Community Planning and Housing Committee Update on Neighborhood Planning Initiative - February 17, 2026

The Community Planning and Housing Committee of Denver City Council met on February 17, 2026, to receive an update from Community Planning and Development (CPD) on the Neighborhood Planning Initiative (NPI). The meeting began with a brief pre-recorded interview with Council President Sandoval, followed by introductions and a presentation from CPD staff. The committee discussed the status of completed and upcoming plans, the impact of budget reductions, and implementation challenges. No public testimony was heard.

Consent Calendar

• Four items on the consent calendar were approved without discussion or objection.

Discussion Items

• NPI Program Overview: Scott Robinson (CPD) presented the NPI program, explaining its four-phase process (understanding, feedback, draft, adoption) and goal of 100% city coverage. Eight plans have been completed; the ninth (Southwest Area Plan) is scheduled for City Council public hearing on March 2, 2026. Upon adoption, over 50% of the city will be covered by NPI plans (9 of 19 plan areas).
• Upcoming Plans and Budget Impacts: Due to budget reductions, CPD reduced the number of concurrent plans from three to two. The fourth round will launch with Near Northeast (late spring 2026) and Far Northwest (later in 2026), with completion expected in 2027–2028. The South Central plan, originally identified for the fourth round, has been postponed to 2028. A new plan for the Mile High Stadium site (West Area Plan update) is also anticipated in 2028.
• Legislative Rezonings: CPD announced that no new proactive legislative rezonings will be conducted for the upcoming Near Northeast and Far Northwest plans due to staffing constraints. Existing rezonings for Southwest and Far Southwest will be completed this spring. Council members expressed concern about this decision, noting that rezonings are critical for implementing plan recommendations.
• Implementation and Coordination: CPD highlighted ongoing implementation efforts, including citywide legislative changes (ADUs, Unlocking Housing Choices), coordination with DOTI on project databases, and partnerships with housing and finance departments. The Denver Resilient Landscape project and grants (FTA TOD grant, HUD Pro Housing grant) are supporting plan implementation.
• Council Member Concerns and Questions:
  • Councilmember Romero Campbell expressed frustration about the lack of a plan for Southeast Denver, noting that the Near Southeast Plan only covers half of University Hills. She asked about timelines and was told the earliest completion would be 2030. She offered to seek private funding.
  • Councilmember Alvitez raised concerns about community navigator training, suggesting more education on zoning and land use. She also noted that older plans (e.g., West Wash Park) had recommendations that were never implemented.
  • Council President Sandoval emphasized the importance of plans for economic growth and density, citing the success of the Tennyson Street design overlay. She asked about the duration of the pause on legislative rezonings; CPD responded it is temporary but tied to budget and staffing.
  • Councilmember Cashman stressed the critical need for NPI plans and said he would advocate for more funding, even if it means delaying other city services.
  • Councilmember Sawyer expressed deep frustration about the timeline, noting that comprehensive plan 2040 will expire before all neighborhoods get plans. She also highlighted a specific implementation gap: the Near Southeast Plan recommends rezoning to duplexes, but no duplex building form exists in the suburban context, and the Unlocking Housing Choices project has not addressed this. She called for a retrospective of CPD's work plan.
  • Councilmember Watson praised the Near Northeast plan launch and asked about partnerships with CU Denver. CPD confirmed existing partnerships through studios and research projects. Council President Sandoval added that council members can directly engage capstone students.
  • Councilmember Lewis reminded colleagues of the ability to run budget amendments to fund NPI.
  • Chair Parity asked about staffing losses (11 planning positions lost in layoffs) and hiring challenges. CPD noted hiring is going well but positions are grant-funded; internal promotions would occur if more positions were created.
• Unlocking Housing Choices (UHC): Chair Parity and Councilmember Sawyer discussed the upcoming joint work session with Planning Board on March 17, 2026. CPD clarified that the UHC project is focused on adding density while preserving existing homes and ensuring affordability. Councilmember Sawyer expressed skepticism that the current proposals are market-feasible. CPD acknowledged the need for better communication and noted that financial feasibility analysis is underway.

Key Outcomes

• The committee received the NPI update and will continue to monitor progress.
• No formal votes were taken on the presentation.
• CPD will provide a retrospective work plan list to council members.
• The next joint work session with Planning Board on Unlocking Housing Choices is scheduled for March 17, 2026.
• CPD will launch community engagement for UHC in March 2026, with a goal of adoption by end of year.
• Council members were encouraged to reach out to CPD staff (Andrew Webb, Rob Haig) with questions before the work session.
• The committee adjourned after approving the consent calendar.