Two competing initiatives seek to change city regulations for residential and commercial development on the city's parklands and open spaces.

Two measures aiming for this November's ballot will ask Denver residents to vote for or against development on protected green space. "One measure would prohibit commercial and housing construction without voter approval on any parks and city-owned land protected by a conservation easement, including the 155-acre former Park Hill Golf Course, where development has been blocked since 1997," reports Bruce Finley in the Denver Post. "A counter-measure that also has cleared initial review, put forward by the Westside Investment Partners developers who own the Park Hill land, would change the definition of “conservation easement” to make an exception for this property — and could apply to other protected open space."
Currently, "[s]tate law governs conservation easements and lifting restrictions requires a state court order. A state judge first must determine conservation is impossible." Despite this, officials are exploring the potential for a mixed-use development at Park Hill. Despite growing voter support for ballot measures that demand open space in and around Denver, "green space hasn’t kept pace with population growth and development. About 8% of Denver is designated as parks, compared with 20% and greater in other large U.S. cities." Park Hill, financed by a $2 million easement voted on by taxpayers in 1997, is the city's largest open space and a much-needed parkland in northeast Denver, "an area that city maps identify as relatively deficient in park space and where heat islands amplify temperatures."

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

Chicago’s Ghost Rails
Just beneath the surface of the modern city lie the remnants of its expansive early 20th-century streetcar system.

Amtrak Cutting Jobs, Funding to High-Speed Rail
The agency plans to cut 10 percent of its workforce and has confirmed it will not fund new high-speed rail projects.

Ohio Forces Data Centers to Prepay for Power
Utilities are calling on states to hold data center operators responsible for new energy demands to prevent leaving consumers on the hook for their bills.

MARTA CEO Steps Down Amid Citizenship Concerns
MARTA’s board announced Thursday that its chief, who is from Canada, is resigning due to questions about his immigration status.

Silicon Valley ‘Bike Superhighway’ Awarded $14M State Grant
A Caltrans grant brings the 10-mile Central Bikeway project connecting Santa Clara and East San Jose closer to fruition.
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