On Jan. 2, the Denver City Council’s Land Use, Transportation and Infrastructure Committee approved a new plan that aims to help promote better design, support transit and ensure that new development benefits the community of RiNo.
The plan approves an official legislative map amendment to rezone properties generally located within ¾ of a mile of the 38th and Blake RTD Station and within the boundary of the Future Maximum Building Heights Map and to establish the River North Design Overlay (DO-7) and 38th & Blake Incentive Height Overlay (IO-1) on those properties in Council District 9.
Under the plan, buildings could exceed the maximum heights now allowed if they provide specific benefits, such as affordable-housing units in the area around the RTD station, increased payments to the city’s Affordable Housing Fund, or allowing “community serving” uses such as artist studios or day-care centers.
Residential projects would be required to build affordable housing. The units could be offsite, but would have to be within the station area, with the goal of having 10 percent of the housing units be affordable to people with 80 percent or less of the area’s median income.
Non-residential projects would have a few options to exceed maximum building heights: Build affordable housing, pay increased affordable-housing fees, or pay the city’s standard affordable housing fee as well as provide community-serving uses.
