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2018 is off and running
with major zoning code updates
38th and Blake affordability, citywide slot home design
among amendments before City Council
38th & Blake station area zoning
This week, City Council approved new zoning intended to encourage the creation of more affordable housing and more walkable, pedestrian-friendly design in River North. It's the first time the Denver Zoning Code has included incentives focused solely on affordability.

This brand-new approach is intended to capture some of the value of the area’s current development demand to ensure it benefits its residents in tangible ways. Check out what the Denver Post , 9News and CBS4 had to say about it, and learn more at DenverGov.org/38Blake .
Slot Homes text amendment
The  Slot Home Text Amendment Public Review Draft  (PDF) i s now available for review and comment. The proposed changes for multi-family infill development are intended to engage the public realm, consider neighborhood character, address human scale, and minimize negative effects on pedestrians and neighboring properties while ensuring equity, flexibility and predictability. 

The Denver Planning Board will hold a public hearing on the proposal March 7, to be followed by the City Council process. Visit DenverGov.org/slothomes for complete information for neighbors and slot home developers, as well as upcoming office hours.
2018 Zoning code text amendment bundle
As part of the city's ongoing effort to keep the Denver Zoning Code modern, clear and user-friendly, planners are proposing a new series of text amendments to the code. City planners compiled the proposed package or "bundle" of text amendments as part of their periodic review of the code and in response to feedback and industry changes.


Visit Denvergov.org/textamendments for more, including ways to provide input. 
Blueprint Workshops:
Let’s create a complete city 
Denver is changing. Let's make sure those changes benefit everyone.
Based on your input in Denveright’s Blueprint Denver planning effort, city planners are working on a new approach to managing land use in our city, moving beyond the current “areas of change” and “areas of stability” approach. Come to one of several Blueprint Denver workshops in February and March to learn more about potential strategies for land use, mobility and neighborhood character in your neighborhood and citywide. 

bike to work day
Building permits are going paper-less
Since launching an e-permits system in July 2017, we've issued more than 20,000 quick permits online! These are permits for smaller projects — like replacing a water heater or a roof — that collectively represent about 60% of all building permits in Denver.

As part of our work to move the rest of our building permit applications online, in late 2017 we proved we could successfully review building plans electronically — even for very large, complex projects. This milestone means we can take in building plans by email and review them electronically, while we continue to build out the online application interface. Residential customers have already submitted hundreds of plans by email in just three short months, and commercial customers soon will be receiving instruction on how to submit using email. Watch for updates in our newsroom , and see what 9News had to say below:
9News: "Denver’s building permit office feels like the DMV – now without the long wait."
City to evaluate outdated rules for group living
roommates
Beginning this spring, city planners will work with a community advisory committee to evaluate and update the Denver Zoning Code’s rules for group living. 

Denver is seeing increasing demand for non-traditional housing. With the evolving needs of our residents in mind, along with recent changes to state and federal housing regulations, city planners will review land uses and definitions for: households, community corrections facilities, shelters for the homeless, residential care homes, new uses like tiny home villages, and more. 

A first public meeting will be held in early summer to review and weigh in on the advisory committee’s recommendations for what specific code provisions should be evaluated and potentially updated. Learn more at our website .
Join us at the 2018 Garden and Home Show March 4
We'll be at the Garden and Home Show on Sunday, March 4 from 4-5 p.m. in the theater at the end of aisle 1200. Learn about permitting and hiring licensed contractors (or doing it yourself!) for your next home improvement project. Visit coloradogardenfoundation.org for show hours and prices.
Denver, RTD recommend 16th Street Mall design that would expand sidewalks, improve pedestrian safety 
A rendering of the recommended 16th Street Mall design, released January 2018
The City and County of Denver and the Regional Transportation District (RTD) are recommending a design for reconstruction of the 16th Street Mall that would expand sidewalks for walking, café seating and other activities, and move transit lanes to the center or offset-center of each block. These updates are designed to enhance the Mall experience for visitors while improving pedestrian safety and mobility. 
The Far Northeast Area Plan needs volunteers!
The Far Northeast Area Plan team is looking for volunteers to help collect sidewalk data in Green Valley Ranch. This is something volunteers can do on their mobile devices while walking their neighborhood at their convenience! 

If you regularly walk your community, belong to an exercise group, or simply would like to help, read more about this opportunity on our sign-up page .
Caption: Attendees consider opportunity areas and focus topics for the Far Northeast Area Plan, during the third public meeting in the planning process. Learn more about the plan at DenverGov.org/farnortheastplan .
Downtown Plan Amendment draft due next week
Using community feedback from recent public meetings and online surveys, city planners are now drafting the amendment to the Downtown Area Plan that will provide clearer policy guidance and community input for the Central Platte Valley - Auraria District. The draft will be available online ahead of the February 22 public meeting.

At the meeting, residents and stakeholders can get insight on the draft amendment and offer input.

Downtown Area Plan Amendment public meeting
5:30-7:30 p.m., February 22, 2018
Commons on Champa, 1245 Champa St.
Download flier:  JPG PDF

If you need sign language interpretation or CART services, contact signlanguageservices@denvergov.org by Monday, February 19.
Denver to update its comprehensive plan
Denver will update its 17-year-old Comprehensive Plan 2000 with a new, user-friendly comprehensive plan for the city that will reflect the voice of Denver today, and chart its course for the next two decades.


comp plan cover
When city planning meets event planning
denveright street team
Community Planning and Development's operations team coordinates logistics for all city planning events, including public workshops, street team appearances, task force meetings, and hearings by the Denver Planning Board and the Landmark Preservation Commission. In 2017, they coordinated logistics for 120 different events!

Thanks to Heidi Tippetts and Afor Chavez for helping to make Community Planning Development as transparent, open and accessible as possible. See you out there!
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BUILDING COMMUNITY:
About Community Planning and Development
Denver Community Planning and Development (CPD) is responsible for visionary city planning and ensuring safe, responsible, sustainable building. CPD regulates planning, zoning, development and maintenance of private property in Denver. We're BUILDING COMMUNITY -- working hard to make Denver a great place to live, work and play! Learn more at denvergov.org/cpd .
Denver Community Planning & Development | denvergov.org/CPD