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's meeting.

Today is Monday, May 4th, 2026.

Tonight's meeting into is being interpreted into Spanish.

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

Yes, of course.

Hello everyone.

My name is Sam Guzmano with the CLC, joining you virtually through Zoom.

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

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

Thank you very much, Sam.

Oh sorry, it's glad.

Welcome to the Denver City Council meeting on Monday, May 4th, 2026.

Council members, please join Councilmember Heinz in the Pledge of Allegiance.

Thank you.

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

The Denver City Council honors and acknowledges that the land on which we reside is the traditional territory of the Youth Cheyenne and Arabaho peoples.

We also recognize the 51 contemporary tribal nations that are historically tied to the lands that make up the state of Colorado.

We honor elders past present and future and those who have stewarded this land throughout generations.

Here Flynn.

Here.

Heinz?

Here.

Cashman.

Here.

Lewis.

Romero Campbell.

Here.

Sawyer.

Here.

Torres?

Here.

Watson.

Here.

Madam President Sandoval.

Here.

Twelve members present.

There are 12 members present.

Council has a quorum.

Approval of the minutes.

Are there corrections to the minutes of April 27th?

Seeing none, the minutes stand approved.

Council announcements.

Are there any council announcements this afternoon?

Councilmember Gonzalez Cutters start us off.

Thank you, Madam President.

It's a very very important day for many people who enjoy these movies as much as I do, but it is May the Fourth.

And so to all my colleagues and to the people of Denver, may the fourth be with you.

A proud Star Wars nerd.

My daughter actually made all of these for me.

Thank you.

Councilwoman Sawyer.

Thank you, Madam President.

I also am gonna take a moment of personal privilege.

So I don't know how it happened that my youngest children turned 16, but they did.

Thanks.

Thank you.

Councilmember Heinz.

Thank you, Madam President.

As this is May the 4th, tomorrow is revenge of the 5th.

Or to get even nerdy into I also want to uh uh to bring up the uh tomorrow we'll have some site collectors from the dinner Democratic National Committee uh descend upon Denver and uh uh just so they can get wow and learn that Denver will be the host of the 2028 Democratic National Convention.

Um so if you see some people run around City Hall or the State Capitol or Center City and they look to be very democratic.

Uh tell them how I'm I'm really looking forward to hosting and being uh participating in several of those uh meetings uh meeting in on how accessible uh Denver is relative to so many other areas in our country and far beyond.

So um thank you to the site selectors as uh as we will see you tomorrow and throughout the week.

Thank you, President.

Thank you.

Councilmember Watson.

Uh thank you so much, Council President.

Uh every month we hold uh community office hours at District 9.

And on this Friday, May 9th, we will be at Lou's Italian Specialties, the best um uh sandwich place in on Downing Street in Fly Points.

Um, and that will be from one o'clock to 2 p.m.

And it's uh 3357 North Downing Street.

So uh District 9, May community office hours come by with any of your questions, compliments, whatever you choose.

We look forward to seeing you on this Friday from 1 to 2 p.m.

at Lou's take care.

Thank you.

Councilmember Lewis.

Thank you.

Just wanted to thank uh folks and community who were able to be community panelists.

Um they we had our final totally forgot what it's called.

Something.

We had our final meeting um for our our um community panelists.

I'm so sorry, I totally forgot.

I need anywho, these are the things that inform our our micro priorities for the coming year.

So thank you if you participated in whatever the thing is I can't remember what it's called.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Councilmember Albidrez.

Thank you, Council President.

I want to share a couple of things coming into strike seven.

This Saturday, we will be at the Columbine Towers with the Rocky Mountain High Institute for Career Development, where we'll be talking to residents about how um what kind of career development we have, and I will be speaking, and this was organized by Colonel James Harvey, a distinguished airman from World War II and an American hero.

Uh in addition to that, I wanted to share that next Saturday uh we will be joining the mayor's bicycle advocacy committee on Saturday, and you can meet us at 8 45 a.m.

We'll roll out at 9 a.m.

and we'll be meeting at Rebel Bed Bread Bakery at 675 South Broadway to go for a bike ride around District 7.

Anyone's welcome to join.

Uh we haven't figured out exactly how long of a bike ride it will be, but you can always tear off uh if you have to leave early.

And then lastly, I just wanted to acknowledge uh Cinco de Mayo tomorrow.

It's more than just Taco Tuesday.

It marks the batalla of Puebla in 1862 when Mexican farmers led under President Benito Juarez, the first indigenous president in Mexico defeated the French army, and it mattered beyond Mexico.

The reason it celebrated here in the United States is because that prevented the French from coming and helping in the civil war.

And Benito Juarez also sent a little bit of gold to Lincoln to defend the United States at that time, and so it is an important Mexican and American holiday that uh now you know maybe a little bit more about.

Thank you.

Thank you, Council President.

Thank you.

Just want to thank everyone who came out to La Rasa Park on Friday for the um ribbon cutting.

It was a great um celebration.

Just want to give a shout out to my council aide Ali Sandra for all the work she put in and the community advisory group.

If you haven't had a chance to go out there, um the playground is amazing.

We got new picnic tables.

Um it's been a labor of love.

I'd also like to um acknowledge Councilwoman Gonzalez Cutieres.

She received the order of the Star of the North on April 16th from the North High School Alumni Association, and um just want to say how proud I am to be a Viking alumni with Councilwoman with Councilwoman Gonzalez Gutierrez.

We both received the award the same day.

So it was um just really cool to be acknowledged by North High School alumni.

And then my last update or acknowledgement is to all the moms out there.

Moms wear many different capes, I like to say, and some of us raise our own kids, some of us raise other kids, some of us raise each other.

So anyone who's out there who's a mom who's a mom, happy early Mother's Day, and I'm just so glad that I get a serve on City Council with nine other women who teach me every day what it feels like to be a woman and empower.

So just thank your parents this weekend, and especially thank your mom.

I know every you all hear I talk about my mom a lot.

I'm so lucky that I have I have the amazing mother that I have.

See, oh Councilman Abidares, yes.

Uh I just wanted to also acknowledge that it's a council member's birthday this week, isn't it?

Councilman Heinz, happy early birthday.

So we're excited.

Thank you.

Nice.

Thank you.

Did you present again?

I have one last year, I think.

There are no there are no presentations, there are no communications, there are two proclamations being read this afternoon.

Council Pro Temer Mero Campbell, would you please read proclamation 0583?

Uh yes.

Thank you, Madam President.

Uh Proclamation uh 26-0583.

Whereas the Yellow Dreams Youth Art Program is a community-based initiative presented by the Mongolian Culture and Heritage Center of Colorado that celebrates youth creativity, cultural identity, and artistic expression among students across Colorado.

And whereas the Yellow Dreams Program provides an annual platform through its youth art contest, public exhibition, and community celebration, offering students the opportunity to share their artwork and personal stories with the broader community.

And whereas through participation in Yellow Dreams, young artists are encouraged to explore themes of heritage, identity, belonging, and imagination, fostering confidence, creativity, and pride in their cultural backgrounds and lived experiences.

And whereas the Yellow Dreams Youth Art Exhibition creates an inclusive public space where student artwork is professionally displayed and publicly recognized, strengthening connections between students, families, educators, and community members.

And whereas the program plays an important role in advancing arts education and cultural awareness during Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month by elevating voices and perspectives of emerging youth artists.

And whereas Yellow Dreams contributes to the cultural vitality of Colorado by fostering inclusion, encouraging intergenerational understanding, and supporting the development of future artists, storytellers, and community leaders.

And whereas the program has grown into a significant annual cultural event that brings together students, families, educators, and community partners in celebration of youth voice and artistic achievement.

Now, therefore, be it proclaimed by the Denver City Council, Section 1.

The Denver City Council hereby recognizes and celebrates the Yellow Dreams Youth Art Program and its contributions to youth development, cultural expression, and community engagement through the city and county of Denver.

Section 2, the clerk and before recorder shall affix the seal of the city and county of Denver to this proclamation and transmit copies to the Mongolian Cultural, Mongolian Culture and Heritage Center of Colorado and the Yellow Dreams Youth Art Program.

Thank you.

Council Pro Temer Merrill Campbell, your motion to adopt.

I move that the proclamation that proclamation 260583 be adopted.

It has been moved and seconded.

Comments by members of council.

Council Pro Temer Meryl Campbell.

Thank you, Madam President.

I want to Yellow Dreams Art Contest.

This is something that I just have been so proud to help sponsor.

I wrote something down because really I didn't want to forget to say so many things.

But this is a culmination of vision and art and love for the art and the pathway that it presented to Sogo Mijad, his wife Baja, their daughter Jennifer.

The Mongolian Cultural and Heritage Center for Colorado.

Out of their home.

This is something that's beautiful, it's a location, but it's something that has also gone further and broader into the community.

And I think that's really where the Yellow Dreams Art Contest took flight.

And so just seeing the pride and the joy of these young people as they are sharing their vision of what the art prompt is and what they have created in their artwork is just bring such joy.

And really, I mean, young people so clever and heartfelt.

But reading the descriptions just I think reminds us of the truth and perspective that young people in our community are holding.

And that we shouldn't forget.

And I think hopefully when Sogo, when you um accept this proclamation, that you'll talk more about what brought you to this point and why this art contest.

Um, but just a little piece of it is you know, over many um lunar year meals and drinks.

Uh it has just been an honor that you and your family call Denver home.

Um, and how you started as you know, a young person inspired by an art contest, having that be your pathway um and and being able to go to art school.

It took you around the world.

Um has been uh acknowledged by the mayor through our art and culture as the artist.

Um, I believe in 2024, 2024 has an art installation here at the Denver Art Museum that is currently being seen.

So I encourage you all to go and visit that.

Um has been selected um to present or have have uh his art be part of the Denver Arts and Venue um art component to the different construction projects that we have.

Um, and most recently at the Sleshman Library, um, it'll be your artwork that's shared and how you've engaged community to be able to bring that forward.

I think, again, just expands what this art contest has been for young people and just what an inspiration you've been to community.

Um so you know, this last Sunday was a large event and a way to be able to acknowledge the young people and something that is so incredibly special.

Um I will stop there with my comments, but I just really it's an honor to um get to know you and to Baja and your entire family.

So I just am thrilled to be able to help support that.

Thank you.

Council members Gilmore.

Hi.

Albidrez.

Hi, hi.

Lynn.

Hi Gonzalez Gutierrez.

Hi.

Hi.

Cashman.

Hi.

Lewis.

Hi.

Romero Campbell.

Aye.

Sawyer.

I Torres.

Hi, Watson.

Hi.

Hi.

Madam Secretary, close the vote and announce the results.

12 hours.

12 eyes proclamation 0583 has been adopted.

We now have five minutes for the proclamation acceptance.

Council Pro Tem Romero Campbell, who will be who will you be inviting up to accept the proclamation?

Um, Sogo Mijad and Baja, his wife.

Or both of you, yes.

Hello.

Uh, good afternoon.

Uh, thank you for this uh proclamation.

I'm uh happy to accept this honor for the Yellow Dreams Art Program and uh Mongolian Culture and the Heritage Center of Colorado.

Yellow Dreams gives students place to share them art, the culture and stories.

We are so proud to support our students and celebrate the voice, especially during Asian Heritage Month.

Thank you for all student families and supporters who makes this program possible.

And thank you for the district for Consehon, Daniel Romero Campbell for always supporting Yellow of Dreams program and uh our AAPI community.

Yeah, we just uh opened it uh yesterday, celebrated uh four day uh show and uh seven different Asian communities participating kids, more than hundred kids uh arts there, and we're so proud.

Thank you so much.

Thank you.

Councilmember Watson, would you please read proclamation 0584?

Uh yes, Council President, proclamation number 260584, the proclamation celebrating Small Business Week in the city and county of Denver.

Whereas since 1963, National Small Business Week has been recognized across the United States to honor the critical contributions of small businesses to our economy, which account for more than 99% of all private sector employers and create nearly two out of five, two out of every three, I should say, new jobs nationwide.

And whereas Denver Economic Development and Opportunities mission is to build an economy that works for everyone.

And the city and county of Denver is committed to fostering an environment where small businesses can start, grow, and thrive through strategic investments, workforce development, access to capital, and equitable economic opportunity.

And whereas small businesses are the backbone of Denver's economy, accounted for at least 45% of employment in our city and serving as key drivers of job creation, economic mobility, and neighborhood vitality.

And whereas Denver's small businesses represent a diverse array of industries and cultures, sustain our neighborhoods, and significantly contribute to Denver's unique character through the community history and cultural identity they have created and sustained.

And whereas small business owners demonstrate remarkable resilience, creativity, and determination in the face of economic challenges, continually adapting to changing market conditions while investing in their employees and communities.

And whereas National Small Business Week provides an opportunity to celebrate the achievements of Denver's entrepreneurs and to recognize the essential role they play in building an innovative and prosperous city and a resilient and inclusive local economy.

Whereas the city and county of Denver joins communities across the nation in recognizing and supporting small businesses and encouraging residents to shop local always, not just this week, year-round, and uplift the businesses that make Denver a unique.

Now, therefore, be it proclaimed by the Denver City Council, Section 1, that Denver City Council recognizes the week of May 4th as small business week in the city and county of Denver, and that all residents are encouraged to celebrate and support Denver's small businesses, not only during this week, but throughout the year.

