ARVADA — Arvada City Council voted Monday to rezone the city’s oldest neighborhood, meaning new construction of nursing homes, duplexes and apartment buildings will no longer be allowed in historic Reno Park.
The 7-0 vote moved the neighborhood to small-lot residential from multi-family residential. who wanted to preserve the neighborhood in the face of rapid development around the city center.
Of the 55 homes in the neighborhood, 45 owners said they “adamantly supported” rezoning, eight couldn’t be located and two were against it.
Speaking before council, Sharon England said residents wanted to prevent what’s happened to other neighborhoods across Denver from happening in Reno Park.
“It would be tragic if we let development ruin what we’ve worked so hard to preserve,” England said.
and doesn’t restrict designs of new buildings, meaning a property owner could scrape and build a modern-looking home.
City Manager Mark Deven said the city has applied for a grant to undertake new design guidelines, and if approved, the city would work with the neighborhood group.
Before the vote, Mayor Marc Williams said, “I think this is a perfect example of a neighborhood coming together with a request…to the city as a way to preserve a true historic neighborhood.”
Austin Briggs: 303-954-1729, abriggs@denverpost.com or twitter.com/abriggs
