How Will the New Zoning Code Affect North City Park?
June Meeting at Scott Church to Discuss New Zoning Code
Member or not, this is the meeting you need to attend! In case you missed it, the City of Denver, through the Community Planning and Development Office (CPD) has been working on updating the Zoning Code for the entire City since 2003. The last zoning code update was finished in 1956. Since the late 50′s, many variations and changes to the code have occurred. Our old code is a patchwork quilt of outdated and inconsistent rules for residential and business properties.
What our parents and grandparents envisioned as a great place to live and do business in the 1950′s is far different that our hopes, dreams and even the reality of how we live our lives now. In the 1950′s we did not know about global warming, did not think about alternative and less expensive sources of energy, or even understand terms like ‘solar access’ and ‘green living’.
All terminology (ie: the code) will change. What was known as R-1 will become SU. The language and rights of use will not change EVERY property, but will on SOME. The new code offers (generally) more rights and freedoms on many properties but as in the case of some of the properties in Curtis Park, these will be more ‘restrictive” and has the potential of devaluing that property. Depending on who you are and what you own, these changes could be viewed as a good or a bad move.
Over the past 4 years, many questions have arisen regarding how to implement a new code for the benefit of our current lifestyles and to plan for the inevitable changes in our future.
In the 1950′s, gas was cheap and everyone bought cars. The Inner City has very narrow streets and our gas is very expensive now. How does the new Zoning Code provide for parking on our land and on the public streets in front of our homes?
Many of us do not have a strong source of income or pension available after retirement. How do we age in place on social security only? Can I convert my house so I can continue to live there (install an elevator, widen doors for the wheelchair, add a room for my nurse?) Will the Zoning Code help keep me in my home or force me to move to a retirement village – away from my community?
What can the Zoning Code do that affects Public Works and the Building Codes?
Before the 1956 code, carriage houses were allowed in many residential properties. The 1956 Code made them illegal to build. We wanted more land and less density back then. We made changes in the building to include larger garages in the 1960′s when America became wealthy enough to own 2 cars. Now, our trend in the Inner City is to buy one cars and a Vespa or bicycles. But the Suburban Neighborhoods still need to drive to the grocery and do not yet have the level of public transportation that the inner city has. How will the New Zoning Code address these different needs?
We can have bee hives at our homes now – to help pollinate our trees and plants in the City. What other items could be in the Zoning Code that would provide options that will encourage better land use? Is there a restriction on how my front yard looks / what it’s size can be? Can I have a vegetable garden in the front, or must it remain in the back yard? Some of these questions relate to zoning.
The New Zoning Code directly and indirectly addresses how we use our property, how we live our lives in that property and what our Neighborhood will become over the next 50 years.
San Raphael Neighborhood has been active in helping our Councilwoman Madison and CPD develop a response that fits the needs and desires of their Community. Curtis Park has raised their voice too. North City Park and our sister neighborhood, Clayton, have been pretty quiet. And the clock is ticking.
We want and need to hear from our neighbors about any variety of issues and desires so we have the ability to get the right mapping in place for the future and sustainability of our neighborhoods. So, come to the NCPCA General Meeting on June 23 to participate and learn.
Clearly, there are issues that will be beyond our control and ability to alter: The light rail to DIA will run through a part of Clayton Neighborhood. The Community was mum a few years back and did not request or advocate to get a stop installed at York or Steele. Now the rail will have a stop at Colorado Blvd only. It would have helped the neighborhood greatly to have a stop at York or Steele. We missed that boat.
Will we miss the boat on the Zoning Code too? We have a short window of time – this month – to get our opinions and requests into the record for consideration by CPD. Their plan is to take our input, rework the Draft in July, then release the (probably) final version in August or September.
There is one Mapping Meeting scheduled for District 8 and is presented by Councilwoman Madison, with CPD on June 24th. This is the meeting where we can see the proposed Map of all the properties in the area. If your property is slated for a change, you need to know what that change means and how to decide if the change is right for you and your neighbors.
All neighbors of Skyland and Clayton are invited to attend this VERY IMPORTANT MEETING on June 23rd at Scott United Methodist Church at 6:00 p.m. to discuss and prepare for the Mapping Meeting on June 24th. .
Carla Madison will come to the General Meeting on June 23rd with the proposed Map of Zone changes for Skyland. Come to the meeting see if your address is affected by the New Zoning Code.
(See related article “Draft of New Zoning Code Online Now” for more Zoning information.)
Best Regards,
Penelope Zeller
303.832.6421
penelope.zeller@gmail.com
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