[{"_1":2,"_87":-5,"_88":-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],{"_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",6165226,"mediaKeyId","5425863-ee29726cc653fbb5bfcb812db314f58e","parentId",5425863,"title","City planners outline long‑range vision for Midtown Centennial, highlighting parks, connectivity and redevelopment potential","audioSeconds",2362,"startMs",154000,"endMs",2516000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5425863-ee29726cc653fbb5bfcb812db314f58e&start=154&end=2516","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5425863-ee29726cc653fbb5bfcb812db314f58e/thumbnail_154000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6165226/Centennial/Arapahoe-County/Colorado/City-planners-outline-longrange-vision-for-Midtown-Centennial-highlighting-parks-connectivity-and-redevelopment-potential","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6165226-9d62d7d54c7c83f3c7c9e7e6cf19fbcf/orig.mp4?Expires=1771147707&Signature=M9fLmhnhdQzARGoxL~s75uwCCpl2AzU-XEFkXniqKz6aZ7bmmBWTgmsBk2sYxbQwhFEOAlnTnoTwii3oEvW6TZQ~ZbsL0~q~lu9rxnBzR8tcEllZZXQbzsqEoiG~zSprjE3T8PzJW5Nf2lpIVc1Brfg9wYiVobmuqVAACgOCWGdVnAr5a-Ge-BLAZrOBSO3kIpOk0J5-px7VxztShqfHRD3Fo0KcXCNaBtsA8QgiHDvJYrOXWDqbeK9KAqMJHea1J63TRDxpVSd6P6WzquiYCSbeGvkfTd2MAhgtVHvJLYrs7CHvHOeVoaUqO5pJg6i258Sita1DEyIqV3QjxLsqKw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City Council of Centennial CO","date","2025-06-25T00:00:00Z","article","David King, senior planner for the City of Centennial, presented an update on Midtown Centennial at the Planning and Zoning Commission meeting June 25, laying out a 50‑year vision emphasizing parks, trails, multimodal connections and a framework to guide future redevelopment.

King said the work is rooted in the city’s comprehensive plan, Centennial Next, and the city’s strategic plan and relies on consulting studies from EPS (Economic & Planning Systems) and Civitas to model market and fiscal outcomes for different land‑use scenarios.

EPS’s fiscal and market review, King said, shows Midtown is still the city’s primary employment hub but that office has weakened: vacancy in Midtown is now just over 24% (up from under 10% in 2016), rental rates have fallen, and recent sales indicate steep declines in office property values. King cited two examples: 9201 E. Dry Creek (previously Arrow Electronics) sold last year for about $12 million (it sold for roughly $40 million in 2019), and the Waterview 1–3 office complex sold last year for about $27 million versus about $67 million in 2014. \"There is under utilized land within Midtown. That's clear from EPS's work,\" King said.

Why it matters: King told commissioners the market trends and fiscal analysis matter for city services, utility planning and revenue forecasting. EPS finds that converting lower‑density office to residential or to higher‑density office/residential typically yields a more positive fiscal outcome for the city than retaining low‑density office. King said the analysis suggests higher‑density residential can provide the strongest fiscal benefit when compared to low‑density uses in an already built environment.

Key elements of the Midtown vision King described include a public‑realm network of parks and greenways, a north–south Chester Street boulevard as a spine, a Midtown loop (a green spine connecting districts), and place‑making nodes with plazas, art and pedestrian amenities. King emphasized parks where none exist today, noting Midtown is a \"park desert\" and showing concept locations such as a plaza at Dry Creek Station, a \"Prairie Park\" on the west side and a chain of lakes area he called Highland Park. He said the water features near IKEA are a rare asset and that the city wants to explore ways to increase public access to that metro‑district‑owned feature.

King and consultants also recommend a Midtown‑wide approach to technical infrastructure (stormwater, water and sanitation, traffic) rather than piece‑by‑piece solutions. He said sanitation flows and downstream impacts are an important issue as office conversions to residential typically increase wastewater and service demand. King described the city’s planned implementation matrix and noted the city is exploring funding options including open‑space funds, special districts, tax increment strategies and working with regional partners such as Denver South.

Commissioners asked about conversion feasibility, financing and utility capacity. King said conversion feasibility varies by building; for example, an Arrow Electronics building has a large atrium and atypical floor plates that make residential conversion difficult. On utilities, King said staff is coordinating with Southgate Water and Sanitation District and other providers to model scenarios; EPS estimated Midtown could absorb roughly 2,000 additional multifamily units over the next decade as a market capture estimate.

Commissioners generally praised the public‑realm focus. Commissioner Lloyd said, \"I love this... you guys really just did a great job incorporating all of that,\" and Commissioner Panick called the plan \"forward thinking\" for Centennial. Commissioner Old Masters raised concerns about how the city will pay for major infrastructure and whether proposed heights and uses fit adjacent neighborhoods; King reiterated the plan is high‑level and implementation will be phased and paired with targeted policy and funding tools.

Community engagement: King said outreach has included the Midtown webpage, Centennial Connections newsletters, summer events, HOA and stakeholder briefings, targeted outreach to property owners and tenants, and an interactive \"Map It Midtown\" tool allowing residents to pin comments to locations.

Next steps: King said staff will continue sub‑area plan work, with additional updates to the Planning and Zoning Commission and City Council ahead of formal adoption. He reported the city won a DRCOG Livable Centers small‑area planning grant to fund a closer look at East Midtown; procurement for that consultant work was underway with selection hoped for by August or early September.

