Denver council adopts Near Northwest rezoning covering Chaffee Park, Sunnyside, Highland and Jefferson Park

The Denver City Council unanimously approved Council Bill 25‑0086 on March 17, placing a legislative rezoning that implements the Near Northwest area plan into effect. The ordinance changes zoning for 1,088 parcels across Chaffee Park, Sunnyside, Highland and Jefferson Park to implement the plan’s recommendations for centers, corridors, and former Chapter 59 properties.

Community Planning and Development staff presented the plan and the technical rezoning proposal. Libby Glick, planning staff, said the package focuses on two primary goals: requiring active ground-floor uses and pedestrian-oriented design on identified centers and corridors by adding the Active Centers and Corridors Design Overlay (D‑08), and rezoning many former Chapter 59 properties into comparable districts in the Denver Zoning Code.

Why it matters: The rezoning implements land-use changes endorsed through the Near Northwest area plan (adopted January 2024) and Blueprint Denver/Comprehensive Plan 2040 policy guidance. The overlay will require nonresidential active uses along key corridors and remove drive‑through building forms on those frontages, aiming to support walkability and commercial vitality.

Public engagement and review: Planning staff said Planning Board unanimously recommended approval in January with conditions. Staff reported five registered neighborhood organizations offered support, 13 emails were received with questions, and one resident expressed opposition over safety concerns tied to increased multi‑unit zoning. A town hall and direct outreach to property owners informed the package.

Sponsor and public comments: Council President Sandoval, the bill sponsor, described the effort as the largest rezoning she has done, balancing neighborhood preservation with growth and crediting staff and neighborhood leaders for extensive outreach. Two members of the public spoke in favor with caveats: Jesse Basson Paris said he supported rezoning former code parcels into the Denver code but asked what kinds of jobs the change would generate; David Pardo urged care in applying the D‑08 overlay so that interior lots not intended for commercial frontage were not unintentionally constrained.

Key implementation details recorded in the staff presentation include a grace period for site-development plans submitted by Nov. 22, 2024, requiring them to receive approval by Aug. 3, 2025 to be exempt from the new rules. Planning staff concluded the rezoning meets the three revised rezoning review criteria: consistency with adopted plans, furthering public interest, and compatibility with neighborhood context and zone intent statements.

The final roll call was 13 ayes; Council Bill 25‑0086 passed and will proceed to implementation through Community Planning and Development.