The Denver City Council on Monday reopened a Park Hill zoning fight but ultimately rejected Councilman Charlie Brown’s push for an exemption for a woman who contended her property would lose $150,000 in the rezoning.
The woman, Meredith Carson, pleaded with the council a week ago not to go through with a rezoning of 21.5 acres in Park Hill that would restrict new development in the area to single-family residences.
She said a developer had wanted to buy the small home she had lived in for 32 years to build two duplexes. But the developer backed away after Councilwoman Carla Madison pushed to rezone the area from R2 residential, which encourages density, to R1, which encourages single-family homes. Carson’s home is in Madison’s district.
“It’s all I’ve got,” Carson told the council last week, saying the developer told her the property was now worth $150,000 less.
Despite Carson’s pleas, the council approved Madison’s rezoning proposal last week during a contentious meeting.
On Monday, Brown argued that it was only fair that the council give Carson a reprieve.
He quoted a tune of the folk singer Woody Guthrie, whose songs he said he used to sing when he was in a band years ago. ” ‘Through this world I’ve wandered ‘ ” Brown said, reciting the lyrics of Pretty Boy Floyd. ” ‘Some will rob you with a six-gun, and some with a fountain pen.’ ”
Councilman Chris Nevitt used the start of another Guthrie song, reciting: ” ‘This land is your land; this land is my land.’ ” He said the point was that the community was in it together and argued that spot zoning was the wrong way to go.
Madison also argued against exempting Carson’s property, pointing out that the land could still be sold for two single-family residences with the rezoning.
The council voted down Brown’s push 11-2, with only Councilwoman Jeanne Faatz agreeing.
In other action, the council approved a $440,000 settlement in a federal lawsuit filed on behalf of former firefighter Bill Cadorna, who was fired in 2002 after he was falsely accused of stealing a cookbook. The total amount of the settlement will rise to $850,000 once back pay is also included.
Christopher N. Osher: 303-954-1747
