The Centennial Planning and Zoning Commission voted Wednesday to recommend the rezoning of approximately nine acres near Dry Creek and Yosemite from Business Park 75 (BP 75) to Employment Center Mixed Use 75 (ECMU 75).

Staff told commissioners the change implements the Midtown Centennial future land‑use concept and adds residential as a by‑right option while removing light industrial; other development standards such as the 75‑foot height limit would remain unchanged. The Commission’s recommendation will go to City Council, with a hearing tentatively scheduled for Jan. 21, 2025.

Mister Grama, the staff presenter, said the property includes an older office building formerly occupied by Arrow Electronics and is currently vacant. He described the new employment center zone as intended to support a mix of office, residential and commercial uses and to promote daytime and evening activation in Midtown Centennial. “Employment center mixed use for all of them is intended to allow for a mix of complimentary uses including office, residential, and commercial uses,” Grama said.

Grama told the commission the site lies inside the Centennial Airport influence buffer, so any noise‑sensitive uses such as residential would be subject to additional noise‑attenuation construction requirements. He also said referral partners, particularly Southgate Water and Sanitation, noted that some types of redevelopment could require upsizing or other local infrastructure improvements; staff recommended those technical determinations be reserved for future site‑plan review rather than the rezoning itself.

The applicant team, representing Consolidated Investment Group, said they acquired the property in December and are considering redevelopment options. Representative Steve Farris summarized the applicant’s experience and interest. “They own about 7,000 units across the U.S., another 4,000,000 square feet of property,” Farris said, and the group is “very excited” about investing in the site.

Commissioners asked about likely impacts on drainage, sewer and water capacity and about the site’s existing perimeter landscaping. Staff said Southgate Water and Sanitation has been engaged and that a drainage and stormwater analysis would be required at the site‑plan stage; the city has been working with Southgate as part of Midtown Centennial planning to understand any long‑term infrastructure implications. On landscaping, staff explained the rezoning reduces the site landscape surface ratio requirement compared with Business Park (the ordinance changes landscape percentage from 25% to 10% for comparable mixed‑use treatment), but site‑plan review would still require a landscaping plan and planting‑caliper standards when development proposals are submitted.

Several commissioners expressed support for the rezoning as a tool to diversify uses in an employment area that had experienced vacancy; others asked for safeguards to ensure high design and long‑term maintenance. Commissioner LeMasters noted regional trafficking and safety concerns were not relevant to this rezoning but praised staff and the applicants for a thorough presentation. Commissioner Lloyd moved to recommend approval and Commissioner Rewertz seconded; the chair called the vote and the motion carried.

The rezoning is presented by staff as the first application to use the Employment Center Mixed Use 75 zone since the city adopted the new Midtown Centennial future land‑use guidance. If Council approves the rezoning, any future redevelopment proposals will proceed through site‑plan review and referrals to utility providers and the fire district, which will determine specific design and infrastructure mitigation requirements.

Votes at a glance: The Planning and Zoning Commission voted to recommend approval of the rezoning (case RZ‑24‑00005). The motion was made by Commissioner Lloyd and seconded by Commissioner Rewertz; the chair announced the motion passed (individual roll-call tallies were not read into the transcript).