Council adopts ‘Advancing Equity in Rezoning’ text amendment to Denver zoning code

Denver City Council on Feb. 3 adopted a text amendment to the Denver Zoning Code intended to “advance equity” in the rezoning process and to update staff procedures for community outreach, notices and staff analysis.

Council’s vote completed a multi-year project led by Community Planning and Development (CPD) that updated rezoning review criteria, clarified notice requirements and outlined new standard operating procedures to improve applicant outreach and equity analysis.

Brandon Shaver, senior city planner and project manager for the Advancing Equity and Rezoning Project, told the council the changes were intended to make the rezoning process more accessible and aligned with adopted plans. Shaver said the amendment preserves consistency with adopted plans while adding a narrowly drawn exception for “community need” that was not anticipated when a plan was adopted. He summarized proposed changes: simplify review criteria, change “public health, safety and general welfare” language to “public interest,” require a sign posted on the subject property within 10 days of application completion, and expand mailed notice to include tenants and occupants as well as property owners within the 200-foot radius used for protest…