of Harvey Park, Harvey Park South, College View South Platte, Bear Valley, Fort Logan, and Marston.

It's located in Council District 2, and Council Member Flynn is also sponsoring this rezoning.

So now we'll go through the proposal.

So this rezoning proposal focuses on implementing key land use recommendations that are found in the plan, including complete community centers, so making sure the areas of Federal, Evans, Sheridan, and Wadsworth have high quality design and better connectivity, making sure the industrial districts support new and existing businesses, and then finally making sure our parks are easily accessible.

So again, these this entire package is separated into three categories: centers and corridors, industrial districts, and then a park property, and that's kind of how this presentation will be set up.

So the first piece of this package is the centers and corridors, and as a part of this, we're proposing to rezone Federal West Evans, the Sheridan Shopping Center at Sheridan and Evans, and then the Bear Valley Shopping Center at Sheridan and Hamden from Old Code Districts and the former Chapter 59, suburban mixed use three stories, suburban mixed use 12 stories, and then communic or commercial corridor districts to SMX 3A and SMX 12A.

So these are suburban mixed use districts in our A series, and I'll explain what that means on the next slide.

And then the last corridor, Wadsworth will go from mostly old code properties to suburban mixed use three stories.

So the A series, um basically the left-hand side is what you could build today along Federal Evans, Sheridan Shopping Center.

Um so you could do a drive-through, the building setback, there could even be parking between the building and the street, and the right-hand side is kind of more of the development that you would get under the proposed rezoning under the A series.

So this is an example of the shop front building form.

It does not allow or the A series does not allow the drive-through building forms.

It also requires parking to be located behind the building.

So now the second piece of this rezoning package are some several industrial properties along the South Platte River between Evans and Jewel.

So these are areas where the guidance is value manufacturing, which is where residential uses are not compatible.

So the proposal is to rezone from an industrial mixed use district, which does allow for residential uses to light industrial or IA, which would not allow for any new residential uses.

And then the last piece of the package is rezoning the Union in a Dudley Park.

This is a little park in Marston that retains single unit zoning.

So just rezoning that to our public park and open space zone district.

So now I'll go through the process.

So this application was complete at the end of December.

It went to Planning Board at beginning of February, and we're here before you today for the city council public hearing.

So Planning Board, they unanimously recommended approval of this rezoning.

And there were several property owners that spoke in opposition to the rezoning.

They were concerned about what a potential rezoning would do to their property.

And I think so staff was able to speak with many of them after the hearing to kind of complain or explain about our compliant language in the code and how it does allow for businesses to continue operating as they exist today.

And they need to receive approval by October 13th.

And otherwise they will need to comply with this updated zoning.

And then for public comments, we received two comments from those that work at gas stations about the flavor ban.

And so I did explain that that's a separate action from this rezoning.

This rezoning is not going to change the flavor ban that's in place.

And then we received an email in opposition on the industrial sites.

And so this particular owner was concerned that there's not a strong enough market for industrial users.

And with new development comes new infrastructure improvement.

So he was concerned that because in his mind, because there's not a strong enough market for new industrial businesses, that there would never be any infrastructure improvements to this area.

And then we also received an email from a property owner in Bear Valley who had concerns over not allowing the drive-thru building form anymore.

So for public engagement, that was done concurrently with the far southwest planning process.

So staff attended workshops, focus groups, we reached out to keep property owners and presented to the advisory committee.

We were able to compare the evolving plan recommendations with this potential package to ensure that the plan guidance informed the rezoning.

And then once the formal rezoning was submitted, postcards were mailed out two times to both property owners and tenants.

So in total, it's actually over like 10,000 postcards, and then signs were posted at three different points through the process.

So now I'll go through by neighborhood, the current zoning and then the proposed zoning.

So you can get a closer look at it.

So we'll start in College View South Platte.

So this area includes the industrial properties and then Evans and then the eastern portion of Federal.

So the industrial properties currently have IMX3 zoning.

And then SMX3 and some old code along federal.

