[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6051431,"mediaKeyId","3444300-51cdcbeb9b1f6848ed35e31284c17146","parentId",3444300,"title","Centennial reallocates CDBG funds to help bridge financing gap for Montview Flats affordable housing project","audioSeconds",1156,"startMs",2296000,"endMs",3452000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3444300-51cdcbeb9b1f6848ed35e31284c17146&start=2296&end=3452","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3444300-51cdcbeb9b1f6848ed35e31284c17146/thumbnail_2296000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6051431/Centennial/Arapahoe-County/Colorado/Centennial-reallocates-CDBG-funds-to-help-bridge-financing-gap-for-Montview-Flats-affordable-housing-project","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6051431-3129cfcbc687c81e4163471f95f743ca/orig.mp4?Expires=1771148540&Signature=BseJbVGIdTONxPEPIM0lRv5M3gbX2QNQU1K7DqhuGSnQ6t0TyDs6LqguI96rjASFRiRAtISz5j9po-TCB4KGHFj-OwlpnDE0unCjeVLHW7onF8rFMnSJxwZEVUrg5sNYvCL9GWECBn8LhnmpRnUa5uoXXp1TYArM4OZmNedYUxXU13Gop1OVyM5-pDcvU5eciHkgr3VXMVNhsFExePtGb8aMBmOiFqZgCHcrLQvEzvmPrHkEKBRPFzztybbzUcffShtcIoIj8RC5wgJlsIKZdaYTHhPKw8I5w5svRQdqPI12KiXqhcL8P593dGzJ1tJuAoRsKKO4Qi4zMAUKIrhs1w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City Council of Centennial CO","date","2025-05-06T00:00:00Z","article","The Centennial City Council on May 6 approved Resolution 2025-R-19 to reallocate Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds to help close a financing gap for the Montview Flats affordable housing project, a 50‑unit development in downtown Littleton run by South Metro Housing Options (SMHO).

Braden Wirt, a management analyst for the city, and Jonas Schneider presented the request. Wirt told council that the CDBG program is administered by Arapahoe County for the area, and that the city had previously allocated $325,000 to Montview Flats in September 2024. To meet a May lending deadline after an anticipated funding source did not materialize, SMHO requested additional assistance; staff recommended reallocating $257,000 of Centennial’s CDBG funds to bridge the gap. Wirt said staff estimates the remaining uncommitted balance in the city’s public-infrastructure bucket would be approximately $65,000 if council approves the allocation.

Wirt described Montview Flats as a 50‑unit development intended to serve low-income households in Arapahoe County and said staff estimated the project would serve about 21 people who live or work in Centennial and about 24 people countywide. Wirt also noted SMHO secured other local partners, including approximately $300,000 from Arapahoe County and $500,000 from the City of Littleton.

Council members asked whether the city could reserve funds instead of allocating them and whether the money could instead be used for other regional projects such as Aurora’s navigational campus. Staff said Centennial may retain CDBG funds up to an allowable cap but that CDBG administration and eligibility rules, and a partner’s funding timeline, sometimes make timely reallocation the best option to avoid financing delays for a project that benefits the region.

Mayor Pro Tem Sutherland moved approval of Resolution 2025-R-19; Council member Sweetland seconded. The clerk recorded an 8-0 roll call; the motion carried.

The council’s action reallocates federal CDBG funds under standard Arapahoe County administration to SMHO’s Montview Flats project; staff said follow-up steps include drafting subgrantee agreements and coordinating with community partners on additional uses of remaining CDBG funds. No changes to Centennial’s CDBG program rules or long-term commitments beyond the single allocation were adopted at the meeting.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Centennial City Council Regular Meeting | 5/6/2025","oneSentenceSummary","The Centennial City Council on May 6 approved Resolution 2025-R-19 to reallocate Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds to help bridge a financing gap for Montview Flats, a 50‑unit affordable housing project in downtown Littleton.","taxTitle","Centennial, Arapahoe County, Colorado","taxId",5762,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6051436,"Centennial updates incentives policy to include housing; council approves changes",1196,1076000,2272000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3444300-51cdcbeb9b1f6848ed35e31284c17146&start=1076&end=2272","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3444300-51cdcbeb9b1f6848ed35e31284c17146/thumbnail_1076000.jpg","/articles/6051436/Centennial/Arapahoe-County/Colorado/Centennial-updates-incentives-policy-to-include-housing-council-approves-changes","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6051436-e580c96f9bc7d6399e5a00cddf4b2d98/orig.mp4?Expires=1771148540&Signature=XokAe-F-a7sIH5-yAw-ljKyfiw3uTuH7rCbEDUBQP7FfKZuiEvRaB7QCzH7PyuRCyJApSQmxfkRKSiv1chLioCcYpPLcv9-dAzqQsK~4WFCGCSAy9RQ7In~D31Lc5cYXIwCaVl6GIX0y~g9-bsmC5gO-114dvZfVuN~qd1ebcz-QfMitWYTOigx7zm62esBelgcCiHTVzrBvsX-HiWZdtNLySANLKdDJ4W8kX5pFf0sbdMccW57n~Z4ugQLtzuXeMVYcT6XpCvoOPpGMDXP0rr~Zd2yYP14hcrR4aF6RBKcaKEjxqEgNQ6Kums7lakK1OO09DHbHQbtXSlpM9VpvBw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Centennial City Council on May 6 approved Resolution 2025-R-17, updating the city’s economic development incentives policy to explicitly add housing as an eligible project type for incentives that historically targeted retail and employment uses.