Section two, the clerk and recorder of the city and county of Denver shall fix the seal of the city and county of Denver to this proclamation that a copy be transmitted to Denver Economic Development and Opportunity.

Thank you.

Councilmember Watson, your motion to adopt.

I move that proclamation 260584 be adopted.

It has been moved and seconded.

Comments by members of the council.

Councilmember Watson.

Brief comment after my 30-year career working for our financial services companies.

He left his job as an educator, English teacher at CU as well as in Jeff CO after 33 years.

I left my job in finance after 30.

And we're just gonna bum around and chill out and enjoy the rest of our lives.

But my husband had an idea.

He said, um, babe, why don't we um start that uh small business we've always been talking about for the decades that we've been together, and we saw we started the Watson Wang Group, small business that provided strategic support for nonprofits um and um uh and other uh organizations that need support.

And it was the one of the most grueling things to start a small business.

Um it freaked you out like uh I have never given birth, but it felt like we gave birth when the business was um we're just from memory.

I have no I have nothing to compare to, but it felt like it felt like giving birth when we uh finally did our paperwork at the Secretary of State's office and said uh this business has been conceived, and we loved it like our baby, and we still do.

Um it was wonderful to know that we can in a small way have small impacts for small um within the communities that we serve.

I look at all the small businesses district nine uh throughout our city, and uh I know the struggle that some of these small business owners are facing, and I know that they look at their businesses similarly like we did, like there are their their babies, um, their their loves and the toughness that they go through.

And so simply for a week to say thank you to each and every one of you uh small business owners for all the good that you do and all the ways that you stick within community and elevate our culture.

So I am honored to uh sponsor um this um small business uh week proclamation, and I'm grateful for Department of Economic Development and opportunity uh for making sure that we continue to support businesses throughout the year.

Thank you, Madam President.

Thank you.

Councilmember Cashman.

Yeah, thank you, Madam President.

Thank you, Councilman, for bringing this forward.

Um before I was on council, a lot of my friends know I published a neighborhood newspaper in South Denver and spent decades making my living showing advertising small businesses.

And I can tell you that the people who walk down streets like Tennyson and Pearl Street and Gaylord Street and even Cherry Creek and see these shops that look so healthy and think, boy, these people must be raking in the dough.

Some of them um some of them are making a respectable living.

Most of them are living on a small margin, and it's a commitment to community, it's something they love doing.

And boy, I'm I miss the I think there's uh probably a percentage of small businesses that are gone compared to the way it was 10, 20, 30 years ago as Denver has grown and brought more change on board.

But anybody who's putting the family fortune up uh uh to fund a small business, uh especially serving our neighborhoods, my hat's off to you, and uh again, councilman, thanks for uh bringing this forward.

I honor them as well.

Thank you.

Councilwoman Alvidres.

Thank you, Council President.

Um I remember the day that my parents went and started our family small business.

My parents had saved up two thousand dollars to start a construction company, and they were able to create a good life for themselves, and only because they've never moved out of their house that I grew up in, and they pinched every penny and paid off any debt that they took on as quickly as possible, which is very hard to do as a small business.

Um and so I just want to uplift yes small businesses, and I feel like District 7 is rich in small businesses when you think about South Federal, when you think about South Broadway, South Pearl Street, which is in District 7.

Um it is not like childbirth, I can confirm.

I believe it is a very beautiful thing uh to start a small business, and it takes spirit and it takes gut, and it takes doing something that a lot of people will tell you won't work out.

Um and I I really feel for the small businesses in our city right now, as I know they're struggling, and I as I you know, as the Department of Finance recently presented to us the financial outlook for the city uh looking pretty bad and sales tax being such a large uh part of our revenue is supporting our small businesses.

It is shopping in Denver.

And I feel personally passionate that in District 7 we're surrounded by box stores.

So it's very easy to leave Denver and head out to a suburb that has a large big box store where you can get your items.

And I will encourage you to try shopping on South Federal, you know, Athmar Park where I live is considered a food desert.

But we do have a really great grocery store called Great Wall that has a lot of vegetables and fruits that you may not find at your typical grocery store around the city.

And so I challenge people to find ways to spend money in the city of Denver.

It's more important now than ever that we support our small businesses, and I think we all own that.

We can point fingers at whose fault it is, but the most important thing we can do is choose where to spend our dollars, and just want to remind people of that.

Thank you, Councilman.

Thank you.

Councilwoman Glois.

Uh yes, thank you so much, Councilman Watson, for sponsoring this proclamation.

And I just wanted to take a moment um to thank the workers that are within these small businesses.

Anytime I have the opportunity to go into these small businesses, the people that give such life and love and joy to my experience.

I just want to thank the workers.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Councilmember, Madam President, thank you, Councilmember Watson, for um conceiving of this idea.

Um today we celebrate small business week here in the in the city and county of Denver, and I can think of no better way to describe what our small business owners do than to call it a labor of love.

Every small business in this city was conceived with the mind of a dreamer, carried through long months of planning and preparation, and brought into the world through the kind of sleepless nights and sheer determination.

Only those who have given birth uh to something truly their own can understand.

Thank you.

Nurture these fragile newborn ventures from their first breath, feed them to the colicky early years, and watch with pride as they grow into the businesses that account for at least 45% of Denver's employment.

So this week, as we honor the more than 99% of private sector employers nationwide who started as somebody's labor pain at 3 a.m., let us remember that every storefront on every block was once a contraction of an idea.

Pushed into being by a founder who refused to get up in the final give up in the final hour.

Denver's small businesses are not delivered easily.

And like every new arrival, they need a village to thrive.

So I encourage every resident to be midwife to our local economy, shop local, eat local, and help cradle the next generation of Jenver businesses as they take their first steps into the world.

Thank you.

Thanks, Madam President.

Um, Councilmember Watson.

Uh growing up in at La Casita, I don't know any other life than um making tamales and bean at a small local business.

Um, we have tons in Northwest Denver.

I always laugh.

We have everything from Chubbies and Lacasita to a Michelin Star restaurant, so you can go and as Councilmember Albiders mentioned that budget is looking kind of dire for 2026.

And so we need to 27 well for the rest of the year.

Um we need to be out promoting our small local businesses.

And I would just challenge everyone to go to a place that you have never been to.

I think five weeks ago I got invited somewhere in Central Park, and I had never been there.

I didn't even know this little strip mall existed.

And it was some of the best food I've had, and I'm planning on taking my husband back.

So um just go outside your comfort zone and support our small local business.

So thank you, Councilmember Watson.

Madam Secretary, we'll call.

Hi.

Hi, Lynn.

All right.

Hi.

Hi.

Catherine.

Hi.

Lewis.

Hi.

Romero Campbell.

Aye.

Sawyer.

Aye.

Toddis.

Hi.

Watson.

Aye.

Madam President Sandoval.

Aye.

Madam Secretary, close the voting, announce the results.

Well I see.

Twelve eyes proclamation 0584 has been adopted.

We have five minutes for the proclamation acceptance.

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

We'll invite the uh small business owner, Adib Khan of Executive Director from Didal, Adeep Khan, whose family owns plenty of small businesses.

Thank you, Councilman Watson and City Council.

Uh, appreciate you allowing me to be here today.

Um, also a shout out to an early happy Mother's Day.

I will uh do that shout out and maybe not try to make direct references to starting a business at the same time uh to honor my mother, who was one of the best business owner operators and mothers uh that I can think of.

Um, and my story is like a lot of yours.

I grew up in a small business as Councilman Watson stated.

I was literally from the time I was born to the time I was 18, uh, worked inside my family business where our house was attached to our motel.

And so it was really all I knew.

And for my parents who immigrated from Pakistan and came to this country without a high school education, it was an opportunity for them to prosper and to send all five of their kids to graduate from college and go on to a variety of careers and really exemplifying what we've come to know as the American dream.

And so I really want to speak to that today because I think more so than the data, because I could speak to the data all day, including the idea that one in two Denverites are employed by a small business here in our city, half.

Uh, I could speak to that, but I think the stories are really more uh impactful and tell that story because we talk about our businesses really being the backbone and heart of our city, and here are some examples.

Lapreno Foods, the fam Lapreno family immigrated from Potenza, Italy to the United States in the early 1900s, and like many immigrant families entered a food retail business, opening up a small neighborhood grocery store in the Denver Highlands area.

That business gradually shifted from simply selling groceries to producing cheese products.

Jim Laprino, Mike's son, took over and transformed the company in the 50s and 60s pizza business started to take off, and he recognized that mozzarella, mozzarella, not traditional Italian specialty cheeses would become a mass market growing engine.

He pivoted aggressively.

Now that company supplies many of the world's largest pizza brands and food manufacturers, they have 10 U.S.

production plants and employ over 5500 individuals.

In addition to that, Denver helped launch two of the most influential fast casual restaurant brands in America, Chipotle and Qudoba, both beginning as modest local concepts before scaling into billion-dollar enterprises that reshaped how Americans eat.

In 1993, classically trained chef Steve Ellis opened the first Chipotle near University of Denver, which began as a single Denver storefront.

It became a global powerhouse with more than 3,700 restaurants worldwide, tens of billions in market value and transformative influence on the consumer expectations around convenience, food quality, and restaurant design.

Founded by two entrepreneurs who saw similar potential and customizable quick service Mexican food, Cordoba grew into a major national brand in its own right, now operating 700 locations across the U.S.

and Canada.

Trung on gifts in the Far East Center.

It's been in Council District 3 for 41 years in business.

Provides a diverse array of Asian gifts and essential everyday items, effectively earning the reputation of being the neighborhood's go-to Asian department store.

Its owners are family-owned, immigrant-owned, and multi-generational.

The Viet uh Vietnamese refugees owned and established this, and they become a hub for sharing stories and traditions around our AAPI community.

Rock Mount Ranch Work Manufacturing Company, located in District 10.

It's historic flagship stores in Lodo, and it's been operating for 79 years, operated in 1946.

Three generations of family-owned business founded by Jack A.

Will in 1946.

He worked until the age of 107, making him the world's oldest CEO until 2008.

His son Jack B joined him in 1952, and the current owner, Steve, became president in the 90s.

This uh business has worked with the National Western Stock Show, History Colorado, Denver Art Museum, and many other local cultural institutions.

Many of these businesses speak to who we are as Denverites and speak to our city.

City Council plays a central, often misunderestimated role in whether our city is truly business friendly.

While mayors and economic development agencies often lead recruitment and program execution, City Council shapes policy, budget, regulatory climate, and political predictability that determined whether businesses stay, grow, or leave.

I appreciate the support of this body in helping us to support our small businesses.

We have a lot going on this week at Dito.

We will be presenting a program to help bring more capital to small businesses with our Bill Denver program, which many of you have been briefed on, and we'll be discussed later in this meeting.

We're also launching a new Denver Biz Hub this week, which will be a one-stop shop for businesses to be able to access all city resources and non-city resources, whether it be federal or state in one location.

We're also launching a new marketing campaign focused on keep it local and shopping at local businesses.

And we'll be working with the SBA, who's represented here by David Benavides, our deputy director, with at Me Casa for the Small Business Awards this Friday.

So thank you for the support and the proclamation.

Thank you.

From the governance and intergovernmental relations committee, 26-0542, a bill for an ordinance amending section 20-76, Division 3, Article 4, Chapter 20 of the Denver Revised Municipal Code Regarding Prevailing Wage.

And from the South Platte River Committee, 26-0521, a bill for an ordinance changing the zoning classification for three 361 through 363 West Avons Avenue in Overland.

Thank you.

Yes, Madam President, move to adjourn.

I mean, I personally thank you.

Now I will do a recap.

Under resolutions, Council Resolution 0529 has been called out for a vote by Councilmember Lewis.

Under bill for introduction, Council Bill 0486 has been called out for questions by Councilmember Lewis.

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 0529, approving a proposed agreement between the city and county in Denver and Colorado Colorado Enterprise Fund Inc.

to fund the business investments, loans and development Denver program that will provide affordable loans, grants, funding, and business coaching to small businesses seeking to start, restart, restructure, improve upon, or grow in their endeavors who have traditionally lacked access to capital markets citywide.

Councilmember Hines, would you please put council resolution five two nine on the floor for adoption?

Thank you, Council President.

Oh uh am I I will that council resolution.

Okay, I move the council resolution 26-0529 be adopted.

Perfect.

It has been seconded.

It has been moved and seconded.

Questions and or comments by members of council on Council Resolution 0529.

Councilmember Lewis.

Thank you.

Um I originally called this item out for postponement under Rule 3.6.

I was hoping to receive a briefing on this item, and while I did receive a very quick uh one about 10 minutes before this council meetings meeting started today.

Um I don't feel comfortable voting that I haven't really had time to dig into.

Um and I understand that this item is of high priority from a comms perspective for Dito with the proclamation today as well as the National Small Business Week and finding that alignment, and because of that, um I will be abstaining tonight.

Thank you, Q.

Madam Secretary, we'll call on resolution 0529.

Council members Gilmore.

Aye.

Albitras.

Aye Flynn.

Aye.

Gonzalez Cotieras.

Aye.

Hines.

Aye.

Cashman.

Lewis.

Abstain.

Romero Campbell.

Aye.

Sawyer.

Aye.

Todas.

Aye.

Watson.

Aye.

Madam President Sandoval.

Aye.

Madam Secretary, close the voting and announce the results.

11 ayes.

11 ayes.

Council resolution 0529 has been adopted.

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

Council Bill 0486, a bill for an ordinance approving a resolution requesting the renewal and continuation of the five points business improvement district for an additional ten-year period.