The proposal for the industrial areas is light industrial or IA and then SMX3A, which is that A series that does not allow the drive-thru building forms along Federal and Evans.

Now moving to Harvey Park.

So this includes the Sheridan Shopping Center and then the western portion of Federal.

So current zoning is SCC3X and Old Code properties.

And the proposals to rezone these to SMX3A as well.

So now Harvey Park South.

So this includes the properties west of Federal, but not the Loreto Heights campus, and then the eastern portion of the Bear Valley Shopping Center.

So there's one property that has SMX 12 zoning, and then it's largely old code and then SCC3X and SCC3.

And so this area is proposed to go to SMX 12A and then SMX3A.

So Bear Valley, this includes two properties along Wadsworth that are SCC3X, and then the western portion of the Bear Valley Shopping Center, that's also SCC3X, and then some old code.

And the properties along Wadsworth are proposed to go to SMX3, and then the Bear Valley Shopping Center is SMX3A.

Okay, so now finally, Marston.

You might notice that we didn't have any in Fort Logan.

There's just not as many commercial centers or corridors in that area.

I think it's largely residential, and so there just didn't happen to be any rezonings in that neighborhood.

But for Marston, this is mostly along Wadsworth, and then the one park property is in this neighborhood.

So along Wadsworth, it's mostly old code properties, and then like a couple that are SCC3 and SCC3X, and then the park is currently a single unit or SSUD.

And Wadsworth is proposed to be rezoned to SMX3, and then OSA for the one part property.

All right, so now I'll finally go over the review criteria.

So there's three review criteria that must be met in order for rezoning to be approved.

It needs to be consistent with adopted plans, further the public interest, and be consistent with the neighborhood context, zone district description and purpose in the Denver zoning code.

So the first plan is the comprehensive plan.

In the interest of time, you can find more about how it meets the strategies and the comprehensive plan in the staff report.

I'll just talk about Blueprint Denver in the far southwest area plan.

So in Blueprint Denver, the future neighborhood context for this area is largely suburban.

All of the districts within the centers and corridors that are proposed are in the suburban context.

The plan guidance does have federal designated as the urban context.

And we are proposing a the SMX3A district or a district in the suburban context for federal.

And that's because we just don't have an existing district in the urban context that doesn't allow the drive-through building forms.

For that, you'd have to include the the active centers and corridors design overlay, which there's the guidance in the plan is really more about limiting drive-throughs and uh doesn't talk as much about requiring active ground floor uses.

And so for that reason, we went with the SMX3A, and we do think that it meets the intent of the urban context and that it is gonna be more pedestrian friendly.

And then the industrial properties are in the districts context, which does allow for industrial and campus uses.

So the future places for these centers and corridors are mostly community corridors, regional center, community center.

Um there's one residential property that's attached to a more commercial property.

The industrial area has value manufacturing guidance, and then the park property is parks and open space.

There's a variety of future street types, including commercial, mixed use, and residential.

So most of the mixed the SMX districts are proposed where there's commercial or mixed use uh street types.

And then the growth area strategies are regional centers, community centers, and corridors where the SMX districts are proposed, and then the districts is where we anticipate more employment growth compared to housing growth, which is what the industrial properties are designated as, and then the park property is all other areas of the city.

And then because this is such a large rezoning, we had to look at the equity concepts found in Blueprint Denver.

So that includes access to opportunity, vulnerability to involuntary displacement, and then housing diversity.

So again, this is a large area, but the scores range from two to four out of five for access to opportunity, with the lowest scores being an access to transit.

Then the highest scores are an access to centers and corridors and access to health care.

Um rezoning, especially the old code properties will allow for an increase in density, which may bring more amenities to this area.

And then for vulnerability to involuntary displacement, College View South Platte, and then Harvey Park Southeastern portion are the most vulnerable to involuntary displacement.

And while, you know, we're not rezoning any currently residentially zoned properties, um, bringing these former Chapter 59 properties into the Denver zoning code will make the incentive heights applicable to those sites, which which could provide more affordable housing in the future.

