Denver Suburbs Preparing for a Transit-Oriented Future

John Aguilar reports on the land use decisions of the city of Wheat Ridge—a bedroom community west of Denver—in preparation for the region's expanding transit system.

The city approved a zoning change that will allow for "a sizable multifamily housing development to go in next to the end-of-the-line station on the G-Line," according to Aguilar. The G Line is expected to open to service in October, as part of a series of transit openings in the region this year, as part of the FasTracks system expansion.

Wheat Ridge isn't the only Denver-area suburb to make room for more multi-family development, according to Aguilar. "Twenty miles away, Lone Tree has massive plans at not only its existing Lincoln Station light rail stop but for three additional stations that will be built over the next two years as part of the Regional Transportation District’s Southeast Rail Extension." The mayor of Lone Tree has described transit-oriented development as a "new Colorado Gold Rush."

Back in Wheat Ridge, the zoning change isn't the only way the city is preparing for its new transit options. "Wheat Ridge recently hired a consultant to help identify the steps it needs to take to 'catalyze TOD development' at the station while voters this fall will decide whether to pass a sales tax increase that will pump $12 million into street construction and a pedestrian bridge at the site," writes Aguilar.