Councilmember Lewis, please go ahead with your questions on council resolution 0486.

Um I just want to I just had one question and I was curious if the five points bid um uses private security.

I'm not sure.

Oh no.

Hi, Department of Finance.

No, the five points bid does not use private security, and we do have representatives from the five points fit as well as Department of Finance to support us all.

If you have any other questions, literally it.

Yeah, thank you.

Okay.

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

Councilmember Hines, will you please put the resolutions for adoption on the bills on final consideration for final passage on the floor?

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

26-0525 26-05260, 0519, 0520, 0543, 0544, 0516, 0548.

0541 0530 0531 0532 0533 0534 0535 0536 0537 0538 0539 0540 0485 0517 0522 0523 0524 0367 0492 That's it.

Thank you.

It has been moved and seconded.

Apologies.

One item is missed.

26-0518.

Councilman, we might just read it for the record.

Uh and 26-0538.

1-8.

0518.

Thank you.

Thank you.

It has been moved and seconded.

Madam Secretary, we'll call.

Council members.

Gilmore.

Aye.

Albitras.

Aye.

Flynn.

Aye.

Gonzalez Cotieres.

Aye.

Heinz?

Aye.

Cashman.

Aye.

Lewis.

Aye.

Romero Campbell.

Aye.

Sawyer.

Aye.

Todas.

Aye.

Wanson.

Aye.

Madam President San Ball.

Aye.

Madam Secretary, close voting after results.

Twelve ayes.

12 ayes.

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

Tonight there will be a required public hearing on Council Bill 0345, changing the zoning classification for 992 North Knox Court in Villa Park.

A required public hearing on Council Bill 0346, changing the zoning classification for 1453 North Wabosh Street in East Colfax, and acquired a required public hearing on Council Bill 0344, amending the Denver zoning code concerning approval periods for site development plans.

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

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.

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What we've found.

Some people are intrinsically opposed to exporting water from one basin to another to benefit the metropolitan area.

Who am I to tell my neighbor they can sell their house or not sell their house or sell their water rights or not sell their water rights?

It's a property right here in Colorado.

The humans will always win.

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

Tonight's coverage of Denver City Council starts now.

Council will now reconvene from our earlier session.

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Councilmember Hines, will you please put Council Bill 0345 changing the zoning classification for 992 North Knox Court in Lua Park on the floor for final passage?

Thank you, Madam President.

I move that Council Bill 26 stuff 0345 be placed upon final consideration and do pass.

It has been moved and seconded.

The required public hearing for Council Bill 0345 is open.

Hi, good evening.

So let's start with outlining broadly what the request is from the current property owner.

Um so they're looking to take their property located at the intersection of 10th Avenue and Knox Court.

You can see it outlined in red on the map here.

Um they're looking to take this roughly 12,500 square foot property and change the zoning from ESUD, which stands for urban edge, single unit, and then D classifies the minimum lot size.

And they're hoping to change that zoning to EMS3, which stands for urban edge, main street, and the three stands for the number of stories that can be built on the property.

Um you can see from the slides and the staff report that what currently occupies the site is a single unit residential building that was built in 1899.

Um there have been numerous additions and accessory structures and a garage that have been built across the large site over the past uh hundred and twenty seven years.

Um let's dive a little bit into its broad location and context.

So this is located in Council District 3, which is represented by Council Member Torres.

You can see here on the map that it's outlined in red, located in the uh sort of eastern, northeastern portion of the Villa Park statistical neighborhood.

Um I also want to note that the property um at that corner of 10th and Knox.

You can see on the map that it's located about one block south of Lakewood Gulch, um, which is uh filled with numerous trails that connect both to the east and to the west.

Um it's where the RTDW line uh has transit service between Golden and downtown.

Um I also want to note that it's about a block and a little bit, maybe a little bit more uh south of Paco Sanchez Park, home of my children's favorite playground.

Um it's amazing.

Eagleton Elementary is just to the uh the southeast there.

Um there's dense commercial along Federal to the east, um, and then 10th Avenue is also uh home to the RTD one and nine buses that run transit service east-west as well.

Um, this is a map that shows the existing zoning.

So you can see the property again outlined in red is part of that ESUD.

That's a single unit district, which means that the only thing that can be built there is predominantly single unit housing.

Um you can see in the area there are some uh URH uh zone districts.

That's a row house zone district, which allows for more dense multi-unit development.

Um, and then immediately to the north, you see that red property that is a uh a mixed-use district that allows for uh generally commercial and or residential uses.

So, what they're proposing is to go to EMS3.

The general purpose of that is to promote this sort of safe, active, pedestrian-scaled commercial streets.

They're meant to have these active public edges and a high degree of walkability.

Um the goal is to create active street frontages.

Uh, and typically this type of district is meant to be located on collector streets or local streets sometimes, but generally within embedded mixed-use areas.

And we're going to talk a little bit about what that looks like as we get into the zoning uh in a bit.

Uh and notably there are only two building forms allowed in this zone district, the townhouse or the shop front.

Um, it is close enough to the W transit station at Knox Court that it eliminates any of the drive-through building form allowances.

Um you can see that here, that those uh those two building forms that are drive-through have the box in them that is not checked or not filled in, and that means that it's only allowed if you're farther than a quarter mile from a transit station, which this is not.

Um I do want to highlight a couple of things before we get too deep into it.

So, in going to the EMS districts, there would be a couple of protected district standards.

So, for anyone who doesn't know, uh Denver does have districts within the city that are considered protected, and that's generally our single and two-unit districts.

Um because this property has single unit zoning to the south and single unit zoning immediately to the east, those are protected districts.

And so this property would have some additional restrictions placed upon building forms.

Quite notably, any building that has a side interior that's adjacent and protected district, instead of having a zero-foot setback, meaning they could build at the lot line.

It means that they have to have a 10-foot setback.

So buildings must be placed a little bit farther back.

That's true for rear setbacks as well, where there is not an alley.

Um this next slide is just illustrative.

This is not any proposed development.

This is an image taken directly from the zoning code to sort of demonstrate what the protected district standards are like for what are called upper story setbacks.

So it's a little hard to read from this distance, but um essentially any building that is next to a protected district can rise up to 27 feet, which is about the size of a standard home, and then it would have to be set back an additional 15 feet from the lot line.

So it creates sort of what we call this wedding cake step back, where uh in order to protect light and air to those properties that are adjacent to it that might be smaller, the property is required to create these additional setbacks on those areas where it's adjacent, a protected district.

And that would apply to this property should the zone district be approved.

In terms of existing land use, you can see that the neighborhood is predominantly single unit residential.

That's that light yellow color.

However, we do see some of those darker orange ish colors scattered throughout the neighborhood.

That's multi-unit residential.

Those could be anything that's a triplex or more.

And then immediately to the north, you see the dark uh reddish color, that's commercial retail.

And those are two embedded commercial locations within the villa park neighborhood.

While this property is listed as vacant, um, that is not true.

We have confirmed with the applicant team that the residential structure is still there.

There is a tenant in the structure.

Um, this is merely an error in the assessors database.

Here are a couple of images just to familiarize you.

There are more images within the staff report if you want to take a look.

The picture on the top is the uh existing commercial space across 10th Avenue on Knox Court.

You can see a sort of uh an old-fashioned strip mall type of development that has numerous businesses uh embedded there.

Uh, and then the property uh itself is that picture on the the bottom where you can see the original house, sort of that little yellow structure.

Uh you can see the additions that have been made, and then the abundant surface parking that's associated with it and the curb cut that's associated with it.

Um to continue our background discussion, uh, the property owner has entered into a voluntary affordable housing agreement with the Department of Housing Stability.

What they've committed to is that 12% of units would be income restricted at 70% AMI if those units are for rent, or 12% of units would be income restricted at 90% AMI if for sale.

And any of those would come with a 99-year covenant on them.

All right, let's talk a little bit about process.

Um, for anyone who doesn't know, our rezonings have a pretty standard process.

Um informational notice was sent out to the community and city council back in January of this year.

Planning board held their hearing on March 4th of this year, uh, and we anticipate, or I'm sorry, we're here tonight at City Council for the final public hearing.

Um, in terms of public comments, we've received no official letters from ROs in the area, either in support or in opposition.

We did receive one letter of support from a neighbor to the property, um, noting that they supported the location of new businesses to this commercial corridor and the possibility of new residential, especially income restricted residential.

As I said, planning board held a hearing back in March.

They voted unanimously to recommend approval, noting that it aligned with our planned guidance.

And now let's get into the review criteria.

Um, anyone new tonight who's unfamiliar with how this process works, um, the Denver zoning code lays out three review criteria that staff, planning board, and city council are mandated to review in determining the appropriateness of a request like this.

And we're gonna start with that first criteria, which is consistency with adopted plans.

Um, and for this area, there are three adopted plans.

Two of them are citywide, and one of them is the local uh area plan.

So we'll start with comprehensive plan 2040, which is the city's uh citywide narrative goals for how we should be growing Denver by 2040.

Um, and we do believe that this request would create a more equitable, affordable, and inclusive Denver by aligning with these three goals and strategies that generally call for increasing housing units close to transit, as well as other mixed-use developments such as commercial um nodes, um, that we should create a greater mix of housing types in all neighborhoods.

Um, as you I noted before, this neighborhood is predominantly single unit with some multi-unit scattered throughout.

And that we should also use land use regulations to allow for private development of affordable, missing middle, and mixed income housing, especially where close to transit.

And for anyone that doesn't know that missing middle means buildings uh or sites that contain more than two units.

Um, we believe that it would produce some of the strong and authentic goals of comprehensive plan by ensuring that all neighborhoods are offering a mix of housing types and services for a diverse population.

Again, this zoning district would allow for a more diverse set of housing typologies.

Um, it would also allow for um neighborhood serving businesses to locate on a site where currently only single unit residential is allowed.

Um we believe that it would meet the connected safe and accessible places goals by promoting transit-oriented development.

That means locating denser development near transit sites in order to encourage ridership.

Um, and that should include affordable housing, which this does.

Uh and then in terms of environmentally resilient, um, it does call for us to promote infill development where infrastructure and services are already in place.

For those who don't know, the term infill means that we are building on lots that are that have land that is underutilized currently, and about half of this site is utilized for just off surf um off-street parking or paved space, and that we should focus growth by our transit stations and along high and medium capacity transit corridors.

This one, as I noted, is within a quarter mile of the W line.

We'll shift now to Blueprint Denver, which was adopted by City Council in 2019.

This is the city's land use plan.

It does take a citywide view of land use.

So luckily for us, we do have the West Area Plan, which I'll get to in a second.

But this plan calls for the property to be part of the urban edge future neighborhood context.

And while that is predominantly residential, it's noted as having some small scale multi-unit residential and for having commercial and mixed use development specifically along main corridors.

And we'll get into what main corridors are now.

So when we look at the future places map within Blueprint Denver, it identifies a place type.

It also identifies street types.

And what we see here is that the place type is called a local corridor.

And it describes those as having multiple options, whether they be dining, entertainment, shopping, or some residential.

It also calls for them to have active street front frontages and buildings that are potentially up to three stories.

Quite notably, both 10th and Knox right here are noted as being mixed use collectors, which are those higher capacity transit corridors that I described in the last slide.

Given those two descriptions and the applicant request, we find that there is alignment and consistency between the request and these maps.

In terms of growth areas, Blueprint Denver calls this area all other areas of the city, which is different from some of the other more intense designations, but it does call for this typology to have 20% of new housing growth, 10% of new employment across the entire typology.

And again, this district would allow for a subtle increase in density by allowing for multi-unit residential.

It would also allow for new commercial development, which would increase employment opportunities within the neighborhood.

Because of the site's location and its size of over 10,000 square feet, we did look, we did conduct an equity analysis and asked the applicant to produce an equity response as part of their application.

Through that, we look at three major equity concepts to make sure that any proposal would produce more good than harm.

And quite notably in our equity analysis, we noted four areas that are of primary concern within this area.

One is a lack of a lower than average educational attainment, meaning the number of people that have attained a college degree, lower than average median household incomes.

There's a low number of actual income restricted units within the area, and a low amount of missing middle housing, which again is that type of housing that is between two and potentially 19 units.

So we're not talking major apartment buildings and we're not talking single unit homes.

And we believe that this proposed development with its affordable housing plan would help tackle some of these equity concerns, quite notably the number of income restricted units as well as the missing middle housing.

In terms of Blueprint Denver's climate goals, we do believe that this would help achieve a few.

Quite notably, it would help us locate denser housing near transit and encourage transit ridership.

It's also locating transit near open space and an active transportation network.

Active transportation is a term we use to describe any form of transportation that requires your body to propel yourself, such as walking, biking, riding a scooter.

And this proximity to Lakewood Gulch and its connectivity to the South Platte River and downtown does provide that option.

And then it's well documented that multi-unit buildings are actually more energy efficient than lower density single-family homes as they require fewer inputs and outputs and are easier to maintain heat and cool.

All right.

And I want to note that in many ways, uh, because we opt whenever we adopt a new area plan, it is our policy to then update Blueprint Denver.

So Blueprint Denver and the West Area Plan actually match in terms of their guidance for future neighborhood as urban edge, its future place type as a local corridor.

Um but the West Area Plan actually provided some more refined height guidance.

So where those previous plans might have called for uh five or three stories.