And then finally for housing diversity, the scores range from one to three out of five, with College View South Platte being the most diverse.

And the MX districts allow for a variety of residential uses.

And then finally for Blueprint, um, this rezoning will further several strategies found in the plan.

It will rezone properties from the old code into the Denver zoning code.

It will implement plan recommendations through a city-led legislative rezoning, and it will ensure an active and pedestrian-friendly environment in our centers and corridors.

And finally, for climate guidance, this rezoning will foster more walkable places, especially by limiting the drive-through building form on many of this in many of the corridors and centers in far southwest Denver.

So now we'll move to the far southwest area plan.

I won't go over the future uh context and the place type as those are the same that are found in Blueprint Denver.

So we'll just talk about the specific strategies.

And so for centers and corridors, there's guidance about how areas along Federal, Sheridan, Wadsworth, and Evans should see new businesses, homes, places to dine and shop, specifically around federal Sheridan Evans.

Auto-oriented buildings should be avoided.

And then for federal, you know, this is where bus rapid transit is proposed.

So the uses should really support that.

And again, buildings should have should front the street, have parking located behind the building, an auto-oriented form, such as drive-thru should be limited, which again is why we're proposing that suburban mixed use A series that does prohibit the drive-thru building form.

And then Evans is similar, and then it talks about how you know there should have a mix of uses and parking should be provided behind buildings that front Evans.

Again, similarly for Bear Valley, it should provide or the Bear Valley shopping center.

It should provide a mix of uses, be more accessible, be more pedestrian friendly, and again locate parking behind buildings.

And then for South Wadsworth, you know, this is where again it should be have places where people can shop, live, and gather, but while also ensuring that the area is easily accessible by car.

So this doesn't have the same guidance about limiting drive-throughs, which is why the proposal for this area is to suburban mixed use three and not a district in the A series.

So for the industrial properties, um, these are value manufacturing areas where the focus should be light industrial with limited commercial and no residential uses, which is why the proposals to rezone from mixed you industrial mixed use to light industrial that will not allow for any new residential uses.

So again, guidance to make sure our parks are easily accessible.

This is an existing park.

We're just making sure it is right zoned.

Um so we also believe this rezoning is in the public interest that it implements policies in the comprehensive plan, Blueprint Denver, and the far southwest area plan, and the SMX and SMXA districts will provide more modern zoning standards and promote a more pedestrian-friendly environment, especially compared to what exists today.

And finally, staff finds that it's consistent with the suburban, industrial and open space context, and it's consistent with the intent of the mixed-use light industrial and public park zone districts.

So finding all three review criteria have been met.

That concludes the staff presentation.

Thank you.

One individual signed up to speak this evening.

Just Paris.

Yes, even members of council, those watching at home, those in the council chambers.

My name is Jesse Bashawn Paris, and I'm representing for Black Star Action Movement for Self-Defense, Positive Action Committee for Social Change, as well as the Unity Party of Colorado, the North Park Hill Coalition.

Um Black Nose, the revolutionary agenda, Sabacas Buck Experience Enhance.

And I was not at the ropes and bear bug infested legacy loss in Darrell Watson's district of District 9 District 9.

And I'm also a candidate on the ballot for House of Representatives for District 8.

Um so all I'm getting from this presentation was there's just gonna be a bunch of store storefronts, and it allows for the drive-through fronts, uh drive-through of options or these properties.

I mean, there's a lot of things we could be discussing.

There could be uh housing on these areas.

I mean, that's a lot of stuff that we prioritize, but that's not the point of this rezoning.

So based off the criteria, meets the criteria.

So y'all gonna approve it anyway.

So ain't no I can tell you that's gonna change your mind on this.

So y'all have a good evening.

I will see y'all next Monday.

Thank you.

That concludes our um individuals who are signed up.

Do we have questions from members of council on Council Bill 0208?

Sorry, councilman sorry, sorry.

You're all good.

You're all good.

Thank you, Madam President.

Um, the question for council member Flynn.

I know that there was a parcel um that like didn't fit into the right zoning.

