Planning Commission approves Dayton Point townhomes, 37 units at 9500 E. Mississippi Ave.

The Arapahoe County Planning Commission on Aug. 19 approved a specific development plan and zoning change to allow 37 townhomes at 9500 East Mississippi Avenue, voting 6-0.

Staff principal planner Molly Orkin Larson told commissioners the proposal from Alpert Multifamily Development LLC would rezone the 1.94-acre parcel from RPH (residential PUD, high density) to PUD to accommodate 37 townhouses and about 37 percent on-site open space. The project proposes access from East Mississippi Avenue with emergency access from South Dayton Street and a development density of 18.74 dwelling units per acre, which staff said aligns with the site’s multifamily designation in the county comprehensive plan’s four-square-mile subarea.

Orkin Larson said the application meets applicable land development code criteria, can be served by water, sanitary sewer and fire, and is compatible with surrounding uses. The staff report noted referrals from Cherry Creek School District, which requested a cash-in-lieu payment valued at $54,520.99, and South Metro Fire Rescue District, which asked that the applicant depict three on-site fire hydrants and include the project in its fire-lane program; staff said those items could be addressed at administrative site plan review. Orkin Larson said the applicant held two neighborhood meetings and that public comment submitted to the record was minimal.

Developer Brian Alpert of Alpert Multifamily Development described the site as “pretty rundown” when he bought it in 2022 and said the project would replace existing blight with courtyard-style townhomes similar to prior successful projects the firm built in the county. The applicant confirmed the units would be three stories with roof peaks up to roughly 35 feet and that two-car garages would be provided (narrow units with tandem garages; wider units with side-by-side garages). Traffic consultant Chris McGranahan of LSC Transportation Consultants said the traffic study (prepared for 39 units and conservatively covering 37 units) estimated roughly 280 daily vehicle trips and that the site is planned for right-in/right-out access on Mississippi.

Neighbors who spoke raised questions about whether garages would face nearby residences (the applicant said garages face an internal alley), whether existing trees would be preserved (applicant said they would retain suitable trees not in conflict with buildings), and whether units would be for sale or rental (applicant said that would depend on market conditions at the time of vertical construction). Commissioner questions addressed open space and site height; the applicant said open-space calculations were near the 35 percent minimum and heights top out at about 35 feet at the peak.

Commissioner Latsis moved to approve the specific development plan (SDPZ23-1); Commissioner Howe seconded. The roll call vote was 6 to 0 in favor, and the commission’s approval included the conditions in the staff report.

The applicant and county staff will address technical items identified in referrals (school cash-in-lieu at the time of final plat, fire hydrant locations and fire-lane requirements at administrative site plan) before final permits are issued.