Council approves rezoning in Athmore Park to allow a local medical clinic

Denver’s City Council voted to approve Council Bill 26‑0081 on March 16, 2026, changing the zoning classification for a property in Athmore Park to permit a local medical office and other mixed‑use development.

Joe Green, a planner with the city’s Community Planning and Development department, told the council the applicant seeks to rezone from a B1 district with historical waivers to N3, an urban‑edge mixed‑use zone that allows three stories and office uses. "The applicant is requesting to go from B1 with waivers... to N3," Green said in his staff presentation, and staff recommended approval based on consistency with Blueprint Denver and the West Area Plan.

The change removes older use waivers that, Green explained, formerly prohibited medical and similar commercial uses on the site. At the public comment portion, Jesse Paris — speaking for a set of neighborhood groups including the Black Star Action Movement and the Northeast Denver Residents Council — said a clinic would meet a community need. "People need to have access to health assistance in health care," Paris said.

Council discussion centered on the history of the site’s waivers and the neighborhood context. One council member noted the original 1980s waivers were highly specific and that freeing the site would allow needed services; another described the site’s proximity to existing commercial anchors as making it suitable for a clinic. The council placed the bill on final consideration and recorded the vote as 11 ayes, approving the rezoning.

The staff report noted planning board had recommended approval unanimously and that property owners were notified during the review process. The rezoning authorizes the N3 zone and the applicant’s stated intent to operate a local medical office; details about the specific tenant operator, licensing, or timeline for development were not specified in the hearing record.

Next steps: the approved rezoning changes the property’s allowable uses under the municipal zoning code and enables permitting and building review to proceed if the applicant pursues a development application. Any required building permits, licensing for medical services, or additional neighborhood notifications will follow city practice and separate approvals.