Thousands in Denver join nationwide protests
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Over the weekend, thousands of protesters locally and around the world marched to express rightful outrage over the murder of George Floyd at the hands of police officers in Minnesota. Community Planning and Development joins Mayor Michael B. Hancock and everyone in Denver in remembering Mr. Floyd and all those who have been victimized by racism across the United States.
The city urges protesters to demonstrate peacefully and observe the curfew established over the weekend to curb night-time violence and vandalism.
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Free COVID-19 testing available at the Pepsi Center
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If you participated in the protests this weekend or if you are experiencing a fever, cough or shortness of breath, please consider taking a COVID-19 test.
There is no cost for the test.
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Meet Denver's new Planning Services Director
As Community Planning and Development (CPD) considers how to continue to serve Denver's needs during challenging times, our planning division has a new leader at the helm. Earlier this year, CPD Executive Director Laura E. Aldrete promoted Sarah Showalter to director of planning services.
Sarah joined the city as a senior city planner seven years ago and has had a key role in numerous projects across the city. Most recently, she led the update of Comprehensive Plan 2040 as citywide planning supervisor.
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CPD's new Planning Services Director
Sarah Showalter works from home.
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Q. How did you become interested in planning as a career?
A. I was drawn to planning before I knew it was a career. As a student at East High School, I was struck by how different Denver’s neighborhoods were and found myself asking questions like, “Why do some neighborhoods have bigger houses and sidewalks, when others don’t?” My interest in how the city was built and how its neighborhoods evolved translated to a passion for urban planning in college, when I learned it was a career and interned for a Denver City Councilwoman in District 7.
Q. Do you have a favorite memory from your work on Comprehensive Plan 2040?
A. There are many great memories. I think my favorite might be the moment City Council voted to approve it – we knew it would be a long hearing, and surprisingly, the vote came before midnight! I hugged David Gaspers and realized our three years of monumental work on Blueprint Denver and Comprehensive Plan 2040 had finally reached the most important milestone.
Q. What’s the best part of working for the city you grew up in?
A. That I can give back to the community and city that I love. I feel deeply connected to Denver since it is my first home so everything we do in CPD to make Denver better feels extra special.
Q. What are your goals as planning director?
A. I look forward to continuing work to implement Blueprint Denver and Comprehensive Plan 2040. I want to make sure those plans stay relevant. Especially in this time of uncertainty due to the impacts from COVID-19, it is important to remember our goals and not lose sight of the city we want to be. Another big goal is to continue to be innovative and more inclusive in our community engagement. We are learning a lot from social distancing about virtual engagement that can carry into our work long-term.
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One year later, annual reporting is underway for Blueprint Denver and Comprehensive Plan 2040
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After the city's Comprehensive Plan 2040 and the Blueprint Denver land use and transportation plan were adopted by City Council in spring 2019, Community Planning and Development committed to measuring outcomes related to the plans' goals, policies, and strategies. The first annual reports for both plans are now available online:
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Denver Zoning Code update revised
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After two years of work with a public advisory committee, city planners are nearing completion of a broad overhaul of the Denver Zoning Code’s residential use regulations that will increase housing opportunities and flexibility for all residents.
After taking into account public feedback received at a series of open houses held in February and March of this year, several recommendations in the proposal
have been revised
. This includes limiting the number of unrelated adults who can legally live together to five, instead of the initially proposed eight. Using five as a base number will still keep Denver in line with the average for Front Range municipalities.
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Temporary outdoor expansion program for restaurants and bars
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Over the past several weeks, Community Planning and Development has helped the city put together a new program to help bars and restaurants during the COVID-19 pandemic by allowing these businesses to expand their dining rooms to the outdoors. The intent of the program is to allow for greater physical distancing and safety for patrons now that the state’s public health orders have allowed restaurants to resume sit-down service.
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Virtual learning opportunities
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Green Buildings Ordinance
June 24 | 12-12:30 p.m.
Compliance options for roof replacements on commercial and multifamily buildings will be covered in this session.
Registration is not required.
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Energy Code Training
June 18, 22, 23, 25 | times vary
Denver has adopted an updated energy code, which becomes effective July 31, 2020. Residents and industry professionals are invited to learn more about the new requirements in one of our virtual sessions.
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Boards and commissions add online options
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The Denver Planning Board, the Landmark Preservation Commission and other advisory boards have been able to reconvene while continuing to allow for social distancing for participants and observers.
Starting Monday, May 11, boards and commissions resumed offering in-person public hearings, subject to new health and distancing guidelines and with a heavy emphasis on most participants still attending virtually.
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Principal City Planner Kristofer Johnson gives a virtual update to Planning Board.
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Information on how to listen to, watch, or speak at virtual hearings
is posted on
our calendar
and on each board's webpage ahead of time. Planning Board meetings will continue to be broadcast live on Denver's Channel 8 and
Denver8.tv
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Check out the second draft of the East Central Area Plan
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City planners received hundreds of comments on the first draft of the East Central Area Plan. After reviewing all the community feedback, we're back with a revised draft of the vision for the neighborhoods of Capitol Hill, North Capitol Hill, City Park, City Park West, Congress Park and Cheesman Park. See the new draft -- and all changes here:
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Take West Plan survey yet?
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Don't miss your chance to weigh in on mobility and transportation issues in the West Denver neighborhoods of West Colfax, Sun Valley, Villa Park, Barnum, Barnum West and Valverde. Take the survey and share your priorities and concerns:
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Read the first draft of the East Area Plan
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The draft vision for the neighborhoods of South Park Hill, Hale, Montclair and East Colfax is waiting for your comments! Read the recommendations in this plan and tell us what you think by commenting directly on the document or using our general feedback form:
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Celebrating Denver's beauty
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During the month of May, city planners took to Instagram to celebrate National Preservation Month by highlighting the buildings and districts that tell the story of Denver's history, architecture, geography and culture.
What are your favorite Denver landmarks? Tag us on Instagram at
@denver_landmark
and use the hashtags #ThisPlaceMatters #ThisPlaceMattersDenver or #SavingPlaces.
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After more than five-decades of service to the City and County of Denver, longtime CPD employee Janice Cornell finally called it a career on the last day of March. Janice played a key role in CPD's day-to-day administration and ushered countless new employees into the department. In her honor, Mayor Michael B. Hancock declared March 31, 2020, "Janice Cornell Day."
We are grateful for her many years of service and wish her the best in her well-earned retirement.
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BUILDING COMMUNITY:
About Community Planning and Development
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Denver Community Planning and Development (CPD) is responsible for visionary city planning and ensuring safe, responsible, sustainable building. CPD regulates planning, zoning, development and maintenance of private property in Denver. We're BUILDING COMMUNITY -- working hard to make Denver a great place to live, work and play! Learn more at
denvergov.org/cpd
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