Denver Community Planning and Housing Committee Meeting - May 19, 2026

The Community Planning and Housing Committee of the Denver City Council met on May 19, 2026, chaired by Councilmember Sarah Perry. The committee addressed two action items: a rezoning request for the Loreto Heights campus and a presentation on lobbying reform. The rezoning was approved for referral to the full City Council, while the lobbying reform presentation generated detailed discussion but no vote.

Public Comments & Testimony

• No public comments were submitted for either agenda item.

Discussion Items

Rezoning: Loreto Heights PUD Boundary Adjustment

• Presentation: Fran Peñafiel, Principal City Planner, presented a rezoning request by Denver Arts & Venues to adjust the boundaries of two existing Planned Unit Development (PUD) districts (PUD G24 and PUD G25) into new PUDs G41 (campus core) and G42 (residential). The change moves a 14,000-square-foot parcel from the residential PUD to the campus core PUD to allow for a surface parking lot and future two-story parking garage serving the existing theater (700 seats) and library. The parcel is currently vacant. New sub-area C includes reduced heights and setbacks to transition to adjacent residential areas. The Planning Board recommended approval unanimously on May 6, 2026. No public comments were received as of the presentation date, though one later traffic concern was noted for the City Council packet.
• Councilmember Flynn (District 2) expressed support, noting the adjustment makes sense and preserves views, and said he would like to see the item on the floor.
• Councilmember Alvidrez asked clarifying questions about the use of the parcel, parking demand, transportation demand management (TDM) measures, bike parking, EV charging, and RTD stop plans. The project team confirmed the parking garage will have 215 spaces, 25 bike racks, EV charging per city code, and ongoing coordination for an RTD stop on the north side.
• Councilmember Parady asked for clarification on the current use of the parcel (vacant) and access points.
• Outcome: The committee voted unanimously to move the rezoning to the full City Council with a recommendation for approval.

Lobbying Reform Presentation

• Presentation: Councilmembers Torres and Gonzalez Cocherez, along with the Clerk and Recorder's Office (Andy Savitz, Paul Lopez, Nick Mann), presented proposed updates to Denver's lobbying ordinance. The goals are to increase transparency, align with best practices, clarify disclosure requirements, and establish a consistent enforcement model. Key provisions include requiring lobbyists to disclose compensation per client, identify covered officials they lobby, and disclose grassroots lobbying spending. The ordinance would cover elected and appointed officials (excluding career service employees) and require lobbyists to identify themselves and their client when contacting officials.
• Cooling-off period: Initially proposed at 18 months, but after member discussions, sponsors recommended a 6-month period to align with the existing ethics code. Councilmember Parady expressed concern that 6 months is too short, noting the state uses 2 years and the federal 1 year. Other members were divided: 6 members favored 6 months, 3 were open to either 6 or 12, and 4 had not expressed an opinion.
• Coverage of aides: The ordinance would require reporting of lobbying contacts with a council office as a whole, not individual aides, to avoid administrative burden and accommodate potential changes in staff titles. Councilmember Sawyer asked for clarity on the trigger for reporting (e.g., direct requests for votes or meetings, not routine stakeholder engagement).
• Mayoral appointees: Councilmembers Parady and Sawyer argued that senior mayoral staff members (e.g., chief of staff, legislative director) and agency heads not defined in the charter (e.g., HOST, DOTI, CASR) should be subject to the cooling-off period and reporting requirements. The sponsors agreed to explore definitions using HR classifications (e.g., at-will employees) and follow up with HR and the City Attorney's office.
• Ethics board alignment: Lori from the Board of Ethics noted the existing 6-month cooling-off period in the ethics code applies broadly; the new ordinance would specifically cover elected officials. The sponsors indicated a willingness to conform future updates if the ethics code changes.
• Enforcement: A hearing officer would adjudicate serious violations, with fines or ability to revoke lobbying registration.
• Outcome: No vote was taken. The committee discussed substantive changes and directed sponsors to refine language on the cooling-off period duration and scope, including inclusion of senior mayoral appointees, and to continue working with the Clerk's Office and HR.

Key Outcomes

• Rezoning (Loreto Heights): The committee voted unanimously to recommend approval and refer the item to the full City Council by June 29, 2026. The rezoning will create PUD G41 and PUD G42, moving a 14,000 sq ft parcel to the campus core with design standards for transition to residential areas.
• Lobbying Reform: No committee vote; the presentation generated substantive discussion. Sponsors agreed to refine the 6-month cooling-off period (opposed by one member) and to explore including all at-will mayoral appointees and non-charter agency heads. Further language will be drafted and revisited.