This one is very specific that heights should be up to three stories within this area, unless they are achieving the enhanced affordability incentives.

This property is not opting into that and is asking for a three-story district which aligns with this plan guidance.

Um, there are a few narrative goals within the West Area plan as well that we think are important to reference here.

One is that we are encouraged to explore strategies so that affordable housing is located everywhere, promoting a diversity affordable housing options in all neighborhoods, especially with new development, and that we should expand housing types and affordability to support households of different sizes, ages, and incomes in all neighborhoods.

And we believe that the proposed zoning coupled with the affordable housing plan does help us achieve this.

That's the first review criteria, consistency with adopted plans.

And we do believe that it is consistent with the city's plans.

The second criteria is public interest.

And we excuse me.

We do believe that the rezoning is in the public interest, as it would produce sort of neighborhood scale, walkable mixed use area that many of our plans call for.

We also believe that it would produce a diverse housing type near transit and open space on what is otherwise a single unit home.

And then the third criteria is is the proposed district consistent with our neighborhood context, zone district purpose, and intent statements as written in the Denver zoning code.

And we believe that it is.

Yeah, we have a little uh kitchen in the back behind committee.

Um sorry, lost my place in the script.

We have three individuals signed up to speak this evening.

First up, we have James Warren virtually.

Can you all hear me?

We can.

Okay, my camera is not working, but we will make do with what we got.

Go ahead.

The floor is yours.

Uh oh, hello.

Is he having a hard time, producer?

Do we want to go to David Roy Ball and then we'll come back to James?

Yes.

Okay, okay.

We'll come back to you, James.

David Roy Ball.

Good evening, members of the council.

It's so exciting to hear.

This is the heart of the Villa Park neighborhood.

I pass by it every day.

Um man, I grew up in this area a long time.

And first problem, I don't see nobody complaining about how high it is because you really don't get a mountain view there because it kind of goes up a hill, so there's really no mountains being blocked.

Uh very dangerous street on Knox.

I'm hoping it'll expand it.

But I've seen a lot of people speeding through there, and there's one side to park.

But my advice is if you have a car, do not park on Knox because for some strange reason you will wake up and your car will be total and somehow they drove off.

So if you park on those streets, I've seen it all the time.

Your car will get hit, and I'm hoping it will widen it.

Um there seems to be a big bus line at one time.

The 10 bus used to go from Cold Springs to uh I think Aurora passing through there.

So this is a huge bus line.

So I'm hope hoping that it'll expand the hours.

And one thing uh about those alleys when I grew up, all the alleys in our area were all dirt.

And um, I believe in activating alleys, especially in West Denver.

And um I drive through the alleys all the time, junking and when I used to do scooters, because my my dad uh he passed away in alley in a secluded alley.

So I feel if we could activate the alley, if this will activate the alley, open the street.

I'm all for it.

And um, yeah, just if there's a way to just keep those lights in the alleys, people passing through, driving through, so we don't find nobody dead.

And um, there's been a lot of shootings at right there on the corner.

So I'm hoping that this activates it brings more light.

Uh my friend, he's working for scooters, he works at the liquor store.

Big problem with shoplifting.

But at the same time, I hope it'll strengthen the economy and bring more businesses.

So I'm pretty excited for it, and I'm support for it.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Next up, we have James Warren.

Is your virtual fixed yet?

Your audio.

You tell me.

Yep, I can now go ahead.

All right, thanks.

Uh hey everybody.

My name's James Warren.

Uh, I live with my partner and our three guinea pigs at 10th and Newton here in Villa Park.

Uh, I want to speak to uh briefly in support of the rezoning of 992.

Um, we love this neighborhood.

We've lived here for years.

Uh, as people who don't own a car, it's really amazing having access to the Lakewood uh dry gulch.

We can ride our bikes in and around the city.

Um, and then accessing the W line as well as the nine and the one bus lines, make our lives just tremendously easier.

Um, one way our neighborhood could be a little bit better, however, is access to more walkable destinations.

Um, with the exception of a few retail spaces along state and federal highways that border our neighborhood.

Uh, we and many people in our neighborhood don't really have any access to retail spaces except for the liquor store and the mini mart that you saw in the presentation there.

Don't get me wrong.

Uh I go to that liquor store and minimart all the time.

Uh it's crazy what they have at the mini mart.

One time we were like, do they I wonder if they have capers and they had capers at the mini mart.

Anyway, it was great.

Um, but we go there all the time, and it would just be great to have more options in our uh neighborhood to uh access by walking or by biking, uh specifically along 10th.

And so that's what really excites me about the 992 Knox presentation.

Um, of course, I'm really excited about the additional housing that it's gonna provide, especially those two uh permanently affordable units.

Um, I think we need this type of gentle density in our neighborhood, but that small retail space has so much potential for benefiting our neighborhood.

Um, and it's kind of regardless of what moves in.

Uh, you know, I'd love for it to be like a coffee shop or something, but no matter what it is, the space is gonna be a new resource for our neighborhood, uh helping take people take trips by foot instead of by car, uh, which is great for the planet and great for just you know liveability of a neighborhood.

Um, of course, that also goes for riders of the W9 and one lines like myself, uh, since it's so closely situated to Knox Station.

Um, that's why it's so in line with the West Area plan, and that's why I really hope you vote for this rezoning.

Uh and what a better week to approve of this new space than uh for a future small business than during small business week, which we just talked about earlier in the council meeting.

So thanks.

I really appreciate all the hard hard work you all are doing here, and uh that's all I got.

Thanks, James.

I love your earrings.

Yeah, I always think those are uh next up.

We have Jesse Paris virtually.

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

My name is Jessica LaShawn Paris and I'm representing for Black Star Action Movement for Self-Defense, Positive Action Commercial Social Change, as well as the Unity Party of Colorado, the Northeast Denver Residence Council or North Park Hill Coalition now, frontline black news, Shabaca's black experience enhance, the revolutionary agenda.

And I am a candidate on the ballot for House District 8, House of Representatives for the state of Colorado on the ballot under the Unity Party, and I reside at the Roach and Bedbug Infested Legacy Loss in Darrell Watson's district of District 9, fine, district nine historical black district of five points.

This is more gentrification as usual.

This is gonna complete the gentrification that you have done on the west side.

This will be the sign cell and deliberate that um as a native of over 30 years.

I have seen my city drastically change.

I do not recognize it.

There's newcomers here that are not um akin to culture of these neighborhoods or what um existed prior to their arrival.

So with that being said, they don't know what is best for the neighborhood that they are now residing in, and now they seem to think that they can tell us what's good for us.

Well, as a Denver native, I say no.

I want to know exactly what AMI level we're talking about, because you're talking about missing middle and all it is.

I want to know the numbers, the facts, and the figures.

What AMI level is this affordable housing going to be at?

Has there been an affordable uh affordability study done?

Well, it looks like y'all try to cover that with Ness.

Has there been a traffic study done?

Because as um David Waterball said previous to me, that stretch of notch is hor Knox Court is horrible.

That stretch of 10th Avenue is horrible.

There's all kinds of hit and runs that go on on a nightly basis over there.

What are you gonna do about parking?

Parking is already limited over there.

Oh, I think you just think everybody's just gonna leave their cars at home and and bike and catch the train and ride the bus.

Not everybody wants to get on a rough tough and dangerous.

Nobody, not everybody wants to navigate these crazy Denver streets.

So, what are you gonna do about that?

How many units are we talking about?

It is the people that actually have called this neighborhood historically home, gonna actually be able to afford to live in said uh property that's being rezoned.

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

We don't need no more unattended consequences from this current Denver City Council.

When you sign stamp and deliver these gentrifications in a nice package.

Thank you.

That is the last of our speakers.

Council's sorry, questions from members of council on Council Bill 0345.

Councilman Swayer.

Torres, do you want to go first since it's your district?

Go ahead.

Are you sure?

Okay, thanks.

Um Tony, I just have one question.

I'm very confused about the main street choice for this.

Um understand why zoning, why like what this looks like.

Um, but I don't know that I have ever seen a single parcel zone for main street, right?

Because the the whole point of main street zoning is to have it go along a street that then creates a main street feel.

So I I guess I'm just um a little concerned with that choice of zoning because while the building forms that can be built on it um using the zoning and all the things match, you know, reasonably with uh what all of our um uh what all of our land use plans say.

I keep getting hung up on the main street part.

Yeah, this is a great question.

Very glad you asked it.

So I will point out that I personally have at least done one other rezoning that was a single property to main street.

Sometime last year, council district won, right around 32nd in Irving.

And the reason we did it there was because it was a single small property that at the rear was a historic district.

And the main street districts actually require buildings to have sort of zero foot setbacks, so it pushes buildings closer to the street.

They can't get pushed closer to those smaller low scale districts.

So at this location, like ultimately it's up to the applicant to request the district.

But my understanding is that their request was to achieve the a very similar outcome where like those buildings will have to be pushed closer to the corner of 10th and Knox, which pushes them a little farther away from the low scale residential that's on either side of them.

Um but you're right, it sort of achieves similar outcomes of a mixed use district, um, but it does sort of require that zero foot setback instead of more wiggle room to push buildings back.

Okay, so if this were like in the suburban context, we would have the ability to do what we wanted to do because those like suburban contexts have the ability to have those zero foot setbacks all the way across the front.

We did this on Leedsdale when we rezoned after the near Southeast Area plan, which is why I'm thinking about that one.

But um, there is no equivalent in the urban edge context question mark.

So this is the urban edge context.

Yeah, that's why in this district.

Yeah.

Um within the urban edge district is a little different than the suburban, but this is a good, we believe this is a good outcome for pushing those buildings to the zero foot setback to say like you can do the commercial, you can do the residential, but let's achieve some strong urbanism by pushing them up towards Knox and away from the low-scale single family.

Okay, yeah, like what I was thinking was like an SMX3 SMX 2X, 2A, etc.

Um, all have what you're trying to accomplish here.

Yeah, um, but it's the suburban context.

So with this being the urban edge context, I think my question is is the main street zone district the only zone district in urban edge that achieves the goal of pushing the building to the front in the zero setbacks.

I mean, not necessarily it could be achieved through a mixed-use district.

I think this provides both the community and anyone concerned with buildings being pushed farther back.

This provides them some assurance that those buildings will be at the corner of 10th and Knox and not necessarily pushed to the back of the property.

Um ultimately, like, could it be achieved through an EMX district?

Sure, but that gives the developer the potential to say we're not gonna do a zero foot setback, we might do a five-foot or a ten-foot setback, and then those buildings end up a little farther away from the street frontage.

Okay, what is blueprint say about the main street zone district um in terms of like single one-offs?

I mean, I understand functionally why this applicant chose the main street zone district based on what we're talking about here, but I'm curious what the actual guidance for main street zone district is.

Yeah, so blueprint doesn't really describe the main street district in itself.

It describes the future place, which we then try to find a district that sort of aligns with that future place.

Um, and in that context, like it does call it a local corridor where it does say buildings should have a distinctly linear linear orientation along the street, and that we should have active street frontages.

And so I think from the applicant's perspective and our perspective, that Main Street District does achieve a lot of that in a really good way.

Thank you so much.

I actually have questions for the applicant or the applicant's representative.

Hi.

Can you introduce yourself real quick?

Yeah.

Uh Niles Emmerich, and I maintain a residence at 1740 West 40th Avenue.

I split my time out of the country and here in Denver as well.

Okay, thank you, Niles.

Can you tell me a little bit about I feel like we've we started talking about this like several years ago?

Um where are you at in terms of what the project will look like?

Yeah, so we have a preliminary site plan right now that would be a small commercial building on the corner, it'd be about 950 square feet, and then it would be flanked by town homes, both along Knox and along 10th, and then there would be some additional town homes in the back of the lot.

So it's set over four or maybe five buildings, depending on how it all plays out.

So the intent is not to have like a bit one big massive structure there, but to break it up, there would be walkways in between each of those buildings as well, as well as a patio next to the commercial space on the corner, so that that can also be some outdoor space that the community can use.

How many residential units?

Right now we're modeling 15.

Okay.

Um what is the um the covenant requires a certain amount of those to be portable?

I think it's a two right now.

How do those compare in terms of what kind of unit is it compared to all of the other ones that you're building?

So we don't have all the units mapped out yet.

We just have kind of rough sizes right now.

So 70% AMI for uh rent or 90% AMI for sale is what they would be.

And I think I've asked this before, um, Jonathan.

I think I've asked you before.

How do you determine of the mix that you end up seeing if they don't have it provided it yet?

Um, which of the units will be affordable in that in that build.

Hi everybody, I'm John Kalarelli with the Department of Housing Stability.

So the requirement, as it's written right now, says that the units would have to be proportional to the unit mix of the market rate units.

I is that the question you're asking about bedroom counts.

Yeah.

Although we've said that if they decide to provide more than 50% of the 15 units as rental units, but they decide to provide the affordable units as ownership units, then we'll be a little bit less strict about the unit mix requirement if they'd be willing to do that.

Interesting.

Okay, thank you so much.

Umiles, in your planning, what impact did the parking minimum change that Denver did change at all your your plan or did it?

Yeah, so we built out plans for both what the old parking requirement was and then also no parking.

Um so it didn't it didn't really change what we plan to do with the site other than parking.

So I think we will still have some parking on site, but not every unit will have parking.

Um there are six parking spaces along 10th, um, and then you have the bus and you have the light rail.

So we think that that's gonna be a good balance.

