Don't Forget: An updated draft plan is now ready for your review!

Residents in a meeting about the Near Southeast Area Plan

Reminder: Take a look at how public input shaped the updated draft plan

We received hundreds of comments on the first draft of the Near Southeast Area Plan and are now ready to share an updated, strengthened version. This new draft reflects feedback from residents, City Council members, and our partners in other city agencies, local organizations and businesses in the Near Southeast Area.

If you haven't already, take a look at the new draft and executive summary and review what we heard from community members who shared their thoughts on the first draft of the plan.

Read and comment on the updated draft plan

Download an updated executive summary

Save the date: Planning Board public hearing on draft plan coming April 19

Following the second public review period for the draft Near Southeast Area Plan, decision-makers will begin their review of the plan next month.

The legislative process begins with the Denver Planning Board. The board will hold a public hearing and vote on the draft at its meeting Wednesday, April 19. More information on how to participate in the hearing in person or virtually will be shared closer to the date. The hearing will also be broadcast live on Denver's Channel 8 and online at Denver8.tv.

Planning Board Public Hearing

3 p.m., Wednesday, April 19, 2023

Community input: Key Takeaways

City planners met with community members in person and virtually, at public workshops and in one-on-one conversations during office hours throughout the Near Southeast neighborhoods, and through intentional outreach to renters and refugee families.

Based on what we heard, changes were made to the draft plan to achieve the following:

Clarify missing middle policies and strengthen affordability recommendations
Allow additional growth along the Evans corridor with clearer recommendations for improving infrastructure to help people get around
Adjust place and height recommendations to achieve better transitions and compatibility with neighborhoods
Update economy related sustainability recommendations to include “Waste No More”
Expand arts/cultural economy and continuing education policies with additional recommendations from community input
Update and add additional housing statistics and goals
Add more detail to trail improvement recommendations
Improve streetscape and landscape recommendations for key corridors and parkways
Identify additional intersections for pedestrian and bicycle safety improvements
Identify additional streets for traffic calming opportunities
Add recommendations for additional bike lane opportunities and identify those existing bike lanes needing an upgrade
Include additional intersection safety improvements based on neighborhood level feedback

Use the link below to see a list of all substantive changes made to the draft and visit the plan page for more on what the planning team worked on and how the community participated.

See list of all substantive changes to the plan

DenverGov.org/NearSoutheastPlan

About the Near Southeast Area Plan

The Near Southeast Planning Area is made up of the neighborhoods of Washington Virginia Vale, Virginia Village, Indian Creek, Goldsmith and the area of University Hills north of Yale Avenue. It includes a variety of housing types, significant commercial corridors including Colorado Boulevard and Leetsdale Drive, and amenities like sections of the Cherry Creek Greenway and the Highline Canal. Several major redevelopment projects in the area have highlighted the need to work with the community to update outdated neighborhood plans or provide planning guidance in areas where no neighborhood plan exists. As part of the Neighborhood Planning Initiative, this project provides an opportunity to create a long-term vision for these neighborhoods that furthers citywide goals and priorities while addressing local neighborhood needs.

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