The presentation framed Midtown as an opportunity to diversify Centennial’s land uses, improve the public realm, and prepare infrastructure and funding strategies for long‑term reinvestment.

","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Centennial City Planning and Zoning Commission | 6/25/2025","oneSentenceSummary","David King, senior planner for the City of Centennial, presented an update on Midtown Centennial at the Planning and Zoning Commission meeting June 25, laying out a 50‑year vision emphasizing parks, trails, multimodal connections and a framework to guide future redevelopment.","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},6165221,"Planning commission recommends rezoning of 9000 E. Nichols Ave. to ECMU‑75; neighbors raise height and traffic concerns",2009,5151000,7160000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5425863-ee29726cc653fbb5bfcb812db314f58e&start=5151&end=7160","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5425863-ee29726cc653fbb5bfcb812db314f58e/thumbnail_5151000.jpg","/articles/6165221/Centennial/Arapahoe-County/Colorado/Planning-commission-recommends-rezoning-of-9000-E-Nichols-Ave-to-ECMU75-neighbors-raise-height-and-traffic-concerns","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6165221-4389e5cd75ea194db84a1be81948c9da/orig.mp4?Expires=1771147707&Signature=FiUZYdLboU4m8BSJQDELLl2FlNIjhEx5qcj~SG2cQf3HMEleg0XzdKhCJqr5Urc9q1RABZkrGJaiwuaM~bZfEIkwHUd~GTLArzgz3VIKFhrlWfE1wvvt1Ga5rKyQj8sbXCd79RNdU4urF8~0QY900464cFybhtzNIQFWuQJVI4rSwa0DLXm42Xdvh~j0Ya-NoGVFTVW5xt-wSuRDM7ivazo9~TO2Lzi~WIJPg56IffsKZ-D1DQ1x~LT7FRRF4HzPM3tJayn~eRa2YA03GtD2fdGJKCAHmcBcCcdhNhYSImbrB-5Mq~s0L4hvWqBBfg26rnF9dEJedq5wAv7w-oBkuw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Planning and Zoning Commission voted June 25 to recommend approval of an ordinance to rezone 9000 East Nichols Avenue from Business Park 35 (BP‑35) to Employment Center Mixed Use 75 (ECMU‑75). The property is roughly 5.5 acres and currently contains an office building built in 1984.

Staff presentation and findings

Miss Campbell (staff) summarized the request and the Land Development Code rezoning criteria. The property sits within Midtown Centennial and, staff said, is near the Dry Creek Light Rail Station and the Centennial Promenade retail area. Campbell told commissioners staff found the rezoning would implement goals in the Centennial Next comprehensive plan and Midtown guidance by permitting a broader mix of uses and supporting transit‑oriented development in the area.

Campbell said the rezoning does not itself authorize development; any future site plan would require a separate public hearing because of the property's proximity to residential zone districts. Staff noted technical reviews completed for the rezoning: a Phase I drainage report was reviewed and accepted by the stormwater authority, and referral responses were received from Southgate Water and Sanitation District, South Metro Fire, and Excel Energy. A traffic impact study is not required at the rezoning stage but would be required for any future development proposal.

What ECMU‑75 would change

The proposed ECMU‑75 zone would allow a mix of office, commercial and residential uses and increase the maximum building height on the property from 35 feet to 75 feet. Campbell noted compatibility requirements: because the site abuts residential property, future development would be subject to a minimum 50‑foot setback on the rear property line and a 40% opacity buffer yard where required. Parking requirements are driven by the future use; the zone change does not itself change parking ratios.

Applicant remarks

Dustin Jones, representing Ogilvy Partners (the property owner), said the rezoning is intended to provide flexibility for future reuse as the suburban office market evolves. Jones said the 75‑foot designation would support the density needed to make redevelopment economically viable and that no physical changes to the site are proposed as part of the rezoning.

Public comment and concerns

Two residents from the adjacent Willow Creek neighborhood spoke during the public hearing. Marilyn Oakes (8877 E. Nichols Place) said she was \"concerned about the height\" and said increased density would mean more traffic and reduced privacy for homes backing the site. Jean Groves (8898 E. Nichols Place) said the proposed 75‑foot height would be at odds with the west‑side vision discussed in the Midtown sub‑area work and cited current congestion on Yosemite Street as a concern when accidents on I‑25 divert traffic.

Staff response and next steps

Campbell reiterated that the rezoning would allow more uses but would not approve a site plan or a specific building. She noted any future proposal would require traffic analysis and a site‑plan public hearing; the rezoning alone does not change drainage, stormwater, or sanitation requirements. Southgate Water and Sanitation offered comments on future development modeling, and the city expects additional technical review at the site plan stage.

Motion and disposition

Commissioner Lloyd moved to recommend approval of Ordinance No. 2025‑O‑10 to rezone the property to ECMU‑75, citing the staff report dated June 20, 2025; Commissioner Old Masters seconded. The clerk called the vote and the motion passed; the transcript records the outcome as \"it passes\" but does not record a roll‑call tally. The recommendation will be considered by City Council at a public hearing scheduled for July 15, 2025.

","The commission voted to recommend approval of an ordinance rezoning a 5.5‑acre office site at 9000 E. Nichols from BP‑35 to Employment Center Mixed Use 75 (ECMU‑75). Staff found the request met rezoning criteria; residents cited concerns about height, traffic and privacy. The matter goes to City Council July 15.","actionData","errors"]

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City planners outline long‑range vision for Midtown Centennial, highlighting parks, connectivity and redevelopment potential

Planning commission recommends rezoning of 9000 E. Nichols Ave. to ECMU‑75; neighbors raise height and traffic concerns