So I think it's probably gonna be four or five units that will have parking, and then we'll use the street parking for the commercial space on the corner and then foot traffic as well.

And we'll have bike parking too.

Okay, that's helpful.

Um, and then talk to me a little bit about traffic flow for that parking.

Are they um street accessing or is it all alley?

The all alley access.

So the current curb cut will go away.

Okay.

Um for neighbors that live, say across the alley from what you're building, what is what are they gonna have directly across from them?

Um is it gonna be more of the drive space or um like building structure?

So there would be so there is a setback from the alley that's required.

Um there would be the side of one residential unit that would face 10th, and then the side would be on the alley.

There would be the drive aisle where come some cars would come in, and then there would be um a space for trash cans on the backside of the lot.

Okay, great.

Um, and then finally talk to me about um neighborhood engagement, neighbor engagement.

What does that look like?

I have a whole list of going back to 2016 when we started engaging with the neighbors.

Um we when we acquired this property, we really wanted to have the neighborhood input.

Um, I've served on ROs in Denver, and so I've seen the process, and so I really wanted to start there.

So we started that process um engaging with neighbors, going to the Villa Park Neighborhood Association meetings, understanding what the desires of the neighborhood were, and then the West Area plan started.

So we were engaging with that.

We participated, really hearing from the neighbors during that process that got paused during COVID.

So that kind of put everything on the skids, and we took a step back until things re-engaged there.

And then when things re-engage and that moved through, we started the process again, and then there was the moratorium on rezonings so that we could go back and look at you know how was the West Area plan being implemented.

And during that time, we we used that opportunity to go and door knock all the neighbors as well in two block radius around.

So it was me personally going around knocking and leaving flyers in both English and Spanish to let people know what we were hoping to do.

Um continued to engage with your office as well, and then we started the process in the middle of last year after we worked through uh negotiated alternative with host.

Okay.

All right, thank you.

Those were my questions.

Thank you.

Thank you, Madam Chair.

Uh, you mentioned that some of the units would be for sale and some would be for rent.

Was that just for the two affordable um units, or was that kind of a mix of all the units that you're planning?

It'll be a mix of all.

So yeah, it'll somewhere around half and half is what we're looking at right now.

Um, and so the determination from host is if more of them are for sale, um, then the two units that would be affordable affordable would be affordable for sale units, and if more of them are for rent, then the two affordable units would be for rent.

Okay, thank you.

That's actually really cool.

Thanks.

Thank you, Madam President.

Thank you.

Councilman Surrey, do you have any other last questions?

All right.

See no other members in the queue.

The public hearing is closed.

Comments by members of council on Council Bill 0345.

Councilman Tarth.

Thank you so much.

Um, I appreciate your questions.

Um, one of the things that I'll say around that is this is a really unique intersection, especially in the plan guidance.

Um I think probably half of our body will remember.

We rejected a rezoning one block west of here.

Um, it was also in blueprint as commun a local corridor.

Um we rejected it because that proposal never engaged the vision of what the neighborhood had designated this like two-block area along 10th Avenue to really deliver something different for uh Villa Park.

Like James said in the comments.

Um, if you're looking for something commercial in Villa Park, you are only on federal, you are only on Sheridan.

Um, there is nothing commercial in the interior except for this node.

This is the only node where we have we've got a mini mart, uh, our local convenience store and the liquor store run by the same family.

They're known, they're like familiar people to residents.

Um the other uh locations of this intersection are homes.

This one was like a double, maybe even a triple property.

Umed, um, I remember Roger was the um homeowner, bless you, a long time ago, who retired from coors, he had worked there his whole life, like um and but it's a huge property, uh, which is rare.

Um, and so it does present, I think, a different opportunity.

Um, why I'm okay with the main street versus the MX designation is I think the people on the other side of the alley are legitimately like um how can we push it up a little bit further away from our homes for the density and okay with it being a little closer to the um uh to the sidewalk to that frontage right because it's gonna be activated and not just a front door, but much more like um you know, some retail version there.

And you know, like in my mind, I'm thinking um the El Salvadorian papusa truck that's always across the street, can actually have a retail shop, you know.

I mean, something like that that really makes sense for um the Villa Park neighborhood um feels uh pretty exciting um to be honest, and so um rather than it be a single family home, which could be built there right now, two and a half stories could be built there right now.

We're talking about three stories, um uh 15 units and retail.

It is transformational for this intersection.

Um, and and something that I think shows I think some of the vision uh that this neighborhood wanted in the West area plan.

I will also say you heard um uh Tony mention they are um not using height incentive, right?

They're not going above three stories, but we still get affordability, and that's because of the memo that we intended area plan, and all of you remember when we did that.

Um, and it is absolutely because it's helping us ensure that we're not displacing unnecessarily residents who want to stay in Villa Park.

Um, so the affordability that they're attaching to this covenant 99 years helps us meet that particular goal, and I'm really grateful working with CPD in getting that memo in place, um, really is delivering better work product and better housing product for uh the West area neighborhoods.

Um I'm I'm supportive of this.

Um I hope you'll be supportive today as well, and look forward to seeing um uh that transformative intersection really take shape.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Um just want to concur.

I worked on with Councilwoman Torres on the um amendment to the West Area Plan.

It had been part of my council district, and to stop redevelopments coming or um following the plan guidance without an affordable um attachment to it.

So appreciate the developer you reaching out.

You're my constituent.

I connected to a councilwoman Torres and appreciate you actually following through with that.

I know that that was probably something that was not on your radar when we were working on the West Area Plan, but it's so important because one of the unintended consequences of some of our plan guidance is to perpetuate gentrification and displacement, and that's not what we intended with the West Area Plan.

So appreciate also working with CPD on that, and I'll be supporting this as well tonight.

Seeing no other um council members in the queue, Madam Secretary, we'll call on Council Bill 0345.

Council members Gilmore.

I'll be the same.

Hi Gilmore.

Flynn, Lynn.

All right, Gonzalez Cutier.

Heinz.

All right.

Cashman.

Aye.

Lewis.

All right.

Romero Campbell.

Aye.

Sawyer.

Aye.

What is Watson?

All right.

Madam President Sandable.

Aye.

Madam Secretary, close the voting, announce the result.

Ten ayes.

Ten ayes, Council Bill 0345 has passed.

Councilmember Heinz, will you please put Council Bill 0346 changing the zoning classification for 1453 North Wabosh Street in East Colfax on the floor for final passage?

Thank you, Madam President.

I move the Council Bill 26 Statute 0346, be placed upon final consideration and do pass.

The required public hearing for Council Bill 0346 is open.

May we please have the staff report?

Absolutely.

Can you give me again?

Tony Lechuga with community planning and development.

Um, and this is similar, this is a private property owner uh requesting to change the zoning on their property at 1453 North Wabash Street.

Um so let's dive into what exactly this property owner's requesting.

Um so this one is a little unique.

Um so you can see the property outlined in red on the map here.

It's just south of Colfax along Wabash Street.

Um, the property that would be rezoned is about 6,000 square feet.

Um the property owner is requesting this rezoning to use this property as part of the larger parcel that contains an auto-body shop.

And we'll get a little bit more into the specifics here as we move along.

But the overall story is that this property and the property immediately to the north are actually one parcel, despite having two different zone districts.

Um the property owner, notably not a land use expert such as myself, but just an auto body shop owner uh working uh to provide a service for the community, uh, has not realized that they had split zoning and has been utilizing both pieces of property that are part of the same parcel uh as part of the auto body shop uh for over 20 years now.

So uh this property owner is requesting to take this portion of the property that has ETUB, which stands for Urban Edge, two unit, and B dictates the minimum loss size, and they are looking to match the zoning of the rest of their property immediately to the north, which is Urban Edge, Main Street, up to three stories.

So this property's located um all the way across the city from where we just were.

So it's located in district eight, represented by council member Lewis.

And it's located at SmackDab in the middle of the East Colfax neighborhood.

As you're all aware, this is one of the locations where we are building out the city's first BRT corridor, where we do believe higher density zone districts are appropriate to help be transit supportive.

You'll see to the south is Verbena Park, to the northwest is McNichols Park and Ashley Elementary.

A lot of the neighborhood is lower scale residential, which is supported by the zoning map here.

So you can see the dark red in the middle is the E District, the EMS district associated with Colfax, and the majority of the commercial properties that exist along Colfax.

You'll see this is part of that ETUB buffer where we see a slight uh decrease in residential density from that EMS to the TU, and then farther to the south, we get into the single unit districts where we see only single family homes.

I do want to point out that the property outlined in red matches the depth of the EMS district immediately to the west and generally matches the depth of it to the east.

It has a slightly deeper depth.

But overall, this request would put that main street district at a similar depth to what we see for other commercial properties along the Colfax corridor.

Again, the proposed MS district is meant to produce those sort of like active pedestrian-scaled commercial streets with strong active public edges with a high degree of walkability.

And the very specific intent is for it to be located on local or collector streets or embedded in mixed-use areas, similar to the last one, except for this is part of a much larger mixed use area.

In terms of allowed building forms, this would allow for the townhouse, the drive-thru, and the shopfront building forms.

As shown on the uh on this one here, it is not within a quarter mile of a rapid transit stop, so it still would allow for those drive-through businesses, as does the rest of the East Colfax Corridor where the DO8 is not mapped.

Similar to that last presentation, I want to highlight that this would produce an MS district adjacent to a TU district to the south, which means that that TU district is a protected district.

So once again, we would have stronger design standards built into this district in order to ensure that there are bigger setbacks as well as, as I pointed out in the last one, those upper story setbacks.

So again, we have stronger setbacks, then you can rise to 27 feet.

Anything beyond that has to have an even deeper setback to protect access to that two-unit district to the south.

In terms of land use, you can see it is identified because it's one parcel, it is identified as part of the industrial use with the property to the north, because it's all one property, two zone districts.

It's adjacent to a diversity of uses, which we anticip which is uh uh part of the Colfax fabric.

Um so immediately to the east, that property that's listed as commercial retail is actually a former motel that's currently being converted into multi-unit residential.

The multi-unit residential across the alley immediately to the west is also a former motel that has been converted into live work spaces for artists.

Um this would match that same sort of depth of commercial properties that we see uh before you get into the lower scale.

And I'll note you can see immediately to the south, despite the TU zoning, most of the block is actually low-scale single unit residential.

So those protected district standards are really important for making sure that those properties feel like they uh are not crowded by a three-story building that could potentially get built under this zoning.

Here's a couple of pictures of the property itself.

So on the top, you can see the active um auto-body shop that has been there for many years.

Um, the bottom picture shows that sort of vacant 6,000 square-ish foot lot.

Um, if you go back as far as Google Street View will allow you to go, it looks like this.

There hasn't been a home on that property this century.

Um, and notably the Auto Body Shop has been using that property for the storage of vehicles or equipment for the past 20 plus years as well.

All right, let's talk a little bit about process.

Um, similar to the last one.

This one had informational notice back in January, it went to planning board in the middle of uh at the beginning of March, and we're here for our final city council public hearing.

Um we have received no letters from applicable ROs in the area.

We have received two letters.

One letter uh was in support, that came from the FACS partnership, um, a noted nonprofit that functions along the East Colfax corridor that noted it would support a local business that has been there for a long time, and that the EMS3 would support the commercial context of our plan guidance, which we'll get into in a second.

And then we had one letter in opposition that was from a neighbor who is concerned about the smell of paint and the potential for the expanding business.

I want to note that it had its planning board hearing on in in March, I'm sorry, that should say March 4th, not March 24th.

They voted unanimously to recommend approval.

And some of the key points that they brought up were the plan consistency, and they also were very keen to note the appropriateness of this property as part of a legislative rezoning if we had implemented legislative rezonings with our first NPI plans.

All right, let's dive into the review criteria.

So in case you just joined us, we are staff, planning board, and council are mandated to consider three review criteria when determining the appropriateness of a request.

The first of which is consistency with adopted plans.

We'll start with comprehensive plan, which is the city's citywide narrative goals for 2040.

And we believe this would create some of our equitable, affordable, and inclusive goals because the new zone district could offer a mix of housing types and services for a diverse population.

It could encourage quality infill development that is consistent with the surrounding neighborhood and could increase the potential for new neighborhood amenities.

It could also allow for a neighborhood serving business to continue to grow.

Infill refers to those pieces of land where we see underutilized pieces of land that could support more development.

And it would focus growth by transit stations along high and medium capacity corridors, as noted with the Colfax BRT coming soon.

Now we'll turn to Blueprint Denver, which is the city's citywide land use plan adopted back in 2019.

In terms of future neighborhood contexts, the entire area is noted as being urban edge.

So again, while these are predominantly residential, there is some small scale multi-unit residential embedded throughout, and commercial and mixed use development should be focused along main corridors, such as Colfax, which you can see on this map is noted as a main street arterial.

The future place of this is community uh community corridor, which is noted for having a diversity of uses, whether those be office, commercial, residential, retail, a mix of buildings that are both large and small in scale, but heights generally up to five stories.

And the applicant is asking for an EMS3 district, which we believe aligns with the recommendations for both the neighborhood context and the future place.

In terms of growth, this is actually one of the targeted areas for more intense growth.

It's noted as a community centers centers and corridors growth area, where we anticipate 25% of new housing growth, 20% of new employment.

The EMS 3 district compared to the existing ETUB could allow for that higher intensity growth of housing or employment along this parcel facing Colfax.

