Plans for the proposed redevelopment of a stretch of Columbine Street in Cherry Creek North are on hold while Denver finalizes the area plan for the neighborhood.
Western Development withdrew its request for a zoning change because the final Cherry Creek Area Plan has not been adopted yet. That plan is likely to change the level of density permitted in the area.
“The plan sets the standard for Community Planning and Development to recommend approval for zoning,” said senior city planner Ellen Ittelson.
Western Development is proposing an eight-story, 70,000-square-foot office building on the northeast corner of Columbine and East Second Avenue. The $100 million development would step down gradually as it approaches Third Avenue, where a three-story building would include about 80 condos. The development also includes 38,000 square feet of retail space.
“The planning department encouraged us to set it aside until the current area plan is adopted,” said David Steel, a partner in Western Development. “You need a very strong recommendation from planning, and we didn’t feel we were going to get a strong recommendation. We didn’t want to be denied.”
Western Development is still struggling with opposition from the Cherry Creek North Neighborhood Association, which says issues such as building height and scale, public safety, traffic and parking have not been addressed.
“There is great resident and stakeholder concern over future traffic volume and direction, impediments to traffic flow, and traffic effects on the surrounding neighborhoods and general public safety,” neighborhood association president Wayne New wrote in a letter to the city’s planning department.
On March 14, the city issued a draft of the Cherry Creek Area Plan for public comment. The revised draft is expected to be issued May 9 and be on the planning board’s May 16 agenda. The planning board will hold a public hearing June 6. The area plan is expected to be submitted to the full City Council in July.
The plan is expected to be less restrictive than Cherry Creek’s current zoning, which allows for a height of 55 feet — generally four stories — and a floor-area ratio of between 1:1 and 1:1.5.
The floor-area ratio determines the size of building that can be built on a particular parcel of land. For example, a 10,000-square-foot parcel with a floor-area ratio of 1:1 can accommodate a 10,000-square-foot building. That could be 10,000 square feet on one level, 5,000 square feet on two levels or 2,000 square feet on five levels.
Margaret Jackson: 303-954-1473 or mjackson@denverpost.com
Timeline
May 9: Denver’s revised draft of the Cherry Creek Area Plan is expected to be issued.
May 16:The draft is expected to be on the planning board’s agenda.
June 6: The planning board will hold a public hearing.
July: The area plan is expected to be given to the full City Council.
