Harvey Park News
and Events
President's Message
News from Jeanne Faatz
News from
Jeanne Labuda
News from
Chris
Romer
Upcoming Harvey Park Events
President's Message
by Paul
Brockwell
President - Harvey Park Improvement Association
At the start of the new year
and the first meeting of the year, turned into a small firework of opinions on
the new draft of zoning in the area of " Home occupations permitted by
Single Unit zone district ". Current and Draft Codes.
I thank the City's Zoning
representatives in their efforts to explained the large new draft of the
drafting new zoning codes. The meeting was too short of a time for the HPIA
members and the Zoning Representatives to fully express an understanding
agreement on some concerning issue of the HIPA members.
The HIPA members will
hopefully have another meeting in this year to meet with the Zoning
Representatives of the positive type of current and new zoning codes to agree
upon at the next schedules get to gather meeting.
In the mean time, before the
meeting, pleases check on line and visit:
www.newcodedenver.org This
page will help you to be better info and prepared for the next scheduled
meeting. Please, make a list of questions and concerns for you and the
neighborhood.
This is the beginning of the
new year for HIPA and the need to send in the membership support of $10.00 per
household, will aid in the support of the Newsletter for the HIPA neighborhood
residence owners and rents.
Please, continue the support
and aid in the volunteer support for HIPA Committees groups.
Next meeting at VFW Hall is Wednesday night, October 7, 2009, at 7:00 P.M.
Address: VTW Hall at 5220 West Warren.
Paul Brockwell
News from Jeanne Faatz
City Council - District 2
Denver
zoning officials look to improve code
Denver zoning officials have come up with a new zoning code that they say is a
big improvement. The revision uses words and pictures to convey an expanded
list of zoning options. They say this better links zoning designations with
planning documents and existing building patterns.
In our
council district, the proposed code would change little. We are primarily
single-family residences, which the new code describes differently. Instead of
the familiar R-1 and R-0 designations, it uses terms and drawings that speak
of forms and concepts. Zoning officials say this helps homeowners better
understand what they can do with their property.
The new
code defines minimum lot sizes, which makes it harder to assemble property and
build more houses on smaller parcels. This helps homeowners who want to
preserve the character of their existing neighborhoods. According to planning
staff, current townhouse and apartment designations will remain but with
different names. All Planned Unit Developments (PUDs) will stay the same, and
our commercial areas will have equivalent zoning.
In our
area, zoning already matches existing building. But that's not so in some
locations where single-family homes or duplexes sit on land zoned for higher
density. Homeowners who bought with the intention of developing their property
may feel the new code is taking their property rights. This is not a
controversy in southwest Denver.
Other
homeowners are concerned that the new code's bulk plane rules will increase
shading on their homes. Still others worry about Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs),
also known as Granny Flats, which allow renting but don't limit it to
relatives. Southwest Denver's proposed zoning does not allow ADUs.
City
planners have been having meetings to acquaint people with the proposed code.
I've asked them to brief people in our district at homeowner association
meetings to ensure high attendance. Call my council office at (303) 763-8562
or contact your homeowner group to find out where briefings will be in
September.
To see the
draft code and maps of how it would affect neighborhoods, go to
www.newcodedenver.org .
Dear Harvey
Park Neighbors,
One of the interim committees that I serve on is the Police Officers’ and
Firefighters’ Pension Reform Commission. This committee meets before this
newsletter goes out, but after I write this letter. On September 14, at our
first meeting, we will be considering four bill proposals:
Bill #1 will
repeal the authority of the FPPA (Firefighters’ and Police Pension
Association) to affiliate with local money purchase pension plans.
Bill #2 will extend the term of the retired firefighter or police officer
serving on the FPPA Board of Directors from 4 years to 6 years.
Bill #3 will authorize the FPPA Board of Directors to adopt rules suspending
benefits paid to a retired member who returns to work with another employer
who also participates in the defined benefit plan that the FPPA has.
Bill #4 will allow the FPPA Board of Directors to increase the member
contribution rate for the statewide defined benefit plan if certain
conditions are met.
I mention this
committee and these bills to show all of you that much of the business we
conduct at the State House is seemingly mundane, administrative in nature, but
is necessary to update programs and procedures. Bills such as these are
typical of many of the bills we pass. The majority of bills presented have
strong bipartisan support, and we work together very well to keep state
agencies and boards functioning as well as we can during these hard economic
times.
Of great concern to me, and to all of us, is the state budget situation. As we
receive economic updates, you will read about them in the newspaper shortly
after I learn about them at Joint Budget Committee meetings; I intend to
attend all of them this fall.
Please know that I will no longer hold monthly Town Hall Meetings, but instead
will hold them quarterly. I will meet monthly with any constituents who wish
to speak with me, on the second Tuesday of each month. At 6:30 a.m., at the
new coffeehouse in our district: The Nutty Bean, on West Quincy Avenue,
adjacent to the carwash in the Cosco Plaza. I hope to see you there, bright
and early!
Rep Jeanne Labuda
P.O. Box 27771
Denver, CO 80277-5528
303-666-2966
News from Chris Romer
State Senate
District 32
(Note: News from Chris Romer
will be included here as it is submitted...none yet received.)
Upcoming Harvey Park Events
Next HPIA Meeting
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
7:00 pm
(Note: We
do not have meetings in July or August.)
Location for the meeting:
(Please
note our new meeting location!)
V.F.W. Hall
5220 W. Warren Ave. (just West of Sheridan on Warren)...please park on
Warren!
Denver, CO
Meet
the policymakers from the
Harvey Park neighborhood.
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