The Denver City Council on Monday approved a rezoning for West Washington Park after property owners jammed the chambers to complain about huge duplex developments going up in their neighborhood.
The council on a 11-1 vote rezoned 208 acres in the neighborhood at the urging of Councilman Chris Nevitt, a resident of the area. Councilman Charlie Brown was the only dissenter, and Councilwoman Jeanne Faatz, who has expressed opposition in the past, was absent.
The area is bounded by Cedar Avenue, South Downing Street, the alley west of South Clarkson Street and Mississippi Avenue. The rezoning will change the area from R-2, which allows new construction to take the shape of multiplexes and duplexes, to R-1, which primarily restricts new construction to single family residences.
The council also approved an 18-month moratorium that would not allow residences with more than two units to be built in another area of the neighborhood that stretched to the west.
Council members were more conflicted on that proposal, with members Rick Garcia and Jeanne Robb expressing opposition.
Christopher N. Osher: 303-954-1747 or cosher@denverpost.com
