The Denver Metro Badger

Denver City Council to consider rezoning Montessori site on Federal Boulevard

The proposed change could allow mixed-use buildings of up to five stories at 2246 N. Federal Blvd. after the school relocates, but it would not approve a specific project.

Published Denver
Color-coded land-use map showing the proposed zone-amendment site near Federal Boulevard and surrounding residential, commercial, office and open-space uses.
Color-coded land-use map showing the proposed zone-amendment site near Federal Boulevard and surrounding residential, commercial, office and open-space uses.

Denver City Council is scheduled to consider rezoning the 73,110-square-foot Montessori school site at 2246 N. Federal Blvd., a change that could allow mixed-use buildings of up to five stories after the school relocates, according to a presentation from Denver Community Planning and Development. The proposal would change the property from G-MX-3, DO-8 to U-MS-5, DO-8.

The proposed zoning would allow multiunit housing with ground-floor commercial space. The retained DO-8 overlay includes design and active-ground-floor standards along Federal Boulevard. The rezoning would not approve a specific building or construction project.

The Planning Board held a public hearing Aug. 19 and unanimously recommended approval. City Council’s Land Use, Transportation and Infrastructure Committee is scheduled to consider the request Sept. 15, followed by a City Council public hearing Oct. 19. As of Sept. 11, neither City Council action had occurred.

The Near Northwest Area Plan identifies up to five stories at the site, with up to seven possible through incentive heights. The U-MS-5 district is intended for pedestrian-scaled mixed-use development along collector and arterial streets and has a minimum height of 24 feet.

The presentation summarized 47 neighbor comments: nine supported the request, citing consistency with planning criteria and potential investment along Federal Boulevard. Opponents raised concerns about parking, affordable housing, building scale and construction management; some sought lower-scale residential development.

The site’s future transportation context includes a planned bus rapid transit route from Westminster to Englewood. The presentation said the route was in final design, with construction testing expected from 2027 through 2029 and service planned for 2030. Any future building would require a separate development proposal and review.