And in terms of our Blueprint Denver strategies, we wanted to note that we are called on to use zoning and land use to encourage higher density mixed use development in transit ridge areas, including community corridors where transit priority streets are planned.

And we believe that the EMS 3 helps us achieve this policy and associated strategy.

But it is large enough to continue to support some neighborhoods serving retail over time.

It would also potentially increase access to jobs and amenities, as it would allow for a more diverse set of businesses to locate on a parcel.

In terms of the city's climate goals, the EMS 3 district allows for mixed-use zoning near bus rapid transit.

That type of zoning is typically more dense and reducing auto dependency by locating it near transit.

We also know that greater density is associated with better energy efficiency.

Now let's turn to the East Area Plan.

One of the city's first neighborhood plans that was adopted back in 2020.

It provides more refined guidance than Blueprint Denver.

But as I noted in the last presentation, it is customary for us to update Blueprint after the adoption of a neighborhood plan.

And so for this one, again, the future neighborhood and place guidance is the same as Blueprint Denver.

However, I apologize for the typo there.

The East area plan has more specific height guidance.

And it does say that this site could potentially go up to five stories.

But again, the applicant is not requesting that.

They are requesting to simply match the existing zoning that they have on the remainder of the parcel at EMS 3.

That's the first criteria.

Moving into the second public interest, we do believe that this would be in the public interest through implementing our plans to build a more neighborhood scale, walkable, mixed use area near transit.

We also believe that it's in the public interest by allowing support of existing businesses that have been there for a long time.

And then the final review criteria is is this consistent with the neighborhood context, zone district purpose, and intent statements as written into the Denver zoning code?

And we believe that it is because again, this calls for commercial areas that are embedded in residential areas, multi-unit that can be embedded in residential areas.

And while it typically calls for low scale in the urban edge context, um some mid-rise commercial and mixed-use structures can be located at very specific nodes.

Um most of Colfax is a node.

All right.

Thank you so much, Tony.

We have one individual signed up to speak this evening.

Jesse Paris, go ahead, Jesse?

Yes, good evening, members of council 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 Basket Commercial Social Change, as well as the Unity Party of Colorado, the Northeast Denver Residence Council or North Park Hill Coalition.

From Line Black News, Sabacus Black Express enhanced the revolutionary agenda.

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

The election is in November.

And I was not at the roach in bed bug and infested.

Legacy laws.

Similar to the other one, but not really similar.

Because this is a um private owner that is looking to a spawn on what they currently have.

So no, this is not the same thing.

What are they planning on building here or doing with this?

Are they just gonna build an extension to the auto body or what?

So that's all I would like to know.

I'll see y'all on the next one.

Thank you.

Do we have questions from members of council on Council Bill 0346?

Councilmember Heinz?

Thank you, Mr.

President.

Mr.

Lachuga, how does it how is it possible that one plot can have multiple zoning attached to it?

Like, I mean, like you know, computer science review, I'm thinking about how would I associate zoning?

I would associate with a plot ID.

So, like how does that work?

That's a fantastic question, Councilman Hines.

I think one that many residents and staff ask ourselves.

I think it's that um land use regulations are complex, they change often over time.

Um so my understanding is that this home actually that there did actually use to be a home on this property many years ago.

Um, you know, we're not entirely sure when that home was demolished, but it's at least 20 to 25 years ago.

Um so presumably at the time that the Denver zoning code was adopted, that property had a zoning that was associated with a single family home.

And so when we adopted the Denver zoning code, we tried to match existing zoning for what was there before.

Um and so our assumption is that it retained a zoning that was associated with the single family home that used to be there.

Um, and then over time, like as the property owner, you know, bought that parcel next to them that was vacant, uh, it was consolidated as one tax parcel, uh, but still retained the split zoning over time.

That is very possible to have.

So maybe that there were two parcels and then it was combined legally into one.

That's what it seems like over time.

Okay, yeah.

All right, I I can see that.

Um how did you discover this anomaly?

Did the owner say, hey, wait a minute, I want to do something in the can or yeah, another good question.

So uh as I noted, yeah, I hope so.

As I noted in the presentation, um, the property owner has been using it in this fashion for 20 plus years.

Um I'm not sure the circumstances under which this happened, but they did receive a zoning violation from our department.

And through that process, the property owner learned a lot about zoning, has learned that despite it being one tax parcel on which they pay a single tax bill, they do have split zoning.

They have not been allowed to operate their business on there for the past 20 years, and so this is their attempt to remedy that zoning violation that they didn't realize was a violation.

At some point, I mean with that maybe 2010.

We adopted the new zoning code.

This just kind of became an artifact.

It wasn't like the owner said, hey, I'm gonna do something, you know, that will break the mind of a computer scientist at some point in the future.

Whatever.

So like is do they have to pay for this?

Or I mean, is this like a um CPD is fixing something that should never have happened in the first place?

They did pay for this.

Thank you, Madam President.

I will say that's that is why planning board noted that this would have been a good opportunity to incorporate it into a legislative rezoning because it would have been noted at the time of a legislative rezoning had we done one.

But yeah.

Councilman Lewis.

Um thank you.

Chris got one of my questions.

The second one is I'm just looking at the Google maps, and I'm just curious if for the applicant, if you all plan to like pave any of this in the future, or to fence any of this into the fencing that you currently have.

Yes, please.

And if you can introduce yourself, yeah.

My name is Jeremy Robidou.

Um yeah, so uh right now, it doesn't really show in the pictures, but uh we have a lot of containers and storage trailers just holding parts and stuff, and it doesn't look very nice, uh, not very appealing.

So um uh step one, get the zoning the same.

Um step two, um, finding out I need to do a zone lot amendment as well, so that'll be step two.

Then yes, that's my plan is to continue the fence, uh the rod iron fence that goes around the business property.

I'd like to continue that, you know, to the end of this other property.

Um, and then you eventually pave it, you know, make it nice.

Near bit of all those ugly storage containers.

Um, and then eventually what I'd like to do is just put up one storage container, and that's it.

And or not container, but more of a building at that point in time, but just one building, uh, just to hold parts and equipment and stuff like that, and just clean up the the whole lot.

Thank you.

That's my only question.

Yes, thank you.

Thank you.

Councilmember Cashman.

Yeah, thank you, Madam President.

Um Tony, what I assume by doing this, it it allows I'm trying to figure out what controls on future usage there are as far as um setbacks from from the uh neighbor closest in terms of setbacks.

Because right now the the fenced-in area doesn't include this new parcel.

You you said they're using it just for vehicle storage.

I'm wondering how close can somebody, whether it's uh the current owner or a future owner, uh how much can they build how close to the neighbors?

Yeah, so because that it that property immediately to the south is a protected district, any building would have to be at least 10 feet away from the property line there.

Does that help?

So uh and uh again, um what would be the the maximum height they could build on this property?

So the maximum height would be the three-story height, um, which would be somewhere in the staff report officially.

I don't want to say it wrong.

So I could it's uh goodness.

Sorry.

So the maximum height that they could build would be uh 45 feet if they were to build in the shop front building form.

But of course, because they have the protected district standard there, so building would have to be 10 feet set back, it could go up to 27 feet, and then it would have to be set back even more at that point.

The setback goes to 15 feet, and then it could rise to 45 feet.

So you have a 10 foot setback before they can start building.

Yes.

Then go to 27 feet.

Yes.

Then did you say 15 more foot feet from there?

Then it becomes a 50 feet.

Uh to the next level.

To the next 45 feet, which is the maximum.

All right, thank you very much.

Yeah.

Thank you, member.

Thank you.

Are there members in the queue?

Do you think I know my script right now?

Public hearing is closed.

Comments by members of council in bill 0346.

Councilmember Lewis, do you want to go?

Yeah.

Um we've got a lot of interesting rezonings in my district.

So I'm happy to hear that both um the planning board and CPD agree in the um and I am in support of this, um, which has been a pretty unique thing in our town lately in District 8 with these rezonings.

So happy to support.

That's it.

Thanks.

Thanks, Madam President.

Um, I this used to be my district.

I lost this section of East Colfax in rezoning or in um redistricting in 2023, but um I represented this area for four years and uh worked on the East Area Plan, and I will just say I'm sorry that we didn't know about this at the time because you really shouldn't have had to pay for this.

Yeah, that sucks.

I'm just glad we're getting through it also.

Okay.

No, I appreciate it.

Um, but I'm actually really surprised that we didn't find it when we did the overlay along Colfax.

Um, this particular parcel is outside of the DO8 nodes that we did all the way along the planned stops, which would be why we didn't run into it and weren't able to fix it during that legislative rezoning.

So again, sorry.

Um the history of the parcels along Colfax, particularly as you get further east, are really really interesting.

Uh, because so many of them are so shallow, they're they're almost undevelopable in order to um reach the development that you want uh that we want to see along that corridor, you have to actually assemble parcels, and when a parcel gets assembled, when two parcels are purchased by the same owner, it becomes one parcel under a theory that our assessor's office uses called assemblage, and what that means is that's how this parcel had split zoning on it.

It's because it was something else, and then when it was purchased many many years ago by the same owner, it it was assembled under the the assessor's office.

So um I am very supportive of this.

I apologize that we did not find this earlier so that you did not have to pay your thousand dollars for this because you shouldn't have had to.

Um, but I I do think this fits all the criteria.

I do think it achieves the goals in the East Area plan of assembling a lot of these parcels that move along so that in the future um they they could be developable because the vast majority of the lots are like 25 feet deep, which is just not enough to do anything other than a one-story building with a parking lot in front of it, which is what exists all the way along this area of Colfax now.

So super excited about this.

Thank you.

And again, I'm sorry that we didn't notice this earlier and fix it for you.

Thanks.

Thank you.

So as a person who always feels like I have like a history to tell besides council member Flynn.

Um called my council office when I was working for councilmember Espinosa about this exact property, and it was literally a zoning violation, and we dug into it and they were working on the East Area Plan, and I told Councilmember Espinosa there wasn't anything we could do.

I think people just come to us because I'm council district one, and so I think they don't like go down and figure out like find your council district.

So I get lots of rando like phone calls where I'm like, oh, I'm not your council district, but let me tell you a little bit of story about like land use because I happen to love land use.

And um, it was one of the first times where I learned about parcels having different zone districts on them, and I learned about zone lots.

That's the zone lot doesn't actually match the zone district.

Um I think I studied this parcel for probably like nine months and came to and then kept saying, Hey, I can't do anything for you, so pass it to another council district.

But um, councilwoman sorry, you weren't even elected yet.

It was your predecessor.

So I have lots of deep roots on this one, and I was when I saw it, I was like, ah, they're finally fixing it.

So I will absolutely 100% be supporting this as this is somewhat something that um I went down the rabbit hole and learned a whole bunch about zoning on this exact parcel.

That's a long, far long way away from Northwest Denver.

So I'm glad that to be here today supporting all of this.

So with that, I see no other speakers in the queue.

Madam Secretary, we'll call Councilmember.

I do Flynn, she's still here.

Flynn.

All right.

Heinz.

Hi.

Cashman.

Hi.

Lewis.

Aye.

Romero Campbell.

Aye.

Sawyer.

Hi.

Torres.

Hi.

Watson.

Hi.

Madam President Sandoval.

I Madam Secretary, close the voting and announce the results.

Ten ayes.

Ten ayes.

Council Bill 0346 has passed.

Councilmember Hines, will you please put Council Bill 0344 amending the Denver zoning code concerning approval periods for site development plans on the floor for final passage?

Thank you, Madam President.

I move that Council Bill 26-0344 be placed upon final consideration and do pass.

Thank you.

It has been moved and seconded.

May we please have the staff report?

Required public hearing for Council Bill 344 is open.

May we please have the staff report.

Good evening, Council President, members of council.

I'm Brad Buchanan.

I'm the executive director at Denver Community Planning and Development, bringing a language amendment uh to you to see evening for your consideration.

This is a an extension of the site development plan validity period proposal.

We will run over some uh of the overview and the specifics in the proposed change, run through the process that we've gone through the last several months, and then uh we will go through the uh review criteria and and our recommendation.

So uh just sort of a let's look at sort of a snapshot right now of where we are in time.

Uh we we all know that the the uh marketplace has slowed.

There's a number of reasons why that is.

Uh construction costs, obviously, higher interest rates, certainly higher interest rates than we were having three or four years ago, and interest rates drop close to three percent.

Um, but what we're seeing uh also are declining rents.

And the reason that we're seeing declining rents is that Denver has an oversupply of housing units right now.

Not something we have seen a lot in the last several decades.

Um currently the site development uh plan validity period is 30 months, and we're making a proposal to uh extend that for a group of these approved plans.

Um the reason is that there are a number of them that are at risk of expiring, and um we would lose a great number of residential units.

So a little bit on the numbers and the history of this.

This isn't just Denver, this is most U.S.

major cities saw a major spike sort of peaking in 2024.

That really goes to the interest rates.

At 3% interest rates, you can make a lot of things look good, and you can get a lot of things uh underwritten by lenders.

That same thing was going on in Denver.

Uh you can see that peak in 2022, uh 2021 and 2022, and uh those projects came online, and so those that large number of projects uh is what is created the oversupply we have and the drop in rents.

So um there's some good news in this uh, you know, for folks who have been struggling to make their rent payments with rising rent uh costs in in Denver and the entire metro area, really.

Um they have been dropping uh just over and during 2025, and these are January of 26 numbers.

They have continued to drop since then.

