A bill for an ordinance changing the zoning classification for multiple properties in Sloan's Lake and six properties in West Colfax. Approves a legislative map amendment to rezone multiple properties from U-SU-B, U-SU-C, and U-US-C1 with UO-3 to U-SU-B1, U-SU-C1, and U-SU-C1 with UO-3 (allowing for accessory dwelling units), located in the Sloan Lake and West Colfax neighborhoods in Council District 1. The Committee approved filing this item at its meeting on 6-29-21.
Ten Eyes Cancer build 20 1-659 has passed our third public hearing tonight. We're on to it. Councilmember Black, will you please put Council Bill 7 to 0 on the floor for final passage? I moved that council bill 20 1-070 be placed upon final consideration and do pass. Thank you. I'm not seeing the second here. Oh, there we go. Thank you. It has been moved and seconded. The required public hearing for council bills. 7 to 0 is open. And we've got Libby here. So may we get the staff report? Yes. Okay, good. It's on the screen and you all can hear me. Yes. Okay, great. I'm Libby Adams with Community Planning and Development. And I'll be presenting the map amendment in Sloan Lake and West Colfax to allow for to use. This application is sponsored by Councilwoman Sandoval. The Map Amendment reasons. All single unit residential properties and Sloan Lake and then six properties in West Colfax neighborhood to allow for accessory dwelling units. This application is located in districts one and three in the Sloan Lake and West Colfax neighborhoods. The proposed rezoning includes about 1400 properties or 239 acres bounded by Sheridan Boulevard, Federal Boulevard, 17th Avenue, and then 29th Avenue. The proposed Map Amendment intends to rezone properties between Sheridan Boulevard and Lowe Boulevard and then Irving to federal from U.S. to U.S., U.S. one. And then properties between Lowe Boulevard and Irving Street, from U.S. B to U.S. U, B1, and then properties between about Grove and Federal. From us you see what the use overlay three to use U.S. you see one with the use overlay three. So the proposed zone districts are the same as the current zone districts, except that they allow for an accessory dwelling unit. Either the accessory dwelling unit use either within the primary structure or within a detached structure. As I just stated, the existing zoning is us sub us you see and us you see with the use overlay three and you can see the surrounding zoning. It's mostly single unit two unit and then park an open space to the south. These single unit districts all allow for the urban house building form with heights from 30 to 35 feet. And then the US you see what the use overlay three. That's the historic use overlay that does allow for some limited office and commercial uses within a portion of the what are coalfield historic district. This lone leg view plane is applicable to the southern portion of this rezoning. So this results in a building height limit of 16 feet directly east of Sloane Lake Park and then 61 feet closer to Federal Boulevard. However, the Denver Revised Municipal Code Section ten 137 does allow for new structures to be constructed up to 35 feet in height so this new plane won't have any impact on any single unit development in this area. There's also a historic district in the area that's closest to Federal Boulevard. And so this is the Witter Witter Coalfield Historic District. And all proposed accessory dwelling units in this area are subject to design, review and approval from the Landmark Preservation Commission. So the site and the surrounding properties are mostly single unit residential uses. There's also some two unit multi-unit and public quasi public uses located within the subject rezoning and then surrounding it. There's a variety of residential office and commercial uses, as well as parks and open space directly south. Here are some images of the area within the proposed rezoning. So the top pictures proposed to be re zoned to us. You see one the middle pictures in the area proposed to be reserved to U.S. would be one. And then the bottom picture, U.S., U.S. one with these overlay three. And then this shows some of the properties surrounding the rezoning. So you can see some of the commercial sites on 29th Avenue and then Federal Boulevard and then, of course, Sloan's Lake Park directly south. So District one council office began the outreach for this rezoning last fall. It included fliers, two virtual town halls and an online survey. And this map amendment was complete at the end of March. And then this went to planning board in mid-June where they unanimously recommended approval. The Sloan's Lake Citizens Group took a straw poll at one of their meetings earlier this summer, and most in attendance were in support of the proposed rezoning. Staff has also received eight letters of support in support of the proposed rezoning, citing a desire inappropriateness for a slight increase in density in this area. And then the council office also provided 30 letters with the application in support of the rezoning. And then we've also received ten letters in opposition, citing concerns