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Denver Council approves rezoning for vacant Ruby Hill parcel to allow five‑story multiunit development
Summary
The City Council voted to rezone 1149 South Navajo Street from multiple lower-density designations to GMU‑5, clearing the way for multiunit housing on a 9,370 sq. ft. vacant lot in Ruby Hill.
The Denver City Council on July 14 approved a rezoning that clears the way for multiunit housing at 1149 South Navajo Street in the Ruby Hill neighborhood. The council placed Council Bill 25‑0665 on final consideration and, after a required public hearing, voted to pass the measure.
City planning staff presented the application at the hearing. Will Prince, a planner with Community Planning and Development, said the site is a vacant 9,370‑square‑foot parcel in Council District 7 and requested rezoning from a mix of GMU‑5, UO‑3 (historic use overlay) and ERH‑2.5 (edge row house) to a uniform GMU‑5 designation to allow a consistent building form and multiunit housing.
Prince told council that Planning Board recommended approval on April 16 and that the request aligns with the city’s Comprehensive Plan 2040 and Blueprint Denver policies, including the designation of the area as "general urban" and a future place type of "high‑medium residential" where buildings generally may be up to five stories. He said the rezoning would add housing options near transit and implement adopted land‑use and climate policies.
During the hearing, Council member (first reference) Alvidrez moved the bill for final passage and Council member Alvarez said she supported the project, noting site constraints and prior outreach. No members of the public registered to speak on the measure.
The roll call vote recorded 12 ayes and no nays; Council Bill 25‑0665 passed.
Why it matters: The rezoning replaces inconsistent parcel rules with a single GMU‑5 zoning that enables a more predictable multiunit building form in an infill location, which city staff said supports housing growth goals in adopted plans and policies.
Details and next steps: The rezoning removes the UO‑3 historic overlay and ERH‑2.5 row‑house designation from the parcel and establishes GMU‑5 development standards; site plan, building permits, and any required design reviews will follow through the city’s usual development review process. The Planning staff report and application materials remain the official record for design and setback specifics.
Speakers quoted in this article are city staff and elected members who participated in the public hearing and vote.