Uh the class A units, and this is sort of the newest buildings, those ones that were completed, you know, in in 24 and 25, are down five percent uh in their rent amounts.

Uh Class B 5.6.

And this incredibly interesting is the Class C units, and these are these are still uh high quality units, just older units are down over 11%.

Here's some interesting information we thought uh in terms of what we're seeing uh in in a number of marketplaces, but specifically I'll call your attention to the Denver graph, of course.

Is that the the older these older market rate units, these class C units are renting for less than our designated affordable units in Denver.

So for the first time in in a long time, we're seeing naturally occurring affordability happen in these higher uh AMIs, say 80 percent, 100%, 120 percent area median income numbers we're seeing naturally occurring rent.

This is a rare opportunity, and because we have a large number of projects that in the uh approved site development plan queue, we have the opportunity, uh unlike a lot of other major U.S.

cities that are fighting this to capture some of those projects, backfill the pipeline now before we see rent spike again, which it will.

We've seen this movie before in the next two or three years.

Um, and uh incredible opportunity, I think, for our city uh to be uh providing a more affordable housing price in the coming years compared to other cities who don't have the opportunity to take advantage of this moment in time.

With that, I will have Mr.

Chris Kleissner come up and present.

Good evening, Chris Gleisner, Community Planning and Development.

I'm our director for site design and neighborhood development, and you are stuck with me for the rest of the way through the presentation.

Um the proposal that we want to place in front of you today is a suggested extension for the period of validity for site development plans uh for an additional three years for those projects to be able to obtain building permits.

Uh, this would mean that any approved site development plan that was approved on or before uh December 31st, 2025 uh would receive that three year extension is the proposal.

Uh and again, as Brad mentioned, this would ensure that those projects that have spent the time and effort uh to proceed through the site development plan process uh would have uh longer longer period of activity to be able to achieve their building permits and actually construct.

Uh as Brad talked about, this is a pretty big opportunity.

We have approximately 22,600 residential units represented in that pipeline, 22,633.

Um, and so that that is a fairly large number.

Obviously, not all of those would come to fruition even with this, um, but anything we can do to sort of blunt that future impact will be a benefit.

Uh, obviously, the flip side is is that without this proposal, Denver could lose and will start to lose thousands of those new residential units that have achieved that approval uh in the current state.

Um, and again, if if these projects don't have more time to secure that financing, uh, we are at risk of losing them.

We're gonna walk through the process that we've been through.

Um, we've done a courtesy public review back in February.

Uh Planning Board reviewed this and recommended unanimous approval uh of this uh text amendment on March 18th.

Uh, we went to community planning and housing committee on March 24th uh and are here today in front of you for our public hearing.

Uh at the time of writing the staff report and sending the presentation, uh, we had received three letters of inquiry just seeking some clarification on this, as well as four letters of support.

One of those letters included eight different signatures, so quite a few people uh since this uh city council has received, I believe, another eight that I'm aware of uh letters of support for this proposal.

Going into our review criteria, uh, we'll be looking at consistency with adopted plans, furthering public health safety and welfare, and the uniform uniformity of district regulations and restrictions.

Starting with consistency with adopted plans, we have comprehensive plan 2040 and Blueprint Denver that we evaluate.

Uh, in this, we do think we're meeting our equitable, affordable, and inclusive goals uh by creating a greater mix of housing options in all of our districts across the city, uh, as well as ensuring our city policies uh, including the Denver Zoning Code, encourage uh every neighborhood to provide a complete range of those housing options.

Uh, we're also uh touching on our economically diverse and vibrant vision elements uh by making sure that we're facilitating the growth of diverse business sectors.

These are supported not only by those residential projects that we talked about, uh, but also by commercial projects that are also in this pipeline.

Uh and then looking at Blueprint Denver, uh, looking at our land use and building form recommendations.

Uh, we're working to ensure that the Denver zoning code continues to respond to the needs of the city while remaining modern and flexible, uh, as well as ensuring Denver and its neighborhoods have a vibrant and authentic retail and hospitality marketplace.

Uh again, those residential units will obviously support that, uh, but also commercial projects that would be a part of this will continue to support that.

Um, diving into health safety and welfare and uniformity of district regulations and restrictions.

Um, we do find that this will further our public health safety and welfare by providing additional opportunity for citizens of Denver and future businesses.

Uh, and this is a uniform approach to our district regulations across all projects uh subject to it.

Uh with that, community planning and development does recommend approval of the site development plan extension text amendment.

Thank you.

Thank you so much.

Appreciate that presentation.

We have five individuals signed up to speak this evening.

First up, we have Brian Fishman virtually.

Brian, if you accept the promotion.

Yeah, thank you very much for having me.

Uh Council members, uh, my name is Brian Fishman, uh, South Garfield Street, uh, Denver.

I'm here on behalf of uh Oliver Buchanan Group.

Uh, we're a Denver-based development firm focused on delivering thoughtfully designed mixed-use housing projects uh intended to strengthen the neighborhoods and support the city's long-term goals.

Uh, the most notable of which is the Denver Rock Rail Project.

Uh, we have an approved site development plan for a property that is adjacent to that site that includes both market rate and affordable housing units.

Uh I'd say the the additional time created by this amendment uh is critically important.

Um, as you all know and uh probably are tired of hearing from people like me.

We're operating in a very challenging environment right now.

Uh interest rates, construction costs, uh constrained capital markets, uh all represent very real obstacles.

And having this additional runway to assemble financing will help deliver those necessary housing units um, both responsibly and thoughtfully.

Um also wanted to just take a moment to uh sincerely thank Council President Sandoval, uh Brad Buchanan, Chris Gleisner, and the entire team at CPD for their work in bringing this forward.

Uh the foresight, collaboration, uh, and leadership uh have been absolutely invaluable.

Uh respectfully encourage uh city council to approve the amendment that's before you, and it will help keep all the housing projects moving forward and ultimately allow the city to deliver very much housing uh units of all kinds.

Um so thank you very much for your time and consideration.

Thank you.

Next up we have to Harrison.

Yes, last one tonight.

Yes, my name is Jessica Paris, and I'm representing for Black Star Action Movie for Self-Defense, Positive Action Committee for Social Change, as well as the Unity Party of Colorado, the North Park Hill Coalition, frontline black news, the revolutionary agenda, so I'm expensive.

And I am a candidate on the ballots once again for state house of representative for House District 8.

And I was not at the Roach and Bad Bug Infested Legacy Loss and Darrell Watson's district of District 9, the fine district nine, the historically black district of fire points.

Finally opposing me with something I can get behind.

Um this amendment is a good thing.

So it is a step in the right direction.

You're actually listening to me after all these years.

Um yes, affordability is a must in the mile high income city.

So anything the city can do to make that uh more uh feasible and uh a reality, the better.

So thank you for allowing me to speak.

Y'all have a good night.

Thank you.

Next up we have virtually Brad Farber.

Sorry, can you can you hear me?

We can hear you now.

Yep, yep.

Okay.

Uh, my name is Brad Farber, and uh I'm a developer uh based here in Denver.

Um thank you so much for the opportunity to speak tonight.

Um I'm here tonight in support of extending uh the validity period of the site development plan for three years.

Um I believe it's a practical targeted step that will help ensure um already entitled projects can move forward as market conditions stabilize.

Um as many of you know, the development environment has been very challenging over the last few years.

Um and um projects that were you know thoughtfully carefully planned, reviewed, and approved are now facing uh you know a difficult reality, you know, higher interest rates, construction costs, and tighter capital markets.

And I believe without this extension, many of these approved developments risk uh expiring and units never being built.

So uh losing many of these projects uh would mean losing significant housing supply.

And as you know, housing supply is critical for improving affordability as we're seeing in this current environment uh that we're in today.

Um the extension would preserve the momentum we have right now and allow these projects to move forward when the market allows.

I believe it's a common sense and balanced approach that addresses the city's long-term goals while addressing short-term economic realities.

Um I respectfully urge that you support the proposed extension, and I thank you for your time and consideration.

Thank you.

Thank you.

We have Dennis McGill Cody.

Dennis Dennis.

Thank you, sir.

And you um can you see me?

Not yet.

But we but we can hear you.

Well, I'll I'll go ahead and speak.

I something uh I think I'll try to get the video.

Yeah.

There we go.

Good evening.

And and thank you so much for the opportunity.

Um I'm gonna say a lot of the same things that Brian said and Brad.

Um but to introduce myself, uh, my name is Dennis McGillacudi, and I'm one of the owners of the parking lot at the corner of 17th in California, which is in District 10.

We've owned this property since 2019 with the intent to develop a significant and beautiful project on this uh parcel.

And last April we received the SDP approval for a 38-story 655,000 square foot mixed-use building with 273 hotel rooms and a hundred and fifty condominiums.

Um others have said, with a dramatic increase in construction costs and the significant constraints in the capital markets and the current low demand uh for uh for how for uh uh residential in downtown the that we've just not been able to move forward.

And so as uh Brad said, this is a very common sense uh approach that will allow those of us who've invested uh in our case millions of dollars to get this project uh finally to the point of approval.

Um that uh passing tonight's uh amendment would go a long way to create what I believe and a lot of other projects will just enhance the vibrancy and vitality of uh the downtown.

So for those reasons, I ask you uh to uh please adopt this amendment.

And thank you.

Thank you.

Next up we have Evan Curtis, uh good evening, Madam President, members of council.

My name is Evan Curtis of District 1, 3219 Stewart Street.

I'm a 19-year Denver resident and a Denver-based real estate developer with Rubesco properties.

I'm here tonight in support of ordinance two six zero three four four extending the validity period for approved site development plans.

This is a practical targeted change uh that reflects today's market realities.

Over the past several years, projects with fully vetted approved SDPs have faced delays driven by factors outside anyone's control.

Construction costs, finance disruptions, and supply chain constraints.

As a result, many entitled projects are at risk of expiring all at once, creating a looming supply cliff.

Allowing those approvals to lapse would force projects back through the review process, consuming city resources and more importantly, delaying the delivery of housing.

Those delays tighten supply and place additional upward pressure on rents.

Although rent growth is typically beneficial in my industry, creating it through artificial self-inflected delays only worsens Denver, Denver's cost of living challenges and the housing and affordable affordability crisis.

This council has been working hard to address.

Extending SDP validity period preserves the integrity of the city's planning process, aligns with the goals of Blueprint Denver and Comprehensive Plan 2040, and helps ensure that entitled projects can actually move forward timely as um conditions stabilize, excuse me.

I respectfully urge uh council to support ordinance two six zero three uh four four.

Thank you for your time and consideration.

Thank you so much.

That concludes our speakers.

Do we have questions from members of council on Council Bill 0344?

Councilman Alvides.

Thank you, Council President.

Um I do have one question um for CPD.

Does this affect the EHA at all and the projects that were in the queue before EJ?

This affects the smattering of both pre- and post-EHA projects.

It is agnostic as to whether or not you achieved the EHA uh deadline.

So does that mean it would extend projects that are won't have EHA applied to them?

It it will extend both.

It will extend projects that were that were in and approved pre-EHA as well as post-EHA.

I appreciate that.

Thank you.

And then this might be for Brad, maybe for yourself.

But seeing that we're still in a high interest rate environment, I'm trying to understand why we're cutting it off as at December 31st.

And why is it why how are we thinking about the time that it takes an SDP to expire in general?

If we're seeing a need to extend it here, maybe this is something that it's just very unpredictable.

It's a fantastic question.

I will tell you that there is no magic answer to that question.

We chose end of last year because that was very representative of a sample of projects that had been through the city's system at a time of significant change, both in the market uh as well as in our performance, right?

Like like CPD and other agencies were very behind in some of our development review response, right?

So a lot of these projects saw considerable delays um due to their do their review times uh as well as just consider uh consistently seeing uh market realities change and demand change.

So they had um quite a bit of uh quite a bit of change, I'll just say change again, quite a bit of change that they were dealing with all their all the way through their entitlement process.

Uh and so that seemed that that uh stuck out as a as a fair place to sort of cut that bright line so that we could also clearly communicate to our customers which plans would uh would be looking to receive this additional 36 months if it's approved by city council.

Um totally agreed that that we can't really see into the future.

I don't know what'll what'll happen or what'll transpire in three years.

Um nothing uh nothing that we've seen in the past indicates that the typical 30-month period that we've that we've traditionally had for site development plans is is not a reasonable timeline um but for the current conditions that we're dealing with, which are are fairly extraordinary.

Okay, I appreciate that.

And then my I'll say a comment later.

Thank you, Council President.

Councilmember Hank.

Thank you, Madam President.

Um Mr.

Quessner, um, since you you took a stab at Council Member Elvides' question, um, you said some are uh post-EHA, some are pre-EHA, but it isn't like someone got uh a plan approved 20 years ago and they go, oh, it's before December, so we're gonna dust it off and use it, right?

It is it is all all plan all site development plans approved prior to the end of last year, prior to the end of 2025, get an additional 36 months.

So if if you were if your site plan was approved uh 65 months ago, you have one month to get done.

If you if you just received an approval or if you just expired, uh right, like this this started to come to light in fall of last year, and we saw folks that were in you know October or November and were saying, Oh, I'm I'm expired, I don't have an extension that's allowable to me.

Those projects will will be sort of back to life, if you will.

Um, but it's it's only an additional 36 months from that original 30 month period of validity, right?

So, yeah, somebody that was 15 years ago, they're hopefully they built already.

