Council opens public hearing on Santa Fe Yards stadium rezoning, postpones final vote to Dec. 22

Denver City Council opened the required public hearing Dec. 15 on Council Bill 25‑15‑41, a rezoning application to convert the former Gates Rubber site at 709 South Delaware into a Planned Unit Development (PUD G‑39) that would allow a National Women’s Soccer League stadium and related development.

Tony Lechuaga, planner with Community Planning and Development (CPD), described the request to change the site from CMX‑16 (urban center mixed use) to a PUD tailored to allow a dense, transit‑oriented stadium with a 150‑foot height cap (to respect Washington Park view planes), active edges on key frontages, customized fencing and sign rules, and requirements for a comprehensive sign plan. CPD recommended approval, noting the site is a long‑vacant brownfield and staff considered plan guidance, view‑plane limits and an existing Broadway Station development agreement.

The hearing featured 30 registered public speakers and broad community participation. Supporters — including neighborhood association leaders, WENU/WENEW (the community‑benefits coalition), business groups, park advocates, labor representatives and stadium supporters — emphasized that a Community Benefits Agreement (CBA) has been executed and pledges include LEED certification (all‑electric design and an annual sustainability dashboard), a $7 million total community‑benefits commitment over 10 years (with about $3 million front‑loaded), $300,000 for a high‑canopy urban forest, secure bike parking, vendor opportunities for local and women‑owned businesses, and a stadium‑ticket/RTD transit arrangement the ownership said it is negotiating with RTD.

Opposition speakers raised concerns about traffic and transit capacity at Broadway Station, proof of environmental remediation of the former industrial site, and the risk of displacement and gentrification. Council members asked staff, airport and fire officials, and ownership about bond priorities in the Broadway Station metropolitan district, emergency‑vehicle access (bridge load limits and vehicle routes), and the timing for HR and administrative implementation of certain items.

At the administration’s request the council postponed the final vote to Dec. 22, 2025 so the rezoning can be considered alongside related financing and infrastructure bills (several intergovernmental agreements and amendments ordered published that evening). Council recorded the postponement vote (10 ayes). Council asked DEN, CPD, Broadway Station partners and the stadium ownership to supply additional documents on financing, housing‑agreement impacts, pedestrian‑bridge funding and public‑safety access before the next meeting.