[{"_1":2,"_87":-5,"_88":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6393156,"mediaKeyId","2107854-8f2d7f07aa0c12fc2e8f4c653cd0c519","parentId",2107854,"title","Committee forwards zoning changes to limit new gas stations near rail, other stations and residential districts","audioSeconds",2838,"startMs",1506000,"endMs",4344000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2107854-8f2d7f07aa0c12fc2e8f4c653cd0c519&start=1506&end=4344","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2107854-8f2d7f07aa0c12fc2e8f4c653cd0c519/thumbnail_1506000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6393156/Denver-Consolidated-County-and-City/Colorado/Committee-forwards-zoning-changes-to-limit-new-gas-stations-near-rail-other-stations-and-residential-districts","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6393156-eb93b41c87f6b1057a5abbd600aebee0/orig.mp4?Expires=1771123736&Signature=jUXny3MCbQ8T4RPI8TP66i9JnzHtPVvsFvrgUj3reandcL-099S2J3hcFGXrCy8V3GrPU8cJoQdmYYYjWzmeOSlPn7hBcKAjETI12lzaDDH8BhOMqevicpRZnp-YNZGFVW-vqQ1Ydb9VYOHQvAYNwhnjjUcd0vhABdCaipNr-VRMkeL4za3dKjsVAeb97WVrYZZre2F9LnVuV5WkwJ4eVTURgtSPlgwgILe0T0xKKAsb5H2qMn0B2idvRIkeIYIMPG7Zk7xGA9iwUMUBxNaICUcSNOVhen21Lv0F8YnLCofgyRY2WYVAKn6pqrTBD0H3WOrRy-PVdennl2MCPEi7IQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Denver, CO ","date","2025-01-07T00:00:00Z","article","The Land Use, Transportation and Infrastructure Committee on Tuesday voted to forward two zoning text amendments (files 241866 and 241867) to the full City Council that would limit where new retail gas stations (automobile fueling stations) can be established in Denver.

Community Planning and Development staff Alisa Childress and Andrew Webb presented the proposal on behalf of sponsors Council President Pro Tem Diana Romero Campbell (District 4), Councilmember Amanda Sawyer (District 5) and Councilmember Paul Cashman (District 6). Childress said the amendment would prohibit new retail gas stations in three circumstances: within a quarter mile of a rail transit station, within a quarter mile of an existing retail gas station, and within 300 feet of protected (low‑intensity residential) districts. The proposal would not apply to non‑public fueling facilities such as fleet or government fueling sites.

The proposed ordinance includes an exception that would allow a new fueling station where it is established simultaneously with a related large‑format retail use (for example, a full‑service grocery or big‑box store) in a single structure of 20,000 square feet or more. Childress and Webb said that threshold was chosen to allow traditional grocery anchors while limiting smaller convenience‑store fueling combinations.

The amendment also revises “compliant use” language in the Denver Zoning Code so existing gas stations that become compliant after the change could continue operating and would be allowed to add electric vehicle (EV) charging equipment. The ordinance contains a grandfathering clause permitting projects submitted for review by May 13, 2024, to proceed under the current rules.

Webb framed the change as consistent with Denver’s adopted plans—Blueprint Denver and the Comprehensive Plan 2040—by preserving land along corridors for transit‑oriented, pedestrian‑oriented and housing uses rather than additional auto‑oriented fueling uses. He said the Planning Board unanimously recommended approval on Dec. 18, 2024.

Sponsors and council members described the policy goals and stakeholder outreach. Council President Pro Tem Diana Romero Campbell thanked staff and sponsors and noted extensive parcel‑level review: “All of those dots that you see was painstakingly, they drove down every street, I swear, in Denver, to figure all of that out, to really put together a comprehensive list,” she said. Sponsor Amanda Sawyer summarized the policy aim: “The problem we're trying to solve here is an extreme proliferation of gas stations in the city and county of Denver on land that could and should be used for housing,” she said.

City staff reported outreach and public comment: the sponsor team mailed notices to about 18,000 commercial property owners in September 2024; public review opened Nov. 7; the Planning Board informational item was Aug. 21 and the Planning Board recommended approval Dec. 18. CPD reported about 123 public comments from 118 unique commenters: roughly 42% indicated support (including a letter from the Colorado Wyoming Petroleum Marketers Association); about 35% indicated opposition, citing property‑rights and competition concerns. Staff said all comments will be added to the council record through the council hearing.

Committee members asked several substantive questions. Councilmember Amanda Alvidrez asked whether the proposal would prevent redevelopment of abandoned stations that have underground storage tanks; staff answered existing stations can be reoccupied and compliant uses may be rebuilt without expansion, and that existing fueling footprints could be reconfigured to provide alternative fuels or chargers. Councilmember Hines and others discussed safety and traffic concerns tied to vehicle ingress/egress at fueling sites and asked staff to prepare maps and data showing overlap between fueling sites and the city’s high‑injury network for future presentations.

Parks and Recreation requested buffers around parkland; sponsors said that request arrived after public comment began and was not incorporated into the current draft but remains open for future consideration. The sponsors and CPD said they had engaged heavily with industry stakeholders during drafting; staff reported mixed industry input (some trade groups supported the proposal while some retailers opposed it).

