CPD Banner 3 12 13
In This Issue
Transit Oriented Development
City Planning
Your Home Improvement Projects
Denver Recognized as Nation's First Solar-Friendly City
Sidewalk Safety
Holiday Closures
Follow Us!
Did You Know?

Denver issued 
55,463 
building permits 
in 2012.

 

Quick Links
 


...
Join Our Mailing List
Transit Oriented Development on Track 

 

In the last five years, Denver City Council has adopted ten station area plans focused on creating vibrant transit-oriented communities. Successful transit oriented development creates beautiful, vital, and walkable neighborhoods while providing expanded housing, shopping and transportation choices. 

 

Denver's investment in station area planning is on track with the upcoming opening of the West Rail Line. The 12.1 mile long West Rail Line will be the first FasTracks line to open, and will connect Denver, Lakewood, and Golden. RTD plans to open the line on Friday, April 26, and will offer free rides that afternoon following a grand opening ceremony. RTD will offer free rides throughout the entire light rail system on Saturday, April 27. Paid West Rail service will begin on Sunday, April 28. Visit RTD's website for additional information about the grand opening. 

   

City Planning

 

Plans are essential investments

Planning Meeting
Globeville planning meeting

that guide future development in our community. In areas of Denver that will benefit from and thrive on an infusion of population, economic activity and investment, plans help us achieve that desired change. We're grateful for the extensive community participation in our various planning initiatives. Input from residents, businesses, property owners and nonprofits is essential to the success of each plan we develop.  

 

We have just completed a draft plan for the Decatur-Federal station area. The plan charts a course for Sun Valley to evolve into a thriving, healthy and livable neighborhood that better serves everyone who lives, works, or plays in the community. You can view the plan at our Decatur-Federal page, or check out a 9News story about the plan on the station's website.

 

We launched a neighborhood planning process for the Globeville neighborhood last year and held a public kick-off for the Elyria-Swansea neighborhood planning process in January. A larger unified plan for these contiguous neighborhoods will emerge from this process in order to provide plan guidance for the entire area.

 

We will launch a planning effort for the Golden Triangle neighborhood soon. You can learn more about these and other planning initiatives at DenverGov.org/CPD 

 

Your Home Improvement Projects 

Home Improvement

 

As spring approaches and you consider making an exterior improvement to your home, please remember that external changes to historic properties may require design review. Our Landmark Preservation staff conducts design review to assist property owners in maintaining key historic features of their homes. Through design review and approval, we ensure that the city's most treasured buildings and districts maintain their historic character. Preservation has a positive effect on property values -- in fact, homes in Denver's historic districts tend to have property values 16 percent higher than in their surrounding neighborhoods.

 

If your home is located within a historic district or has been designated as a landmark structure, projects such as window replacement, fencing, sheds, decks and additions are examples of exterior changes that require design review. You can check to see if your property is a Denver landmark or located in a historic district on our website.

 

You can quickly determine permit requirements for your home improvements and repairs at the Development Services website. Many simple projects such as replacing plumbing and electrical fixtures with similar items do not require permits. If you're considering hiring a contractor to do work on your home, the Better Business Bureau offers some helpful tips

 

Denver Recognized as Nation's First Solar-Friendly City 


The U.S. Department of Energy's
SunShot Initiative recently recognized Denver as the nation's first solar-friendly city. We post our requirements online, offer low-cost, same-day permits, perform streamlined inspections and provide a variety of educational materials about solar energy. Our Development Services division is proud of its efforts to make solar energy installations faster, easier and more affordable for Denver residents.  

Sidewalk Safety
Sidewalk Safety

 

The month of March frequently brings the heaviest snowfall amounts to Denver. The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons reminds us to be careful when clearing sidewalks after major storms. Shoveling deep accumulations of heavy, wet snow calls for warming up your muscles before shoveling by doing 10 minutes of light exercise. Pace yourself, take frequent breaks, and drink plenty of water. 

 

Denver requires property owners to clear the sidewalks adjacent to their property so that everyone has safe access throughout the city. Homeowners must shovel sidewalks adjacent to their property within 24 hours after the snow stops falling; businesses have four hours after the end of snowfall to remove snow. (For a look at how and when our neighborhood inspectors check sidewalks, check out this recent 9News story.) To report an unsafe sidewalk in Denver, dial 3-1-1 or visit www.DenverGov.Org/311.

 

Be sure to check on elderly neighbors and offer a hand when you can. Residents can sign up to be a "Snow Buddy" and volunteer to help an elderly neighbor shovel their walks. To volunteer, contact the Snow Buddies by phone at 720-264-3379 or online at www.voacolorado.org/Volunteer/Snow-Buddies. 

 

Holiday Closure March 25

 

Don't forget that City and County of Denver offices will be closed on Monday, March 25 for Cesar Chavez Day. Permit counters will be closed and no building inspections will be scheduled for that day. Please note that permit counter activity tends to be heavier on the Friday before and on the Tuesday following the holiday. You can plan your visit to the permit counter by dialing 720-880-3670 or visiting DenverGov.Org/DS to access the "Permit Counter Check-In" button.  

 

Follow Us @DenverCPD

We're tweeting about everything under the sun in Denver: our news, events and public meetings, as well as development, preservation, neighborhoods, transit, zoning and job openings. Follow us! We're going places...