such as traffic density, height, and that this rezoning could allow for multi-unit and commercial uses. However, this rezoning does not allow for any duplexes, triplexes or additional commercial uses. So because this rezoning is legislative, there are three review criteria that are applicable. The first is consistency with adopted plans, and there are four plans that are applicable to this area. The proposed MAP amendment is consistent with several of the strategies in the comprehensive plan which are outlined in the staff report and on this slide. Blueprint. Denver maps this area as the urban context. So the proposed zone districts are consistent with this plan direction a predominantly residential areas that are generally single and two unit uses. And then the proposed zone districts are consistent with the future places mapping of this area as low residential, which is mostly single and two unit uses and where accessory dwelling units are appropriate. Most of the future street types are local as also residential arterials and collectors. And all of these street types are mostly characterized by residential uses, which is consistent with the proposed residential zoning. The growth area strategy is all other areas of the city. This is where we anticipate to see 10% of new jobs and 20% of new housing by 2040. So allowing a slight increase in density by allowing 80 use is consistent with this growth area strategy. There are also several other policies and blueprints that this rezoning meets. So the first is policy for of the land use and built form section on housing, which talks about diversifying housing choice through the expansion of accessory dwelling units throughout all residential neighborhoods. The second is land use in built form general policy 11, which talks about implementing plan recommendations through large scale city led or city led legislative rezoning such as this one. And then the land use and built form general policy five talks about the importance of mitigating involuntary displacement, which I'll discuss in the further slides . So all large map amendments such as this one should be guided by the equity concepts that are found in Blueprint Denver. So the Access to Opportunity Score is a composite of the Neighborhood Equity Index developed by Denver's Department of Public Health and Environment. Proximity to high capacity transit and access to centers and corridors. This area has moderate access in this category, with access to transit being lower and access to centers and corridors vary throughout the neighborhood. So the proposed rezoning to allow for adus in Sloan Lake and a portion of West Colfax will bring more residents to an area that has greater access to health care and parks and open space. And the proposed rezoning will not have a direct impact on creating new centers and corridors, as it will only allow for residential uses. The vulnerability to involuntary displacement score is calculated by the Department of Housing Stability and based on median household income, percent of renter occupied units and the percent of residents with less than a college degree. Sloan Lake scores as vulnerable based on higher median house price, scores as less vulnerable based on higher median income, having a lower percentage of renters and higher educational attainment than Denver as a whole. Whereas the six properties in West Colfax score as vulnerable on all three indicators. So this proposed MAP amendment will provide opportunities for existing homeowners to supplement their income, while also increasing housing options in the neighborhood, allowing people with a greater range of incomes to live in the area. And it may prevent it from becoming vulnerable. The housing diversity score includes five measures. So the percentage of middle density housing, home size, diversity ownership versus rental housing costs, and the number of income restricted units in the area. The western portion of Sloane Lake and the properties in West Colfax are considered less diverse. For the four measurements shown in bold, while the eastern portion of Sloan Lake is seen as are students having a greater housing diversity. So this map amendment to allow it to use will introduce a new housing type and bring more renters to a largely owner occupied single unit area. And then for jobs diversity. So this map shows the mix of jobs in the area with the dominant industry depicted by color. So this area has a higher proportion of retail jobs in the city as a whole. However, as you can see, there's good chunks of the map that don't are represented by a color. And that's because there's not enough data for us to determine which job is significant in this area. So and this map amendment will have a negligible impact on jobs diversity. And then housing and inclusive. Denver was adopted in 2018 and contains recommendations that are directly relevant to this MAP amendment. The plan recommends expanding the development of Adus as they incentivize affordable and mixed use housing. So the proposed MAP Amendment, which will expand access to Adus and is therefore consistent with this