Council approves airport‑influence variance allowing possibility of multifamily redevelopment at 6901 S. Havana with noise, disclosure and avigation conditions

City Council approved on Feb. 4 a Centennial Airport Influence Area variance for a roughly 19‑acre site at 6901 South Havana Street that clears the way for the possibility of future multifamily development, subject to conditions including an avigation easement, required noise‑attenuation construction and conspicuous disclosures to purchasers or renters. The council vote was 8–1.

Staff presented the variance request and recommended approval after concluding the application met one of three AIA variance criteria in the land development code. Michael Grama, senior planner for the city, told council the site sits in the LDC’s restricted development area and the 55 DNL contour, where “noise sensitive uses are not permitted” unless a variance is granted. Grama said staff concluded the first AIA variance test was met because the property faces a market‑driven hardship: the aging office asset (formerly occupied by Centura Health) sits in an office market with high vacancy, limiting viable nonresidential reuses and reducing the property’s market value.

The applicant, represented by Colin Waterworth, argued that multifamily redevelopment is a viable path and that required construction techniques can reduce outside‑to‑inside noise transmission to acceptable levels. Waterworth said the project team would meet the code’s noise‑attenuation requirement (a minimum 25‑decibel…