After questions, Councilmember Jamie Torres moved to forward the two items to City Council and the motion was seconded; the committee adopted the block forward by voice/thumbs up. The transcript does not show a roll‑call tally; staff and sponsors said the items will proceed to a City Council public hearing for final consideration.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Denver Land Use, Transportation & Infrastructure Committee on 2025-01-07","oneSentenceSummary","The Land Use, Transportation and Infrastructure Committee voted to forward two text amendments (241866 and 241867) that would limit where new retail gas stations can be built in Denver, including buffers from rail transit stations, existing gas stations and low‑intensity residential districts.","taxTitle","Denver (Consolidated County and City), Colorado","taxId",3557,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6393161,"Planners recommend rezoning 4507 Rifle Way to SMX‑5 to allow suburban mixed‑use development",1425,80000,1505000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2107854-8f2d7f07aa0c12fc2e8f4c653cd0c519&start=80&end=1505","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2107854-8f2d7f07aa0c12fc2e8f4c653cd0c519/thumbnail_80000.jpg","/articles/6393161/Denver-Consolidated-County-and-City/Colorado/Planners-recommend-rezoning-4507-Rifle-Way-to-SMX5-to-allow-suburban-mixeduse-development","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6393161-29bf76719412abd8b10b9335e0df4ee9/orig.mp4?Expires=1771123736&Signature=lruDrESMnVTnPERSkpNN7PZxVYiDmJxWngsH02dgDTIW7ixPIoOAoKxjJZP~cL3UNndqs0dzuqNoj1eiV1SYbQ6AtX-4atJofzlfwoPLpNaZo6NxB9Q9D8jwo7ELYX-vXVgUGK~a3YKXt4VlgaFbkh1d0MiwKR56Zhf5QCQgM2V0Sug0tn1Jk0vhu0gGaaYzd6cxDt-JxjiVKxcdU47Abkt9NrgyizkFI0N8~pbHHRexy4xovHg54cU6dDWrzZXWEbzxLOGVGYcI69rBcgrChoPHD8NM133l0Z3IWViPRwDzLdnFSx6Fa7OdxK~dyNs3K3WlUaAyfktMksjcB6RoDQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","City planning staff on Tuesday recommended that the Land Use, Transportation and Infrastructure Committee forward a map amendment for 4507 Rifle Way (file 241794) to full City Council consideration. The request would rezone about 12 acres in the Gateway/Green Valley Ranch area from former Chapter 59 Planned Unit Development (PUD 319) into the Denver Zoning Code as SMX‑5, a suburban mixed‑use district that allows buildings generally one to five stories tall.

CPD planner Tony LaChuga told the committee the site is “approximately 12 acres” and largely greenfield land in the Gateway Green/Green Valley Ranch neighborhood, just east of Peña Boulevard. He said previous PUD rules limited the entire superblock H to 291 residential units; the new SMX‑5 district would permit additional residential development and a broader mix of neighborhood‑serving uses under current zoning standards.

City staff said the site already has roads and infrastructure planning completed under the older PUD. LaChuga said that because transportation, drainage and other infrastructure studies were already finished under the PUD, the city’s Large Development Review (LDR) process was not required. He recommended the committee move the map amendment to the full council; staff said they anticipate the council hearing in mid‑February (February 18, 2025).

Developer representative Tyler Carlson of Evergreen Development said the rezoning was initiated after conversations with neighbors and Councilman Gilmore. As Carlson put it, “the catalyst for the rezoning actually came from some conversations we had with, neighbors in the area and from Councilman Gilmore, who had indicated desire for some additional, for sale attached housing.” He said the team is under contract with KB Homes and is studying options that could yield roughly 100 for‑sale attached units (townhomes or stacked flats).

Committee members asked questions about transit access and traffic. Councilmember Chris Hines confirmed the parcel is outside the typical transit‑oriented development (TOD) boundary and has no internal light‑rail stop; LaChuga said the nearest stops are to the south in Aurora and to the north at 61st. Councilmember Amanda Alvidrez pressed staff on transportation impacts and expressed concern about additional demand on Peña Boulevard. LaChuga and staff said final site development review will involve transportation and other departments, and projects can be amended if agencies identify conflicts.

Committee members also asked about park and open‑space dedications. LaChuga said the Gateway subdivision rules set lower park dedication requirements for anticipated commercial parcels; because the rezoning would allow residential uses, staff is working with the applicant and Denver Parks and Recreation on a development agreement so the project’s parks and open‑space dedication will meet residential requirements. LaChuga said the development agreement is expected to be executed before the item goes to council.

LaChuga summarized the city’s equity and review findings: an applicability equity analysis was completed because of the site’s size; the area has an average access‑to‑opportunity score and a low vulnerability to involuntary displacement (staff noted the site’s small residential population can skew metrics). He said the SMX‑5 district would support a mix of housing types, including the “missing‑middle” housing the area currently lacks, and would better align future development with Blueprint Denver and the Far Northeast Area Plan.

No public comments on the rezoning were recorded in the CPD summary up to committee time. Staff recommended referral to the full council; the committee discussion recorded in the transcript focused on clarifying transportation and parks questions rather than a committee vote on the item.

If referred, the item would move to a City Council public hearing and final vote; staff indicated an anticipated council hearing date of Feb. 18, 2025. The committee did not record a formal roll‑call vote on the rezoning during the transcripted portion of the meeting.

Background: the property lies in Council District 11, near Green Valley Ranch Boulevard and Peña Boulevard, and was previously regulated under former Chapter 59 PUD 319. The SMX‑5 district is intended for suburban mixed‑use corridors and allows building forms up to five stories, designed to balance street presence and parking for less‑urbanized locations.

Next steps: CPD recommended the committee forward file 241794 to the full City Council; the applicant and CPD expect the council hearing on Feb. 18, 2025 and said they will present a development agreement addressing parks dedications before that hearing.","City planning staff on Tuesday recommended that the Land Use, Transportation and Infrastructure Committee forward a map amendment for 4507 Rifle Way (file 241794) to full City Council consideration.","actionData","errors"]

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Committee forwards zoning changes to limit new gas stations near rail, other stations and residential districts

Planners recommend rezoning 4507 Rifle Way to SMX‑5 to allow suburban mixed‑use development