Because this is a public hearing, I wanted to make sure that people didn't think that you know it was a plan approved back in 1960 and they're gonna, you know, raid back up to you know, different uh even zoning type or uh um zoning methodology ever, but anyway, so it's the right point to clarify.

Yeah, thank you.

Um producer is Mr.

McGill Cutti still on uh will you may I ask him a question?

Yeah, yeah.

All right.

Uh Mr.

Bigelicuddy, can you hear me?

I can now.

It took me just a while to push the right buttons.

Well, uh hopefully we're not pushing your buttons, we're just pushing the right buttons.

Um first of all, I want to thank you for your email that um that you sent on April 29th.

I actually responded to it uh because it it's because the properties in district 10.

Um and it remained in my drafts.

So I actually did not press sent, so I apologize.

I'm gonna ask the questions that I sent uh over the email that I was actually if I had been smart and actually pressed the button, um, not your buttons, but the button, then I wouldn't have had to ask this uh why.

But um just a question for you.

When did you submit your application originally?

I think um it took about a year and a half, and we got approved a year ago this past April.

So that would be 2022 probably.

So I don't have that in front of me on that.

Sure.

Perhaps about a year and a half of doing the plans that were required to and and negotiate with the uh uh the planning department.

Sure.

Do you would you uh imagine that it was probably before July 1st, 2022?

Probably.

Probably um and then um I guess the one other question that I so thank you for um uh oh um do you think that this extra time would be sufficient uh for you to break ground?

I know I'm asking you to bring out your crystal ball and predict the future, but um uh but uh you know just give your um your your I'm not gonna hold you to it, but um I I believe uh you know if the council would do a little bit longer to give people more flexibility, but we're certainly prepared to uh continue to pursue this project.

Uh my own experience is that these kind of economic cycles, even though this one's a very difficult one when you combine it with uh what happened with the pandemic and uh you know the office market uh being impacted in downtown Denver, it could take longer, but but for for example, our we've got uh uh essentially 18 months left under the original plus another 36.

So I'd be shocked if the cycle doesn't change and it will be in a position to do something within that time frame.

That'd be more than four years from now for four and change.

Okay.

Uh thank you, Mr.

McGillacati, and uh think, Madam President, I don't have any other questions.

Thank you.

Councilwoman Lewis, I thought Councilman Watson was in the queue out of there.

All right.

Quick question.

Um slide 10, I believe.

You all mentioned that without this proposal that we could Denver could lose thousands of new residential units that are needed to maintain.

How do you all arrive at that number?

Like what's the methodology that you all use to figure out that it's thousands of units?

Not gonna try to get this exactly perfect, but uh what we did was we went through all of our permitting records in our seller permit system, uh correlated all of the site development plan projects that had either not applied for building permits or not received building permits.

Uh, and then from that pool of projects, which I think was around 170 or 180 total projects, I'd have to double check my math on that.

Uh reviewed each project against the number of potential units that they were seeking to propose.

So that's as linear as I can make that.

I'll take it.

Thank you.

Um, and then the second question I had for you is um I'm curious if we generate money by not extending the three years.

Not ex like not making this change.

If there's additional dollars of people, I'm not sure I'm not saying hustle people, but I'm just curious.

Like if we don't do this, then folks might have to reapply and they pay the city a certain amount of money in order to re-up.

Correct.

If if if and when uh a site development plan or or really any application in our system expires, right?

Um those those folks in order to move that project, uh a similarly scaled project, a completely different project forward, would have to come in and start at the beginning, um, both for all of the technical fees um that were that were to be assessed at that point in time.

Um you may not have this as an answer because I'm just thinking of of this off the top of my head.

Did you all consider what that might be in terms of loss or potential and not loss, potential loss?

It's an interesting question.

No, we did not uh try to calculate what a potential loss of of future fees could be.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Um seeing no other questions, the public hearing is closed.

I usually go last, but if colleagues you don't mind if I go first is the council sponsor.

So I was looking at the um that they was sent around um for each council district.

So it looks like like the most council district that would be impacted is actually council district nine by this, and it would actually um end up if each if everything moved forward, right?

If we had a crystal ball, no one felt no project foul eight hundred eight thousand two hundred and thirty-one in my council district, there would be a total amount of five hundred and four units.

I don't see one council district that's not impacted by this proposal, and that was what was impilling to me to put this forward is I when Brad and I were talking about this, I said, can you show me the data?

Can you break it down?

And then he went to Chris Gleisner and um Sarah Schulwalter and said, can we break this down into like a tangible graph for data for city council members to see how this would actually impact their council district?

And then when I saw this these graphs, that was actually what was compelling for me for this change.

Because if we could just saying if there's lots of ifs in there, but if we could put 22,000 more units or 23,000 more units into Denver, I think I'm all about that.

So I think that affordable housing is an issue.

And what's fascinating for me is in Council District 9 and Council District 10, there and in Council District 5, we have part of EHA high um high cost areas.

Thank you for saying it that way because that other times it doesn't work out.

And right now in downtown, we actually want people to be building downtown.

And so with those high cost areas, we're not seeing EHA working as well.

We are in Council District 5, which is an anomaly.

In my time, but in my time here since COVID, I just have seen such a fluctuation of housing stock, and we kind of all knew that something was going to happen after COVID.

So this is kind of what I feel like is happened after COVID and after EHA.

So I would ask that all of you support this so that we could have the potential to add some of these units, which would be um affordable just because the way that they're entering into the market back into and any time that you send something back out to your um into the world, it's gonna add cost from engineering, it's gonna add cost from architects, and then it's gonna come in and then we're our the residents bear the cost of all of that.

So I hope that we can pass this tonight.

Um thank you, Brad, for having these conversations with me and being a thought partner on this and asking me to sponsor this.

You all know I love to nobody's secret that CPD is my favorite agency that I love working with.

The the zoning code is clear.

If I don't like something, how can I change it to get the outcomes that I want?

And I've really been working on that since I've been elected.

So thank you for um working all together.

Next up, Councilmember Hines.

Thank you, Madam President, and and thank you for your your comments.

You you have a the blessing and the curse of having to go last uh every time.

So thanks for going first.

Um, because this is something you have a lot of knowledge on.

Um Director McCann, thank you for the uh for the um briefing.

Um month ago, month and a half ago at this point, and uh and also thank you for uh for taking my calls uh when I had others reach out with questions and um and and frequently concerns.

I um uh so council member Elvidas talked about pre-EHA and in the briefing I mentioned that um uh the council had already um voted to extend uh the pre-EHA applications by 18 months and then voted again to extend the EHA applications by another 18 months.

Um and uh and I I promised that I would not dig up that I went on the record to say that I would not vote to advance these EHA um applications again.

Uh I'm gonna eat my words here in a minute, but um, but you know, like someone could go back to be as um as transparent as I as I can be.

Um Mr.

McGillicati's uh email, and he sent to all council and um uh maybe most of CPD too.

There are a lot of uh names on the on the email, um, I think is is uh is particularly intriguing to me because his um his STP, his site development plan, um is approved for a 38-story downtown, it's not Cherry Creek, it's not you know, it's like where we should have height and density.

Um 150 condominiums, and um that's very intriguing to me.

I didn't know that we had EHA inventory that is for sales stock.

Um and uh, you know, we've got the four seasons uh we've got Waldorf Astoria, maybe, and uh in Cherry Creek.

We've got Waldorf Astoria and Cherry Creek.

Um I don't represent Cherry Creek anymore.

Um, but you know, we don't have a lot of um in the rents.

Um we don't have a lot in and maybe one in Golden Triangle in the in the future um where we have hotel rooms on the lower floors and condos for sales stock and uh on the upper floors, and that's I I really I I hope that we get more condominium, you know, for sale uh units.

That is how people will have the opportunity to to unlock home ownership in our center city in District 10.

Um, you know, there are uh there are two slices of two neighborhoods in District 10 that have single family homes.

Other than that, 80% of my residents live in multifamily homes, and we've just been building so many apartments after apartments after apartments.

So how can I do the mental math to get around how I said I will not vote for another extension of EHA?

Uh Mr.

McGill Cutti's um demonstration of housing for sale and having that opportunity and having it pre-EHA.

That's part of the reason why I wanted to ask the question.

Um I think that's we we need more housing for sale.

We need more developers that will take the risk.

We meet need more legislators at the state level at risk.

But here we are.

So uh I'm willing to uh to say yes to another extension.

I hope that should we consider these again, we can finally put to rest things that are happening that were approved before July 1st, 2022.

So I won't say I'll for sure vote again.

I think I probably said something like it'll be very difficult for me to vote for another extension because I don't really deal in black and white, but it'll be very difficult for me to vote for another extension for uh site development plans that were submitted before July 1st, 2022.

So, but I'll be a yes tonight.

Thank you, Madam President.

Thank you.

Compliments layer.

Thank you, Madam President.

Um Brad, thank you and to the team for putting this together.

Um I think what is clear is that we have a housing crisis, and that we have a responsibility to actively do something about that housing housing crisis.

Um we have done that in a lot of different ways, the EHA I think being the most impactful.

Um, but there are a lot of different examples I can give over the last seven years that I've been with some of this class in office.

Um I I think that we have an extraordinary opportunity here.

And while it doesn't sit well with us because we want that affordability, um the that's not the way the market works, right?

Even the properties that are included here that are not deed restricted affordable or don't have deed restricted affordable units in them, um, add to the supply.

And that brings costs down.

So as we are, well, it brings the cost of housing down.

I'm not sure it brings the cost of the materials or the land or any of the other stuff that it takes to actually build it down.

Um that's our goal here, right?

And so um I think that this is a really easy way for us to partner with a development community in um in just holding steady on what the on the work that they've already done and what they have already invested that is gonna bring us the results that we want.

It's just that the market hasn't really sorted itself out right at the second for the financing to be available, and like we can we can wait for that.

We can wait for that, and we can wait for it in a way that um allows us to be good partners with our partners in the city, and that is something that I think is really important.

So really appreciate you guys coming up with um this as a potential option for how to move forward and preserve um literally thousands and thousands and thousands of units that we would otherwise lose that we would cost um the development community significantly more money, which would raise the cost of whatever it does end up getting built there.

Um this is this is the right thing to do as partners to our development community where we all have the goal of additional housing units in our city um right in front of us.

So I really I will be supportive of it tonight um and I really appreciate you guys putting all the work into this.

So thanks.

Councilmember Watson.

Uh thank you, Madam President.

Thank you so much for sponsoring this as well.

Thank you to CDP and the good work that you've done on this.

Um my question would have been around the rigor of the evaluation of kind of truly does this with this three-year window provide the flexibility needed in this schizophrenic economy that we're in, and most of it is um some of the uh supply chain impacts are you know derived um because of decisions that our government has made.

Um it's it's not naturally occurring um ups and downs and peaks of uh the financial sector.

Um so those decisions um are still ongoing.

However, winding that window, um, and as you look at the housing stock that's in um um council district nine uh and the cost um invested uh to provide that housing that's necessary.

I think this is essential.

Uh it's a smart step.

It's not a never-ending um timeline, it's uh a three-year timeline based on where you are at within where the developing development community was at in the process.

Um, and I look forward to leaning in with your team and others to kind of evaluate uh which one of these um developments, uh, at least in district nine are going to actually make the steps and get through that final financial stack uh to be able to provide homes for folks who want to live and work in a fine district nine.

So very smart, um very thoughtful.

Um absolutely will be supporting this.

So thank you so much.

Thanks, Madam President.

Thank you.

Councilman Albidaris.

Thank you, Council President.

Um thank you for sharing the spreadsheet.

I hadn't seen it and to see the impact that it will have on District 7 is a relief because it does feel like district 7 doesn't have a ton of empty space and land.

We do have all of the Broadway development area, but in general, so to see thousands of units eventually get built in district seven is really exciting.

And I just want to say, Brad, it's been really refreshing to talk to you about the issues and how you look at the data and how you think about the problems in a way that I can tell that you understand housing and that you're very passionate about it and you want what's best for our city.

And I haven't heard that before, so I just want to thank you so much for the thoughtfulness that you put into your work and actually getting and and to all of CPE that's working on this um to actually getting these units built because you're right, it's a beautiful thing that rent is going down.

That is a great thing for our city.

People are renegotiating their rents all across my district.

I recommend people when they're having problems that this is a time they can actually you know uh renegotiate their rent, and we need to keep that going as long as we can.

So thank you for both of your work on this, and I look forward to supporting.

Thank you, Council President.

Thank you.

See no other members in the queue, Madam Secretary.

We'll call on Council Bill 034 Council members Albidas.

Aye Flynn.

All right.

Gonzalez could sorry Heinz Cashman.

Aye.

Lewis.

Aye.

Romero Campbell.

Aye.

Aye.

Torres?

Aye.

Watson.

Aye.

Adam President Sandoval.

Aye.

Madam Secretary, close the voting and announce the results.

Ten ayes.

Ten ayes, Council Bill 0344 has passed.

On Monday, May 11, 2026, Council will hold a required public hearing on Council Bill 0486, approving a resolution requesting the renewal and continuation of the five points business improvement district for an additional 10-year period.

And on Monday, June 1st, 2026, Council will hold a required public hearing on Council Bill 0521, changing the zoning classification for 361-363 West Evans Avenue in Oberlin.

Any protest against Council Bill 0521 must be filed with the council offices no later than noon on Tuesday, May 26, 2026.

There being no further business before this body, this meeting is adjourned.