Since Denver’s founding nearly 150 years ago, neighborhoods have grown and changed in every way imaginable – from the style of homes to the residents themselves and their needs and desires.
In a recent issue, Post columnist Joanne Ditmer asked, “How do we save our neighborhoods?” The answer is that the future of our neighborhoods will be defined through collaboration among city government, active citizens and local organizations. Never before have so many people been engaged in our local government through community forums such as Denver Listens and Partnership Denver: Neighbors Building Solutions, and through boards, commissions and task forces on which more than 1,000 of our neighbors serve.
Two such citizen groups – Denver’s Zoning Code Task Force and its Citizen Advisory Group – will host public meetings in August throughout Denver to solicit public input on Denver’s zoning code. Working with these citizen groups, the City Council and several national experts, Denver’s Community Planning and Development Department is well underway with the first comprehensive reorganization of Denver’s zoning code in 50 years, bringing regulatory tools in alignment with the community vision embodied in Blueprint Denver.
Rather than reacting with quick “fixes” to emerging concerns that, in the past, have often created other unintended impacts, the task force is committed to thoroughly evaluating challenges with Denver’s zoning code and finding effective, practical and sustainable solutions.
This does not mean that we are waiting to take action. For example, the recent application of new Main Street zoning districts along East Colfax Avenue will guide revitalization of this important corridor while respecting and supporting adjacent neighborhoods. The zoning code update team is also analyzing and testing solutions for the variety of challenges associated with residential redevelopment, specifically in residential neighborhoods with primarily single-family residences and duplexes.
Middle-class families with children demand larger houses than 50 years ago. If we want to attract and retain families with children in our city, we must realize that much of our smaller housing stock is insufficient for their needs. How we address these new expectations while preserving the character of our neighborhoods is something the entire city should work on together.
Over the last two years, we have worked to improve customer service in the area of neighborhood planning. Denver now offers computerized zoning maps, accessible to the public online at no cost. We have added four new positions in the planning office during 2006.
More importantly, we have reorganized and clarified the roles of our planning and zoning staff to enhance the city’s capacity to prepare citywide, neighborhood, corridor and transit-oriented development plans, which form the basis for land-use regulations including zoning.
As our community works together to shape our future, we will follow a balanced approach that integrates the desires of residents, affordable housing needs and unique, historic neighborhood character.
John W. Hickenlooper has been mayor of Denver since July 2003. As a private citizen, Hickenlooper received the National Preservation Award from the National Trust for Historic Preservation in 1997, for his work to preserve and restore historic buildings in downtown Denver.