recommendation. And then the West Colfax plan is applicable to just the six properties that are at 17th and Meade. And this neighborhood concept for this area is urban neighborhood, which allows for single unit carriage houses, duplexes, row houses, townhomes and small apartments with heights two, 1 to 4 stories. So the proposed rezoning to allow adus in this area is consistent with the urban neighborhood guidance. This Map amendment will result in uniformity of district regulations, and it furthers the public health, safety and general welfare by implementing Blueprint Denver and by allowing more residents in an area that has greater access to health care and parks and open space. And it will also further the general welfare body of the city by providing housing, diversity and opportunities to help residents at a range of income levels continue to live in the neighborhood. So based on finding, all three criteria have been met. Staff recommends approval of this rezoning, and that concludes my presentation. All right. Thank you, Libby. And this evening, we have three individuals signed up to speak and all of them are joining us online. And so we'll go ahead and go to our first speaker, Alan Cowgill. Hi. My name is Ellen Cowgill. I live in the 2100 block of Newton Street. First of all, I went to I am a member of the Stones Citizens Group. I'm not speaking on behalf of the group, but I am a member. I want to thank Councilwoman Sandoval for her community outreach. Her team members, Manny and Naomi, have been at many of our meetings over the last few months walking us through the process. I think this is a great addition to our neighborhood. Anything that we can do to add more affordability. I myself, we just bought our house six years ago and there's no way we can afford it today. So I would welcome more folks to share this neighborhood with, and I'm really appreciative of the work that councilwoman sent them. Thank you. Thank you. Our next speaker is Jesse Paris. Yes. Members of council, those watching at home, those that are in the chamber. My name is just Elizabeth and I'm representing four black sites to move for self defense, positive social change, as well as the Unity Party of Colorado in front line black males. And I will be the next November 2023. I'm in favor of this rezoning tonight. We need accessory dwelling units in all areas of the city, not just District one or three, but all districts of the city. I supported any use when I ran for City Councilor Large in 2019, when I got almost 15,000 votes with no money , and I will continue to support them in 2023 when I run for mayor. So I am for support of this rezoning tonight. My. Thank you. Thank you, Jesse. Our last speaker is Patrick Murphy. Hi. Yes, I just want to call calling. I live at 2811 Utica Street in Councilwoman Sandoval's zone. And this this option for to use is a is a great step forward for our neighborhood. The presentation did a great job at the macro level. I just wanted to talk a little bit about the micro level and with the micro that we will be able to for for my family at this point, we will be able to actually have my, my, my ailing mother come and live with us in the next couple of years because of because of this resolution, it helps out so much for little micro micro scenes like that. And I appreciate you all for doing this. And we really look forward to having this aid. You are this age, you past. Thank you very much. All right. Thank you. And thank you to our speakers for joining us. All right. We're going to go ahead and move on. Questions from members of Council on Council Bill 7 to 0. Council member Hines. Thank you. Council President You mentioned Sloan's Lake, Sloan Lake. Um, I don't know what you call it. Is it Sloan Lake? Sloan's plural lake? Is it Sloan's possessive lake? Can you help me solve that riddle? Yeah. So, Councilman Sandoval, correct me if I'm wrong, but my understanding is the statistical neighborhood is Sloan Lake, and the park is Sloan's Lake Park. And the lake itself is flowing. Lakes Lake. That? I don't know. Okay. Thank you for promoting it. Use in our city. Thank you. Council president. All right. Thank you, Councilmember Hines. And we'll get that cleared up. I think we're all going to be Googling, Googling that later. I want to take a quick pause. It looks like we don't have Councilmember Ortega is hand-raised. No questions from her. All right. Very good. Then we're going to go ahead. And the public hearing is closed. Comments by members of Council on council bills 7 to 0. Council Member Sandoval. Thank you, Madam President. First and foremost, I'd like to thank Libby. Libby from CPD in all your hard work. We started this over a year ago looking at a map of where the current entitlement was and where could we add it. So thank you for your due diligence. Second of all, I would love to thank Naomi Grendon for my office, who's my land use planner for North West Denver District one. She goes above and beyond with her community outreach and her due diligence and the way she puts together information in a meaningful and thoughtful manner so people can understand