More than 6,700 properties along Colfax Avenue between Broadway and Yosemite will be rezoned to promote pedestrian-friendly development, in anticipation of future transit projects along a long stretch of the road. City Council unanimously approved the large rezoning project Monday.
Historically, Colfax was known to cater to cars, with miles and miles of drive throughs and motels. But the future of Colfax will look different with the arrival of a bus rapid transit line (BRT), which will bring faster, more pedestrian friendly bus service down Colfax.
That project is set to open in 2026. In the meantime, Councilmembers Chris Hinds and Amanda Sawyer set out to ensure that the future of Colfax development will similarly cater to pedestrians.
"Colfax is an iconic and historic symbol and street and area of Denver, and this rezoning is a pivotal step in preserving and enhancing its legacy as the years come," Sawyer said on Monday.
Hinds said the idea for the bill came from proposals for a drive-through credit union and a self storage facility along Colfax.
"It is important for us to place priority on people over stuff," he said.
The rezoning, which covers new development and renovations on properties within two blocks of a future bus station, will discourage things like drive-throughs and car washes while expanding sidewalk space for pedestrians and outdoor dining.
The bill does not change zoning use for buildings along Colfax or change things like parking requirements. It is similar to the approach City Council has taken in recent years with Tennyson Street and Santa Fe Drive to promote pedestrian activity.
But some residents think the rezoning does not go far enough.
Robin Rothman, who has lived near Colfax and Williams Street for more than 20 years, thinks the rezoning should do more to cater to pedestrians. She wants the city to apply the restrictions to the entire stretch of Colfax between Broadway and Yosemite, rather than restricted the blocks around BRT stops. She also wants the rezoning to do more to prevent fast food development, which could include a drive-through in addition to pedestrian facing infrastructure under the current bill.
"A zoning overlay that really doesn't have teeth to transform these auto-centric businesses really, I think, defeats a large part of the purpose," she said.
Senior City Planner Libbie Glick said the city worried that requiring commercial development in less dense areas of Colfax might be unsuccessful, which is why the zoning overlay does not cover the entire stretch. Meanwhile, a full residential building might be a better fit for those areas, Glick said.
"It was very intentional and thoughtful to be around those BRT stations," she said.
