Meet in the Street 2015

The City and County of Denver and the Downtown Denver Partnership have planned a series of activities that will make Downtown Denver the center of summer fun for residents and visitors. Events and programs along the 16th Street Mall and throughout our downtown public spaces and parks will include unique activities, urban design alternatives and community-led programming to activate and transform the urban landscape.

 

Meet in the Street
Reimagine the 16th Street Mall with Meet in the Street, five consecutive weekends beginning June 25. Meet in the Street returns for a third year to transform the Mall into a fully-activated pedestrian zone with activities ranging from expanded outdoor cafes and live music to fitness classes, cultural performances and more. Through a partnership with RTD, the Free MallRide Service will be moved to 15th and 17th streets via the Free MetroRide buses during programmed weekends. Follow along and share your experience using the hashtag #meetinthestreet.

 

Volunteers Needed!

Through the Mall Experience study, the City and County of Denver and the Downtown Denver Partnership are studying mall activity and conducting public outreach to identify ways to help the mall reach its full potential as a welcoming place for everyone. There are many ways for you to get involved .

On Thursday, May 19, Mayor Michael B. Hancock launched Denveright, a multi-agency planning initiative unlike any the city has ever embarked on. Encompassing four distinct citywide plans and guided by input from the community, Denveright will establish a vision for Denver for the next 20 years. Denveright video>>

 

Denveright will shape Denver 's future land use, mobility, parks and recreational resources, by coordinating, for the first time, the planning processes for:

Denveright will be a community-driven process from start to finish. Residents will be able to share ideas online on the Denveright website and at community workshops and public meetings. Apply to join the "Community Think Tank" by June 24 to help guide the planning process.

 

For more about the plans and how to get involved, visit denvergov.org/denveright. You can also stay up to date by signing up for our email newsletter and following us on Twitter ( @Denveright), Instagram ( @DenverightCO) and Facebook ( City and County of Denver). 

Last year, Denver reached historic highs in permit activity, with an unprecedented overall permit valuation of $ 3.6 billion -- that's dollars spent on construction materials and labor costs for all projects requiring permits in 2015.

 

The year 2016 shows no signs of slowing; in fact, permit activity is up about 10 percent year to date. In response to ongoing permit demand and to meet customer needs, Denver Community Planning and Development has hired more staff, authorized overtime, improved business processes and made investments in technology. Our staff has also created new guides and tip sheets to help customers navigate the zoning and building permitting process faster. (See below for links.)

 

We thank you for your patience as we strive to meet the challenge of Denver's building boom. Current projected review times are posted on our Development Services homepage, denvergov.org/DS. Please take a look and plan accordingly as we continue to add capacity and improve efficiency.

On June 27, City Council will consider adoption of custom zoning and design standards that will help Arapahoe Square fulfill its potential as downtown's next great neighborhood. The zoning proposals follow more than a year of analysis by a citizen-led task force. They serve to implement the 2011 Northeast Downtown Area Plan, which called for Arapahoe Square to be a dense, vibrant, human-scaled downtown neighborhood with a mix of uses, and buildings that transition in height from the downtown core to lower-scale neighborhoods.

 

Some of the key zoning and design recommendations include:

For more information, visit denvergov.org/arapahoesquare.

Denver has joined an elite cohort of nearly 30 cities and counties nationwide as a founding participant in SolSmart, a national program to encourage solar energy development locally. To receive a SolSmart designation, Denver must take action to reduce solar "soft costs," which are non-hardware costs that can increase the time and money it takes to install a solar energy system. Examples of soft costs include planning and zoning; permitting, interconnection, and inspection; financing; customer acquisition; and installation labor. Reducing these costs will lead to savings that are passed on to consumers.

 

Denver was nationally recognized as one of 25 Solar America Cities in 2008, and it was the first city named a Solar Friendly Community by the Colorado Solar Energy Industries Association. Under the SolSmart program, city officials will work to make solar even more affordable and accessible in Denver.

