Arapahoe County to discuss proposed HB24-1313 rezoning maps July 28; hearing date unset

Arapahoe County commissioners are scheduled to discuss proposed HB24-1313 rezoning maps July 28, but the county has not set a date for formal hearings or adoption.

The Board of County Commissioners’ study-session agenda describes the item as an update on rezoning efforts and asks the board for direction. It does not record a rezoning vote or set a later hearing date.

The maps would move properties into residential multifamily, or R-MF, and mixed-use, or MU, zones. The county presentation describes R-MF as allowing 13 to 35 dwelling units per acre and MU as allowing at least 35 units per acre with no stated maximum in the presentation. Those are proposed zoning outcomes, not entitlements for specific projects.

The proposals cover:

• Federal Enclave: 73 parcels would be rezoned to R-MF and 39 to MU, with projected capacity for 650 and 566 dwelling units, respectively.
• Dry Creek: 46 parcels would be rezoned to MU, with a projected 20,125 dwelling units. The area includes property around the Dry Creek light-rail station and Inverness.
• Four Square Mile: 370 parcels would be rezoned to R-MF and 96 to MU, with a projected 8,506 dwelling units.

The county presentation says the three proposals together would produce 16,847 residential units, 2,329 fewer than the total staff says is needed under its current calculation. Options for commissioners include applying 35 units per acre to both R-MF and MU, adding Belleview Avenue to the study area, increasing the Dry Creek calculation from 35 to 100 units per acre, or creating a new MU-X district. The packet does not identify one option as an adopted policy or final staff recommendation.

Survey feedback varied by area:

• Federal Enclave: 69% of respondents were supportive or neutral and 31% opposed rezoning. Respondents preferred townhomes and duplexes over apartment complexes; traffic and parking ranked as the most important goals to address. The survey summary says 21 people attended the February open house and 15 survey forms were completed.
• Dry Creek: 32% were supportive or neutral and 68% opposed rezoning. Respondents preferred townhomes and duplexes and raised concerns about traffic, parking, water infrastructure and crime. A traffic study is underway for potential impacts from increased density, county materials say.
• Four Square Mile: 92% were supportive or neutral and 7% opposed, percentages that appear to reflect rounding. Respondents favored mixed-use housing with ground-floor commercial space and residences above, as well as townhomes. Traffic was the top concern, followed by noise, parking, utility capacity, neighborhood character and building height, survey materials show.

The July 28 meeting is a discussion and direction-setting step, not final zoning action. Until the county publishes a hearing schedule and the board adopts changes, the maps remain proposals and the projected unit totals do not change current zoning.