it, who don't talk zoning all the time. So big shout out to Naomi and then my other staff. So as we started this process, looking at where I could add accessory dwelling units, we were looking at how many one off ADOS were coming through and Sloan's Lake had the most at that point of time, not the most permits pulled, but the most homeowners coming and paying $1,000 and asking for a rezoning. As for the name Sloan's, I think it's called Sloan's Lake Neighborhood with an S. There is lots of back information on that, and I don't think there is a clear answer. I think it's Sloan's Lake, Sloan's Lake Park. I put a s on a lot of things that I probably shouldn't put S's on. I grew up talking that way, so it's probably maybe a Latino thing where you go, you add S's to certain things. So to 80 use are a perfect way to add gentle density in our single unit neighborhoods, which make up the vast majority of zoning in Denver. If we got a map not long ago from community planning and development that looked at where all the adus are being built and predominantly they're being built in northwest Denver. And I will say one thing we do not get for phone calls about accessory dwelling units, and we do not get complaints about accessory dwelling units. Most people don't even know they're there because of the type of gentle density that they're adding into the neighborhood. I will say that although we are changing the entitlement this half this evening for these parcels, there's many, many barriers still in the way of building an accessory dwelling unit. I'd like to give a shout out to council mentors, to partnering with me. When I looked at the map and I saw that there were six properties in her district, I called Councilwoman Torres right away and asked if I could lead the charge on her behalf of her constituents. She said yes. And then we reached out to West Denver Renaissance Collaborative. That's working in the West Colfax neighborhood to bring accessory dwelling units into homes for people who can use them for neighbors or their rent for their family, and to also be able to stay in the neighborhoods that they like. So thank you to Renee Martinez Stone and the West Denver Renaissance Collaborative with the release last week of the 2021 House Strategic Plan. I'm hoping resources can be allocated to CPD and host to work on this important topic of accessory dwelling units. If we really care about housing, we need to put money where our mouth is. And currently there are numerous barriers to building an accessory dwelling unit and I look forward to CPD bringing forward the task force to address these. One of them is a minimum zone lot size. I will be transparent, although I'm adding entitlement to this entire neighborhood. A big chunk of this neighborhood would not be able to build an accessory dwelling unit because of the minimum zone lot size. So I will have to tackle that next. I talked to the neighbors and said I would change the entitlement process for them and now I'm going to have to go in and figure out how am I going to deal with the minimum zone lot size so that these parcels can build excess. Three dwelling units if they'd so like with that. Thank you. Oh, I would like to think the residents of the Sloan's Lake neighborhood for participating in this survey. We had numerous people fill them out. And interestingly enough, of the people that were surveyed, only, only a very small percentage will actually build them. Right now, 32% said they plan do not plan to build an accessory dwelling unit, but would like to have the entitlement. So if you wonder if people read our emails or our postcards, 55% said they received a postcard in the mail and that's how they got involved. So for all my colleagues, please make sure that we're continuing to reach out to our neighborhood. And one last thing. Thank you, Naomi, for doing everything in English and Spanish. Although we only got one response in Spanish, it still proves that it's very important to have things bilingual. And with that, I ask all my colleagues for support. Thank you. Thank you, Councilmember Sandoval. And I'm not seeing any other hands raised. I wanted to make sure we didn't have any hands raised online. All right. Looks good. All right. Well, and I will go ahead and add that seeing this does meet all of the review criteria. I'm happy to support it tonight. And thank you, Councilmember Sandoval, for your leadership and partnership with Council Pro-Tem Pro-Tem Torres on this important topic. All right. Madam Secretary, roll call on Council Bill 7 to 0, please. Sandoval. I. Sawyer, I. Torres, I. Black, I. CdeBaca, I. Flynn. I. Hi. Hi. Cashman. Hi. Ken. Each hi, Ortega. I. Madam President. I am Home Secretary close to voting and announced the results. 11 Knives. 11 Eyes Council Bill 20 1-720 has passed. All right. Our pre adjournment announcement. Thank you, Libby, for a great presentation and for the community members who joined us on commenting on it. On Monday, August 30th, Council will hold a required public hearing on Council Bill 21, Dash 759 changing the zoning classification for 2569 South Federal Boulevard in