Melanie Ward, the city’s manager of development foresight and infrastructure readiness, and David King, senior planner, presented the staff recommendation and explained the update is intended to give developers clearer guidance on tools the city can use to make certain housing projects feasible. Ward said the policy additions “provide council with policy guidance to consider when and how to incentivize certain projects,” and that staff recommends approval.

Under the revised policy, eligible housing projects can request incentives already in the policy — for example, construction use tax reimbursement and fee reductions — as well as additional tools staff added, including land banking, an allocation of private activity bond authority, and administrative land-use review assistance. King said Centennial receives roughly $6.9 million in private-activity bond allocation capacity annually and that the bonds must be used for low- and moderate-income housing; the city can allocate that federal bond capacity to private developers.

Council members asked how the policy would be applied in practice. Council member Sheehan asked whether a typical market-rate apartment would be competitive for incentives; Ward said such projects “would not be very competitive” unless they offered benefits aligned with the city’s housing goals. Council member Tharp asked what “deed-restricted units” might mean; staff replied these would typically be units restricted to households at, for example, 60–80% of area median income for a set period (staff noted 30 years as a common term) but that specifics would remain flexible and negotiated per project.

Several council members emphasized that the policy provides a toolbox but that any final incentives remain discretionary: each request would come to council for formal consideration. Council member Sweetland noted the policy will make Centennial’s options transparent to developers and may shorten early-stage negotiations, but Ward and King confirmed council retains final approval on any incentive award.

Mayor Pro Tem Sutherland moved approval of Resolution 2025-R-17; Council member Sweetland seconded. The clerk recorded an 8-0 roll call; the motion carried.","The Centennial City Council on May 6 approved Resolution 2025-R-17 to update the city’s economic development incentives policy, explicitly allowing housing projects — including affordable and senior units — to be eligible for several incentive tools while leaving final awards to council discretion.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6051441,"Centennial council approves grant-funded hazard-tree work along High Line Canal",629,445000,1074000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3444300-51cdcbeb9b1f6848ed35e31284c17146&start=445&end=1074","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3444300-51cdcbeb9b1f6848ed35e31284c17146/thumbnail_445000.jpg","/articles/6051441/Centennial/Arapahoe-County/Colorado/Centennial-council-approves-grant-funded-hazard-tree-work-along-High-Line-Canal","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6051441-7e67bde60dfa1b242bd2d9bef00b9bc7/orig.mp4?Expires=1771148540&Signature=m-bNcMRYfhISVIEK-~EP74vf9BrZC~m9gDg~fJI8GB9Pu5gJlcgq2IuVDLXojynotvaCRPfEGwYcQ96eav9E18JrNl5DWnCz6WWO7yQLK-qYwNKYgT3vbjm517jhOwzMwFe5fXvLAFlW02-UqtBYm5nuTJoIztKEP4cwcFb1C6alQcflMW2w8UtDrHiaWpzq9QqU1QSce3p5glOrCokGI1CCDBvSk-DoMiJuOByKohlBD9nxhR7vn3uJE2~Qiyo1BKqACz3faLWcLI9KstAOeO18c2vSFUANZASrtgyMgRNt~4KntWAUQtlZwYvGw35Bzh5nMsQ-WL--Ntk5eN9BAw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Centennial City Council on May 6 approved Resolution 2025-R-18 to accept a $343,000 Arapahoe County grant and execute intergovernmental agreements with Arapahoe County Open Space and the Southeast Metro Stormwater Authority (SEMSWA) to complete a hazard-tree mitigation project along the city’s five-mile portion of the High Line Canal.

City staff said the work targets trees identified as risks to the trail and adjoining property, and will be carried out by a contractor overseen by SEMSWA. Jenny Holney, Centennial’s community development director, told council the city applied in partnership with SEMSWA after Arapahoe County’s pilot grant program opened last year and that the total project cost is $402,000, including a $59,000 match from SEMSWA.