 

"Denver is proud to be a national solar leader, and we look forward to building on our achievements as one of the nation's first participants in the SolSmart program," said Denver Mayor Michael B. Hancock. "Going solar -- saving money, energy and the environment -- in Denver should be accessible to every community and every household, and with this partnership we will help to make that a reality." 

For the past year, city planners have been working with Denver International Airport to draft new rules enabling innovative, start-of-the-art illumination and signage at Peña Station Next, located at the newly-opened 61st & Peña Boulevard Station on the University of Colorado A Line. The transit-oriented development will showcase the latest in technology and create a sustainable, mixed-use community sensitive to the surrounding environs. The airport will install a digital experience monument to welcome passengers and visitors on Peña Boulevard east of E-470. Denver City Council will consider whether to adopt the zoning amendments at a public hearing June 20.  

On June 13, Denver City Council will consider and hold a public hearing on a two-piece legislative package to license, regulate and tax short-term rentals (STR), presented by the departments of Community Planning and Development and Excise & Licenses.

 

The hearing and vote are the culmination of a two-year initiative led by Councilwoman Mary Beth Susman. Currently in Denver, the rental of residential property for fewer than 30 days is prohibited in most zone districts, despite increasing demand for STRs, usually arranged via peer-to-peer platforms like Airbnb.

 

At the June 13 meeting, council members will consider: (1) a text amendment to the Denver Zoning Code to allow short-term rentals by the primary residents of residential properties, and (2) a companion licensing and enforcement framework that would establish rules for hosts intended to limit unwanted effects on Denver's residential neighborhoods.

 

The review process for the proposed ordinance has thus far included a public review draft, multiple public presentations and town hall meetings, and council committee meetings. Learn more about the proposal at denvergov.org/STR. 

Just as residents are responsible for clearing snow from their sidewalks during the winter months, they are responsible for maintaining their lawns and gardens from becoming overgrown in summer.

 

Here are some general rules on lawn maintenance:

City codes ensure the safety, prosperity, health and welfare of our residents. Through public outreach and code enforcement, neighborhood inspectors help keep our community clean and vibrant. You can report a violation to 311 or pocketgov.com.

Mayor Michael B. Hancock and Denver's Community Planning and Development Department today announced they are seeking nominations for the Mayor's Design Awards.

 

Since 2005, the Mayor's Design Awards have honored projects throughout the city for excellence in architecture, exterior design and place-making. The awards are presented to Denver homeowners, business owners, nonprofits, and artists for their creative contributions to the public realm through innovative design. Many different types of projects are eligible. Previous award winners range from restaurants and galleries to private single-family homes to plazas and other shared public spaces. What each of the projects have in common is the imaginative and innovative way they enhance public spaces and create a sense of community.

   

Nominations are due Tuesday, Sept. 6, 2016. Winners will be announced at an awards ceremony in late fall. To nominate a project, learn more about the Mayor's Design Awards and see past winners, visit denvergov.org/MDA.

Visit denvergov.org/cpd to find up-to-date planning and zoning information about any property in Denver.

Do I live in an "Area of Change?"
Visit our Blueprint Denver page and go to the map to view current land use classifications across the whole city.

What's my zoning? 
Our online zoning map can quickly tell you the zone district for any Denver address.

What city plans apply to my neighborhood?
Visit our completed plans page and go to the map that allows you to search using your address. All plans, assessments and studies are available online.

How can I learn about proposed rezonings?
Review proposed rezonings, and visit our rezoning page, where you'll find general information about the rezoning process for applicants and neighbors.

What are the site plans for a specific project?
The site development plans map at denvergov.org/maps displays information about projects involving new construction that have received site development plan approval from the city. It does not include single-family and duplex projects.

What construction procedures are allowed?
Every project must follow Denver's safety codes to minimize ill effects on the community. For basic rules, visit denvergov.org/constructionprocedures . Call 311 to report construction-related code violations.

How can I watch Planning Board meetings?
Visit our Planning Board page to watch live or archived board meetings or submit comments to the board.

How can I provide feedback to Denver CPD?
Please take our survey and let us know about your experience with planning and development in Denver!