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Committee advances rezoning to allow three‑story mixed use and DO8 on West 32nd Avenue
Summary
The Community Planning and Housing Committee voted to forward a staff‑recommended rezoning that would reclassify parts of West 32nd Avenue to allow three‑story mixed‑use buildings and add Design Overlay 8 to preserve active ground‑floor commercial uses; planning staff said the application met review criteria and planning board recommended approval.
The Community Planning and Housing Committee of the Denver City Council on Jan. 20 voted to forward a legislative rezoning for a portion of West 32nd Avenue in the West Highland neighborhood to the full City Council.
Libby Glick of the Community Planning and Development department presented the request and recommended approval, saying staff found the application met the three required review criteria and that the Planning Board had unanimously recommended approval. "Staff recommends approval of this rezoning and that the committee move it forward to a vote of the full city council," Glick said.
The proposal would rezone parcels roughly between Perry Street and Julian from UMX2 (and one PUD) to UMX3 and apply Design Overlay 8 (DO8) across the corridor. CPD said the change would allow up to three stories in the western portion, require active ground‑floor commercial uses, and help implement recommendations in Blueprint Denver that aim to foster mixed‑use corridors and support job and housing growth.
Council President Amanda Sandoval, the item sponsor, described the overlay as "a labor of love," said her office conducted mailings and four town halls, and emphasized that properties inside historic districts were excluded from the rezoning. "We had tons of Zoom calls... my council aides walked up and down the corridor," Sandoval said, describing outreach and efforts to refine the proposal with neighbors.
CPD reported 16 public comments on the application: 14 in support (many from corridor business owners), one raising parking concerns and one requesting more information. Committee members asked staff to clarify what the existing PUD allows (CPD said it had allowed low‑scale commercial uses, which in practice became a bank) and whether accessory uses such as EV charging had been considered; CPD replied it would follow up on EV charging questions.
After discussion, the committee moved and seconded the recommendation to forward the rezoning to the full council; members signaled support by voice/thumbs up and the item was advanced to the floor.
Next steps: the measure will appear before the full City Council for a vote; CPD and the sponsor said they expect it to be scheduled for a council hearing following the committee action.