Was that for this rezoning?

Um it was like a McDonald's parcel that pink is that is that is that a different one or is that this one?

That's one of the ones here.

Okay, and how did that end up getting shaking out?

I'm so sorry.

If if I'm interrupting, I thought you're talking about maybe the food truck.

No.

There's a uh Libby.

But now I want to know more about hold on, let's let answer this one for 8 p.m.

Also, I'm hungry.

When are we going to this food truck?

Councilwoman, that is a uh sort of a unique situation where the original King Supers there that became an Albertsons, that became a Walmart Park and Nalton Ark store uh on the corner of Sheridan and Dartmouth, southwest corner.

There was an agreement back in the 60s when the McDonald's went up, just to the east of it, that nothing could nothing vertical could be built forward of a certain line.

And the owner was concerned, and uh Libby correct me if I get this wrong, and I really appreciate all the work that you went through with the owner.

Uh the concern was that if it were to be redeveloped, uh they could not comply with the new zoning because they can't build any closer to Dartmouth as the primary street, uh because it's probably right now about 60 feet off of Dartmouth.

But that has to remain open and flat so that people can see McDonald's from uh Sheridan Boulevard.

But the interesting thing is the building itself has a Sheridan Boulevard address.

So uh Libby and the CBD crew came up with some concepts to show to the owner and met with them and I met with them to show that you could redevelop it within this new zoning, even if you can't build forward of that that east-west line toward Dartmouth.

Did I get that right?

Yes, you did.

And the existing structure, which I don't think is actually that old.

I think we looked it up, and it was from like 2011, maybe.

And they can continue to use that same structure for different uses in the future as well.

Um, because that existing structure takes up most of the area that where they can be built based on this private agreement that exists, but um they could push it.

There's a room closer to Sheridan that could help them meet.

And there's even, I believe, a detention pond there, but um the setback is like was from the pond, is what they what our um uh staff that reviews these plants, like that wouldn't cause a problem for them either.

That was a concern because the setback from Sheridan was X, and the detention pond was there.

Yeah, so but the the setback is from the end of the detention pond.

Got it.

Okay, so there was a resolution is a it's included here, yes, but there is it it but the issues that were surrounding it have been sorted out to the best of our ability at this time.

Yes, it's included in the rezoning.

I don't know that the owners uh happy with it or satisfied with it, but I have not heard back from them.

Okay, great, thank you.

Thank you.

See no other questions from members of council.

The public hearing is closed.

Comments by members of council on 0208.

Councilmember Food.

Thank Madam President.

That was one of the comments I was gonna make was to thank uh the CPD crew of me and Liz to for all their very diligent work on it because it's it's a incredibly diverse district with so many different characters when you get the industrial area along the river and uh all the way over to uh the Marsken Reservoir and Grant Ranch and those areas, just uh a widely diverse area, and the uh intentional application of the districts that are in our code to match the intent of the plan and to implement the plan's guidance.

I think uh this goes a long way.

This is like the last step in what started out as the far southwest plan, except for what's to follow, of course.

But this is these are the easy wins, quick wins.

Uh there's more work to be done later that'll have to be done by my successor, whoever that may be.

Uh, but we have a good plan in place that will guide that person in any changes to come.

What I really like about uh the some of the districts that were uh included in this rezoning, for instance, the Bear Valley Shopping Center.

Um when I moved here 45 years ago, the Bear Valley Shopping Center had a May DNF.

It was like U Hills, right?

It had a May DNF, it had uh duck walls, whatever that was at the time.

And it was an indoor mall.

It's undergone like three different redevelopments since then, and now we have a home depot and the new King Supers over there.

And so the next time that that happens, and I know that since it's been done three times, that there will be a fourth time.

I don't know when that'll happen, but when it is, there's guidance in place that the community wanted to see more uh relationship with Bear Creek, which runs right behind it, and right now it's sort of treated as that's behind the that's the loading dock area uh on both sides of Sheridan Boulevard.

