South Platte River Committee Discusses Soccer Stadium Rezoning and Agreements - November 12, 2025
South Platte River Committee Meeting - November 12, 2025
The South Platte River Committee of the Denver City Council met on November 12, 2025, to consider five action items related to the proposed Denver Summit FC soccer stadium at 709 South Delaware Street. The committee reviewed a rezoning request from CMX-16 to PUD G39 for a 6-acre site, along with amendments to Intergovernmental Agreements (IGAs), a stadium property agreement, and a capital budget appropriation. After extensive discussion, the committee voted to advance the rezoning to the full council and postponed the remaining four items to a future meeting.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Tony Lechuga (CPD) reported that as of the meeting, the city had received one letter of opposition (opposing the stadium as an unproductive use of the site) and 131 letters of support from neighbors and business owners, citing connectivity, activation of vacant land, and economic impact.
- A letter from the Community Benefits Agreement (CBA) organization, representing registered neighborhood organizations (ROs), was included in council materials but not read aloud. The CBA negotiating team was present but declined to comment when invited by Councilmember Alvidrez.
- Rob Cohen (Denver Summit FC owner) highlighted extensive community engagement: over 200 attendees at two town halls, a bilingual soccer clinic at Valverde Park with 130 kids, and 160 survey responses (40 in Spanish). Key community themes included transportation, jobs, and park connectivity.
Discussion Items
- Rezoning (Bill 25-1541): Tony Lechuga presented the request to rezone from CMX-16 to PUD G39, which would allow either a soccer stadium with customized rules (e.g., reduced setbacks, increased transparency, taller fencing, and special sign allowances) or development under existing CMX-16 standards if the stadium is not built. The PUD is based on the campus-entertainment district and aims to create a mixed-use, transit-oriented development. CPD staff determined the rezoning meets all eight review criteria (consistency with plans, public interest, etc.) and recommended approval. The Planning Board voted unanimously to recommend approval on October 15, 2025.
- IGA Amendments (Bills 25-1553 and 25-1850): Thora Walter (Finance) explained that the 2017 IGA amendment adds the stadium to eligible TIFF projects and designates the North Pedestrian Bridge as a regional project (allowing use of regional mill levies). The 2025 IGA amendment provides city funding for the North Pedestrian Bridge and updates the TIFF waterfall to a 90-10 split (90% to district/developer, 10% to city) after pre-existing obligations are met.
- Stadium Property Agreement (Bill 25-1552): Andrea Austin (team attorney) described the agreement as the mechanism to transfer $50 million from the city's Capital Improvement Fund to the Metropolitan District for on-site infrastructure, enabling property transfer and construction start in Q1 2026. Closing is targeted for year-end 2025, contingent on several steps including vacation of South Delaware Street and plat approval.
- Capital Budget Appropriation (Bill 25-1554): Thora Walter presented a $50 million appropriation from Elevate bond interest earnings for stadium site infrastructure. An additional $20 million for off-site improvements (Vanderbilt Park East/West, trails) will be appropriated in future budgets.
- Financial and Community Concerns: Council President Sandoval raised concerns about the vacation process, plat timeline, and lack of a finalized funding agreement showing specific allocations. Councilmember Parady questioned the economic impact study assumptions, noting stadium costs rose from $150-200 million to $300 million, and requested an updated analysis. Councilmember Alvidrez inquired about the fifth lane on Santa Fe, sustainability (all-electric stadium), and power grid impacts. Rob Cohen confirmed the stadium will be all-electric (likely second or third in the U.S.) and that Xcel Energy is addressing grid reliability.
Key Outcomes
- The committee voted to advance Bill 25-1541 (rezoning) to the full city council with a unanimous roll-call vote: Alvidrez (aye), Flynn (aye), Heinz (aye), Parady (aye), Sandoval (aye), Watson (aye), Torres (aye).
- The committee voted to postpone Bills 25-1553, 25-1850, 25-1552, and 25-1554 to the South Platte River Committee meeting on December 10, 2025. The vote was also unanimous: Alvidrez (aye), Watson (aye), Torres (aye), with other members concurring (Flynn, Heinz, Parady, Sandoval).
- Council President Sandoval requested that the city provide the completed funding agreement and updated cost estimates before the December 10 meeting. Councilmember Parady requested an updated economic impact analysis from the city economist.
- The rezoning will proceed to first reading on November 17, 2025, with final vote scheduled for December 15, 2025.
Meeting Transcript
Welcome back to this biweekly meeting of the South Platte River Committee of Denver City Council. Join us for the discussion as the South Platte River Committee starts now. Welcome everyone to the South Platte Committee. November 12th. I'm Councilwoman Torres. I represent West Denver District 3. And before we uh get into our action items, let's uh do council member introductions and I'll see if we have anyone online. Yes. If you're online, go ahead and introduce yourselves. Councilmember Sarah Parity, one of your city council members at large. Thank you. Thank you. Anyone else? Okay. I'll start to my right. Distinguished gentleman to your right. No, no. But not quite so distinguished, I think. Good afternoon, uh Councilman Flora Alvidres with Lucky District 7. Uh Kevin Flynn, South West Denver's District 2. Good afternoon. Diana Romero Campbell, Southeast Denver District 4. Uh, good afternoon, Councilmember Darrell Watson, fine, District 9. Thank you so much. You're all distinguished and perfect and wonderful. Thank you. That's the first. We don't know if I should skip. And the highest. I uh also I'll add in. You're welcome. Let's turn it over to our presenters. Um, if you'll do introductions, we'll start with our CPD presenter, uh, Tony, and uh take it away. Yeah, thanks for having us. My name is Tony Lechuga. I'm a senior planner with community planning and development. Rob Cohen, I'm the controlling owner of Denver Summit FC. Thora Walter, uh, Capital Planning and Programming in the Department of Finance. Jeff Dolan in the mayor's office. Thank you so much. Yes, Madam President, you want to introduce. Yeah, Amanda Sound of the President of Denver City Council. Thank you, Madam Chair. Thank you. Uh, and thank you for being here. Obviously, we're discussing the property of the proposed soccer stadium. Um, that is the only item, but there are five or so different bills associated. Um, so Tony, we'll turn it over to you. Yeah, and we're actually gonna start with Jeff. Oh, great.
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