The City Council of Centennial on July 8 approved Ordinance 2025-O-09 to rezone an 18.88-acre site north of East Easter Avenue, west of South Fulton Street and west of South Havana Street from Business Park 100 (BP-100) to Employment Center Mixed Use 75 (ECMU-75).

Brad McInnis, planner for the City of Centennial, summarized staff analysis and recommended approval after reviewing drainage, traffic and referral comments; he noted the site lies within the Centennial Airport influence area and that council previously granted an Airport Influence Area (AIA) variance by Resolution 2025-R-04 on Feb. 4, 2025.

The nut graf: staff and the applicant said the rezoning implements Midtown Centennial goals to diversify land uses and convert underused office campuses to a mixed-use pattern; the applicant, Garrett Companies, plans multifamily housing, commercial space and preservation of about 2.25 acres of existing open space with the remainder redeveloped.

Colin Waddleworth, director of development with the Garrett Companies, told council the property currently contains a roughly 130,000-square-foot office building surrounded by surface parking and that local office vacancy supports conversion to housing. He said the project would preserve the park on the northeast corner, provide pedestrian connections, and include noise-mitigation measures required by the city because the property is inside the airport buffer.

McInnis told council that the rezoning reduces the site's height limit from 100 to 75 feet, adds allowed residential uses, and changes the lighting zone. Referral comments included concerns from Centennial Airport opposing residential in the AIA but supplying mitigation standards; Excel and Castlewood Water and Sanitation District requirements will be addressed during site-plan review. The planning and zoning commission recommended approval 9–0 on June 11, 2025.

During the public hearing there were no speakers. Council members asked about school capacity and busing; staff said Cherry Creek School District customarily responds during site-plan review with capacity and transportation comments. Council asked about noise mitigation and tenant disclosure; Waddleworth confirmed the project will follow the Land Development Code requirement to mitigate exterior-to-interior noise transmission (the code specifies a 25 dB reduction standard for certain DNL levels) and to provide tenant notifications and easements as required by the AIA variance.

Council member Paulson made the motion to approve the ordinance; Council member Holt seconded. The record shows the motion carried on a 9–0 vote. If the ordinance is finalised, the official zoning map will be amended to ECMU-75 and the applicant may proceed to site-plan and permitting steps where utilities, drainage and design details will be resolved.

No building permits or site plans were approved at this meeting; council’s action was a legislative rezoning decision.