Wouldn't it be nice when it redevelops if there are cafes or seating areas that take advantage of the nature or just the natural environment that you see in Southwest Denver that you might not find in in Mayfair or some other uh uh neighborhood in the city?

So this allows them to do that by orienting things toward the street and having the parking behind instead of the parking along the street, and the commercial in a sea of parking.

Uh the approach on Wadsworth Boulevard is a little different.

I can see a day when what Jefferson County is doing on its portion of Wadsworth down near Southwest Plaza.

Uh the Denver portion is just north of Southwest Plaza, and I can see a time when the multifamily that's been built on the underutilized commercial lots around so many shopping centers starts to occur in Southwest Commons or Westlake Greens or Plaza on the Green, rather, and some of those other commercial areas that are in Denver but uh are vastly underutilized.

And so uh and then the last thing I'll mention is the OSA that uh park property that is zoned for single unit is only about as wide as from this you know, this table to where you're sitting.

It's a trail that goes from Union Boulevard up to the up to uh Stanford and uh so it's zoned for single family, even though you can't build a single family, but and it's also dedicated park, uh, but it was somehow missed.

So this isn't as a result of the plan.

This is the result of we missed it when we rezoned all the park citywide that still had that did not have OSA zoning.

And so I'm I'm happy to see that included in here too.

Uh if only because I can stop answering all the phone calls and emails about what are we doing in the parking thank you, madam president.

Thank you.

Councilman Tours.

Thank you.

Just apologies for interjecting during that QA.

I thought you were asking about the uh food truck on Federal Boulevard that was out of compliance because of the zoning that it had, but it had been operating there for like 15 years.

Um that'll come with the Southwest Area plan, uh legislative rezoning, but I'm fully in support of this one as well.

And so just wanted to because I've had burrito tacos there in life.

Thank you.

Council Louis Harry.

Yeah, I just um we went over this in committee and so we talked a lot about it there as well.

Um, but I appreciate this kind of like really detailed work by our planning staff, and I just this kind of thing before you um before being elected as kind of role, or I suppose if you're the kind of person that goes and gets a degree in planning or something, um it is it is like hard to imagine the amount of like detailed attention to every little piece of the city that our platinum department really gives.

Um and so I just am very very impressed by this.

It's great to see stuff coming out of former chapter 59, which you guys continue to just um you know hammer away on every chance you get, bless you.

Um that's really all I want to say about it, other than I also really appreciate on some of the corridors the attention paid to um continue to move away from drive-throughs and you know get buildings that are closer to the street have the parking behind and makes neighborhoods that are more walkable, better for kids and all that stuff.

We're that's something we're also just moving forward little by little throughout the city.

So great work that everyone involves.

Councilmember Flynn, you too.

Thanks, everybody.

Thanks, Madame Messenger.

Yeah, thank you.

Um, these are so important.

I love the plans that come through, and especially the zonings.

Um, so um, yeah, I think that's so important.

So I'll also be supporting this tonight.

Madam Secretary, we'll call on Council Bill 0208.

Council members Albitrez.

Aye.

Flynn?

All right, Gilmore.

Gonzalez Cutieras.

Hi.

Hi.

Hi.

Hi.

Romera Campbell.

Aye.

Sawyer.

Hi.

Watson.

Aye.

Madam President Sandoval.

Aye.

I am secretary, close the voting fast.

Eleven ayes.

Eleven ayes, Council Bill has passed.

On Monday, the 11 Council will hold Bill 3 on Council Bill 0389.

With a reasonable condition, and a required public hearing on Council Bill 0392, changing the zoning classification for 5101, 51 through 5115, North Milwaukee Street in Elyria, Swansea.

And on Monday, May 18th, Council will hold a required public hearing on Council Bill 0431 authorized authorizing a moratorium on data centers.

Any protests against council bills 0389 or 0392 must be filed with the council offices no later than Monday on no later than noon on Monday, May 4th, 2026.

And any protest against Council Bill 0431 must be filed with the council offices no later than Monday, May 11th, 2026.

There being no further business before this body, this meeting is adjourned.