In this issue:

• City and Downtown Denver Partnership release Downtown Area Plan draft
• Share your feedback on proposal to update Denver's single-exit stair regulations
• Rezoning and Landmark processes will soon be available on E-permits
• City staff to lead seminar on Manual J, S, and D submittals
• Prop 123 presentation happening this week
• Transition rules and application expiration policy for 2025 Building and Fire Codes
• Modernizing Parking Requirements proposal was approved and is now in effect

Draft plan offers vision for more playful, livable and resilient Downtown Denver

Denver Community Planning and Development and the Downtown Denver Partnership have released a transformative new vision for Downtown Denver, that prioritizes the future of downtown as a central neighborhood that is the epicenter of economic activity, a cultural and community hub and a place that is celebrated for generations to come.  

The Downtown Area Plan is a 20-year roadmap developed through extensive public engagement, with thousands of touchpoints with the community. At the heart of the plan is the theme “Where Denver Goes to Play” — envisioning downtown as the city’s premier place for outdoor adventure, cultural gatherings, and neighborhood life across generations and backgrounds. 

Key priorities of the plan include: 

• A targeted reduction of up to 7 million square feet of vacant office space through strategic redevelopment and incentives, transforming offices into homes, neighborhood services, creative space, and innovation hubs.
• Doubling the population of downtown, including a near-term goal of adding over 2,000 new housing units in Upper Downtown to support families, workers, and seniors, with a focus on affordability and diversity of household types.
• Revitalizing public spaces such as Civic Center Park, Skyline Park, Glenarm Plaza and the Cherry Creek corridor with playful, people-centered amenities that foster neighborhood growth, connection and creativity.
• Building upon recent investments to 16th Street to create a premier destination for commerce, culture, and community gathering.
• Encouraging redevelopment of underutilized properties, including surface parking lots, with a focus on equitable access, sustainability, and urban design excellence. 
• Enhancing multi-modal transportation access for people traveling through the district with parking improvements and enhanced bicycle and transit facilities.  
• Identifying several locations downtown for signature play features that are attractive and fun for a full range of ages and abilities and celebrate our adventurous Colorado spirit.  

The Downtown Area Plan will be a coordinated effort across city departments in collaboration with the Downtown Denver Partnership and other community organizations. A draft of the plan is available for public review and comment until August 29. 

Share your thoughts on potential code updates to allow single stair buildings

Denver is proposing legislation that would allow taller apartment buildings to be served by a single-exit stair, in line with legislation passed by the Colorado General Assembly earlier this year (HB 25-1273). City Council will consider amendments to Denver's Building and Fire Codes before the end of the year, so city staff are working to solicit feedback on the draft code language from interested stakeholders.

How to get involved: Three in-person focus groups, and an online survey are available for you to share your perspectives on Denver’s single-exit stair regulations.

Focus group discussions will take take place at the Webb Municipal Building, 201 W. Colfax Ave., Room 4F6/4G2 (4th floor), on the following dates.

• Monday, August 25, 2025: 8-9:30 a.m.
• Thursday, August 28, 2025: 4-5:30 p.m.
• Thursday, September 4, 2025: 2-3:30 p.m.

Join us for an insightful seminar describing Denver's residential plan review requirements for Manual J, S, & D submittals. This seminar will provide a detailed overview of required documentation, how to avoid common pitfalls, and best practices to promote a smooth review and approval process. Registration is required to attend. 

Manual J, S and D Submittal Seminar

9:30 a.m.-noon, Wednesday, September 10

Carrier West, 4800 Osage Street, Denver

New car parking rules are now in effect

City Council voted to approve the Modernizing Parking Requirements text amendment earlier this month, and the new rules took effect August 11, 2025. This means that new buildings and changes to existing buildings no longer have to include a minimum number of car parking spaces. The old rules have been removed from Denver’s zoning codes.

Here are additional key changes:

• All parking rules are now in one place: Division 10.4 of the Denver Zoning Code.* This includes:
• Limits on how many parking spaces can be built near rail stations (within ¼ mile).
• Limits on parking in buildings with garages in the D-CPV (Central Platte Valley) zone.
• Minimum requirements for bike parking.
• Design rules for how parking and loading areas should look and work. 
• Special parking exceptions and reductions have been removed. While developers are still encouraged to share parking between different uses (like shops and offices), they don’t have to share formal agreements with the city anymore.
• New developments can’t include required parking in custom zoning. If a custom zone such as a Planned Unit Development (PUD) already has minimum parking requirements, those rules won’t be enforced anymore.
• If you’re working on a site development plan or want to change your plan and want to reduce the number of parking spaces, you can. This follows Section 12.3.7 of the Denver Zoning Code.*
• Old parking spaces that were once required can now be turned into outdoor gathering areas. This is allowed under Section 11.10.14 of the Denver Zoning Code.
• Accessible parking spaces for people with disabilities are still required. These follow the Denver Building and Fire Code and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
• Transportation Demand Management (TDM) rules still apply. You can find more about those on the city's Transportation Demand Management website.

*Note that car parking is also no longer required on properties subject to Former Chapter 59 zoning. Applicable rules for how car parking and loading areas should look/work, rules for bike parking, and rules for unenclosed eating places remain in Former Chapter 59.

Get caught up on last month's news >>

• A new webpage is available to better understand zoning relief processes. When a project or property does not meet all applicable zoning standards, zoning relief provides a path to approval under certain circumstances. A new online resource on the CPD website details the paths available and review criteria. Visit the zoning relief page

• Do you have opinions on the types of plants Denver needs to be a more climate-resilient city? We want to hear them! The Denver Resilient Landscapes team has been talking with community members throughout the city this summer to hear their ideas and vision for the future of Denver's landscapes. Join us at upcoming events or take the online survey today. Visit the project website for details

Denver’s Department of Community Planning and Development (CPD) complies with applicable federal civil rights laws and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, or gender to include language. It is your right to request oral or written language assistance services in your primary language, sign language interpretation, real-time captioning via CART, or disability-related accommodations, if needed. Please fill out our language services request form, and these services will be provided free of charge. If you have any questions, contact CPD’s Operations Team at cpdoperations@denvergov.org.

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