Development news from Community Planning and Development (CPD)

In this issue, you will find:

Shaping Future Policy

• Share your thoughts on the Cherry Creek and Speer Blvd. corridor
• PRO Housing Grant application

Code and Policy Changes

• Important building code dates to remember
• Transitioning private property patios from the Temporary Patio Program to the Outdoor Places Program

Notable Progress

• Nominations open for 2023 Mayor’s Design Awards
• Webinar: EPA's Renovation, Repair and Painting Rule
• Webb Building refresh project

ICYMI: Recaps from our last newsletter

Shaping Future Policy

Share your thoughts on the Cherry Creek and Speer Blvd. corridor

Do you have thoughts on how to improve Speer Boulevard and the Cherry Creek trail between Colfax Avenue and I-25? Take a short survey to share your input with the city as part of the Cherry Creek and Speer Boulevard Vision and Reconfiguration Feasibility Study.

PRO Housing Grant application

Community Planning and Development (CPD) is pursuing financial assistance from the federal government through the PRO Housing Grant to identify and remove barriers to affordable housing in Denver. The PRO Housing Grant award ranges from $1 million to $10 million to be distributed to approximately 20 jurisdictions nationwide. If selected, CPD would pursue several activities intended to help speed up the production and preservation of affordable housing for low-income and middle-income residents, particularly in areas of opportunity with access to transit, parks, healthy food, and other services and amenities.

Proposed activities include: 

• Reviewing zoning and building codes to simplify regulations and permitting timeframes that affect affordable housing 
• Studying how best to allow and create incentives for more housing density in appropriate locations 
• Studying infrastructure capacity and identifying upgrades necessary to accommodate more affordable housing 
• Increasing the capacity of city staff to fast-track affordable housing development 
• Providing technical assistance to affordable housing developers and residents in need 
• Providing loans to affordable housing developers to clean up contaminated land or cover unexpected construction costs

Members of the public will have an opportunity to weigh in on the grant application before it is submitted to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development by reviewing the application and attending an upcoming public workshop held by city staff. 

A draft of the grant application will be published Wednesday, October 11, and public comments on the application will be accepted until Wednesday, October 25.  

Public Workshop

Thursday, October 19 | 4:30-6:30 p.m.  

Webb Municipal Building, 201 W. Colfax Ave., Rooms 4.F.6/4.G.2

Learn more >>

Code and Policy Changes

Important building code dates to remember

January 1, 2024

Any building permit plans submitted on or after this date must have partially electrified space and water heating systems for all commercial, industrial, and multi-family projects. For requirements, see Denver Energy Code C403.2.4 for space heating and C404.10 for water heating. Questions? Email mechplumb.review@denvergov.org.

February 1, 2024

Any building permit plans submitted on or after this date for all commercial, industrial, and multi-family projects must document compliance with both Accessible EV Installed spaces and Universal EV Installed spaces as required by Chapter 11 of the Denver Commercial Building Code. View a summary of these requirements.

Transitioning private property patios from the Temporary Patio Program to the Outdoor Places Program

Private property patios operated under the temporary program that are in good standing may continue in place through December 31, 2023. To continue operating a private property patio beyond December 2023, businesses must apply for a zoning permit under the Outdoor Places Program, including payment of all applicable fees, by October 31, 2023, and be fully permitted by March 31, 2024.  

Transitioning your patio from the temporary program? Read the flyer for more information.

Notable Progress

Nominations open for 2023 Mayor’s Design Awards

Mayor Mike Johnston will hand out his first awards in February 2024

Once again, it's time to celebrate great design in Denver! 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, artists and others for their creative contributions to Denver's built environment through excellence and innovation. Many different types of projects are eligible. Previous award winners range from restaurants and galleries to supportive housing and private single-family homes to plazas and other shared public spaces. What they have in common is the imaginative and innovative way they enhance public spaces and support community.

Submit your nominations today >>

Webinar: EPA's Renovation, Repair and Painting Rule

Join the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for a live presentation for contractors and local building code and enforcement officials about the EPA's Renovation, Repair and Painting (RRP) Rule, which concerns RRP projects in homes, childcare facilities, and preschools built before 1978.

Wednesday, October 25 | 12-1 p.m. 

Register >>

The EPA’s RRP Rule aims to protect the public from lead-based paint hazards associated with renovation, repair and painting activities. These activities can create hazardous lead dust when surfaces with lead-based paint, even from many decades ago, are disturbed. The rule requires workers to be certified and trained in the use of lead-safe work practices, and requires renovation, repair, and painting firms to be EPA-certified.

Learn more about EPA’s lead program at www.epa.gov/lead.

Webb Building refresh project

In 2019, a Department of Justice review identified the need for essential accessibility improvements throughout the Webb Building. Changes based upon this review are coming soon through the Webb Building refresh project. The city will improve accessibility, technology, desks, elevators, break rooms, bathrooms, and other critical systems throughout the building. 

The administration is committed to keeping city employees downtown and public services open throughout construction. While some staff may be moved to a nearby location downtown, public services will remain in the Webb building.

ICYMI:

Recaps from our last newsletter

Get caught up on last month's news >>

• New Zoning Code determination: Off-leash play areas at bars and restaurants. Read the determination >>

• Since reaching a peak in fall 2022, review times for all permit types have been steadily declining. As of August 2023, residential plan review times were much close to our goal of 2-4 weeks, compared with 12-15 weeks in fall 2022. View the average plan review times dashboard >>

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