The poll query:
Shall the Constitution of the Metropolis and County of Denver be amended regarding zoning to take away current Constitution language relating to the Board of Adjustment and require that the procedures for appeals, variances, and exceptions from the zoning code be addressed in metropolis ordinance as an alternative of within the constitution?
What it does:
This measure would erase a giant chunk of the town constitution that establishes the Board of Adjustment and Zoning and its authority to listen to and make selections round zoning variances requested by Denver residents and builders.
It replaces that with a a lot shorter part that empower the Metropolis Council to offer a course of and standards for submitting appeals and granting variances and exceptions to the town’s zoning code.
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What proponents are saying:
That is one in all two “good governance” measures that the Metropolis Council referred to the April 4 poll together with one other proposed change to the way in which zoning challenges are dealt with, Referred Query 2N.
Councilmembers Robin Kniech and Amanda Sandoval sponsored the trouble to refer the query to the poll. The prevailing construction counting on the Board of Adjustment was created 100 years in the past earlier than the town had a uniform zoning code, the 2 defined.
It’s rigid and works towards the pursuits of residents looking for variances that, amongst different issues would permit them to protect buildings, save mature timber and do different issues that aren’t outlined within the variance standards as we speak, Kniech stated.
Council doesn’t plan to eliminate the Board of Adjustment. After updating guidelines round how that physique is appointed and operates final yr, this constitution modification would clear the way in which to permit for fundamental variances to be permitted rapidly by means of an administrative course of whereas bigger variances would nonetheless be heard by the board, Kniech stated.
Simplifying the constitution language additionally permits the town to be extra nimble and sustain with its personal adopted plans and greatest practices. The council would have the facility to replace guidelines by way of ordinance as an alternative of getting to come back again to voters for a constitution modification any time a change could also be wanted.
“Folks ought to have the proper to attraction issues. They need to have the proper to get variances,” Kniech stated. “The main points and requirements for these must be in (metropolis) ordinance,” not the constitution.
What opponents are saying:
Nobody submitted feedback to the town in opposition to this measure in time to be included within the poll info booklet. JHB has not discovered any group publicly talking out towards it. Denver Republican Get together opposes Referred Query 2N however has taken no place on Referred Query 2M.
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