The project follows a 2022 tree assessment of the canal property. Ashley Beyerly, environmental resources manager with SEMSWA, summarized the assessment and said, “The bottom line for the trees in the city is that they're in a state of decline.” The assessment covered about 926 trees in Centennial; staff said roughly 68% were cottonwoods and that 63 medium-hazard trees remain: 35 are recommended for pruning (estimated $3,800 per tree) and 28 for removal (estimated $7,500 per tree). Beyerly told council Denver Water mitigated the highest-hazard trees last year and that remaining work focuses on medium-hazard trees within Centennial’s limits.

Council members asked how the $402,000 budget is allocated and who owns other canal segments. In response, staff and SEMSWA explained the per-tree cost math and said Denver Water still owns roughly 30 miles of the canal; Arapahoe County Open Space and SEMSWA will coordinate work on the county-owned sections. Council member Carnes pressed for the budget breakdown; Beyerly and Holney explained pruning and removal cost estimates and the grant/match structure. Council member Scholl flagged the prospect of recurring tree declines and asked about replanting plans; Holney and Beyerly said the conservancy and county have separate planting programs to replace removed trees with more water-wise species.

Staff said the work is expected to occur in August, and that property-owner notifications have not yet been issued; Holney said staff will coordinate notifications with the conservancy and county. The resolution authorizes the city to receive the grant funds from Arapahoe County and pass them through to SEMSWA, which will oversee contractor work on the ground.

Mayor Pro Tem Sutherland moved approval of Resolution 2025-R-18, and Council member Alston seconded. The clerk recorded an 8-0 roll call; the motion carried.

The council discussion distinguished between the tree assessment findings and the formal action: staff presented the assessment and funding plan, answered council questions about costs, ownership, and notification, and the council then approved the IGAs to implement the mitigation project. No property-specific contracts or construction schedules beyond “August” were adopted at the meeting.","The Centennial City Council approved intergovernmental agreements to use an Arapahoe County grant and a SEMSWA match to remove and prune hazardous trees along the five-mile city portion of the High Line Canal, citing public-safety and flood-risk concerns.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6051427,"Resident urges Centennial to study retail puppy sales, citing breeder conditions",302,113000,415000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3444300-51cdcbeb9b1f6848ed35e31284c17146&start=113&end=415","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3444300-51cdcbeb9b1f6848ed35e31284c17146/thumbnail_113000.jpg","/articles/6051427/Centennial/Arapahoe-County/Colorado/Resident-urges-Centennial-to-study-retail-puppy-sales-citing-breeder-conditions","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6051427-229a05c8e0217500c3d234b322202277/orig.mp4?Expires=1771148540&Signature=Z0QNevjSB2E56KjT68F5RVdkatwm0PIbZ-f-kgBE3kpYVGczXIhOZ9MtlJ3420Z~cGpcjOVaXbrqTSHI7kFqGe7Th-wOB3wSBoyMar9S76db0dcXZq149rb7R3RBGj8SLxjy6IBqDCmaXqAi4LOAG3vTYnlK3SwTE8YzWrC-E6SP7~0Cay2526RlBfF0NxUgT0JLzzZ467Ohb4G8D~Is~mdOKolb6dVUmccFunEeHv2pJS6GSox2UaHSa6OYW4h3fzmslgeiYIYMwO8H~vlqOEmXlpUgweOdcH1Z3XONQjdhuDX84oAVIXX~mJEWtbpWqEXkVxB4s4-ZJkV0fKGrMA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","During the public-comment portion of the May 6 Centennial City Council meeting, resident Carol Ho urged council to examine the city’s role in allowing retail stores to sell puppies and to consider forming a task force to study breeder conditions.

Carol Ho told the council she lives in District 1 and said her concern is large-scale commercial breeders — often called puppy mills — whose breeding facilities can comply with federal minimum standards yet still keep dogs confined. Ho described the federal Animal Welfare Act (enforced by the U.S. Department of Agriculture) as setting minimum caging standards and noted the law does not require breeders to provide daily exercise; she urged council to consider whether retail sales enable puppy‑mill supply chains.

Ho noted that neighboring jurisdictions such as Aurora and Littleton have adopted bans on retail sales of puppies, and she suggested Centennial could investigate policy options, including a task force or advisory committee. She added that pet stores can transition to alternative models that source animals from shelters or provide other services.

Her son, Nathan Hill, also addressed council and described concerns about breeding conditions and asked the city to “consider and discuss how our city can make the right choice.” No council action or formal referral was recorded on the item during the meeting; the mayor closed public comment and the council moved on to the consent agenda.","A Centennial resident urged council to investigate retail sale of puppies and consider forming a task force or advisory committee to study breeder conditions and potential policy options, citing the Animal Welfare Act and neighboring cities that have banned retail puppy sales.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Centennial reallocates CDBG funds to help bridge financing gap for Montview Flats affordable housing project

Centennial updates incentives policy to include housing; council approves changes

Centennial council approves grant-funded hazard-tree work along High Line Canal

Resident urges Centennial to study retail puppy sales, citing breeder conditions