ZONING AND PLANNING COMMITTEE MINUTES – MAY 19
The INC Zoning and Planning Committee met on May 19. Tom Downey, the Director of Denver Excise and Licenses told the committee that he hopes to web-enable all license applications by the end of 2012. He said that his new system of designating neighborhoods around liquor and cabaret license applications will be implemented at the same time, with radii in linear feet instead of blocks (because the city's Geographic Information System cannot read blocks). He said that he has decided that "temporary" permits will be temporary and not allowed for up to six months, as some recent permits have been. He said that soon the department will be sending notices to registered neighborhood organizations, which is required by ordinance. He introduced the Department's Senior Fellow, John Jennings, and said that they will "in the next few months" revise the policies and procedures for liquor and cabaret licenses (which have been removed from the department's website). He said that he will ask for the help of INC representatives and other stakeholders to review them. He said that he will accept "good neighbor agreements" and will allow a limited number of conditions from GNAs to be placed on the face of licenses, so long as they are legal and enforceable. He said that he is still accepting comments about whether the 500-foot limit from schools should be eliminated for hotel and restaurant liquor license (only) applications and that he may set a public hearing for public comment.
Tom and several committee members discussed the recent phenomenon in a few neighborhoods, including West Washington Park and Ballpark of "beer buses" or "beer pedalcabs." He has not observed them, but thinks they probably violate state law if they are serving liquor and ferrying passengers. He invited neighbors to e-mail him information and/or photos. He remarked that his staff has been cut in all areas and that the department now has only 4 inspectors for all of the licenses from the department.
The committee discussed the budget for the upcoming third edition of the INC Neighborhood Handbook.
Jose Cornejo, the new Manager of the Denver Department of Public Works (sworn in on April 16) spoke with the committee. The department has 1100 employees, whose primary function is to plan, build and maintain the city's infrastructure. He said that he hopes to have interactions with neighborhoods and citizens instead of just making presentations, in order to develop a good level of trust between the departments and citizens. He said that he will need to cut $8 million from the 2013 city budget and determine the minimum level of services required. He said that Public Works is working with other departments to plan for an aerotropolis/airport city, connections between Auraria and downtown, Brighton Blvd., Interstate 70 improvements, the 16th Street Mall, Northfield-Stapleton, the east corridor for Fastracks and regional drainage, among other projects. In particular, he wants to think about health impacts in his planning. He said that "without citizen support, we cannot do anything."
The committee's next meeting will be on June 23. Contact Michael Henry for information – michaehenry824@comcast.net
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