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Community Discussion
We have evolved a slightly new (and better, we hope) approach to the way Discussions will be presented on this page. When a new issue arises that calls for resident input or feedback, we will present the issue in general terms here along with some relevant background. Concurrently a new thread will be created on the discussion board and those so inclined may go there to contribute thoughts, reactions, or any feedback that you might want to make known.
The Discussion Forum will open in a new window when you click this link -> * DISCUSSION FORUM *
Hot-button Issues as of October 2008:
1. Neighborhood Parking
Background:
Minutes from the Denver Strategic Parking Plan Stakeholder Focus Meeting, 18 September 2008.
Bonita Lahey and Theresa Jacobs attended the Stakeholder Focus Group Meeting for the Denver Strategic Parking Plan on September 18th. The meeting was an opportunity for representatives of neighborhood associations from around the city to voice their concerns with ongoing public and private parking challenges in their residential and local business districts. The city's parking plan was first developed in the 1960's. It has not had a major overhaul until now.
About a dozen neighborhoods were represented and each had their say. Several had success stories to share in negotiating workable parking resolutions with local businesses (i.e. fan parking spillover to adjacent residential areas from Bronco's stadium). Others described challenges; such as DU student parking spillover that made our area's troubles with East High sporting events seem a bit more manageable in scope. We, with SCPNA, voiced our discontent with Parks and Rec's management of City Park events such as Jazz in the City, etc., insufficient Pinnacle Towers residential parking, and ongoing battles with local business patron parking spillover, particularly from music venues, along Colfax Ave.
Several general themes arose:
1. Inconsistency of parking rules among neighborhoods
2. Need flexible use/sharing of existing parking space- i.e. school parking and church lots in evenings and weekends, unused alley loading zones, underutilized apartment owned parking lots.
3. Increase enforcement of parking violations by the city in our neighborhoods and improve response times to residential complaints reported to the Traffic Engineering department (i.e. about missing or faded signage, etc.)
4. Whether or not a neighborhood should be zoned as "residential parking permit-only" - (in part or in full). There were pros and cons to this idea - on the whole it works IF it was enforced. If it is done block by block, it only pushes the problems to the next block - it needs to be more comprehensive.
5. Balancing local business district parking needs and planning with nearby residential street parking.
In Theresa's opinion, not enough discussion was devoted to encouraging bike commuting and encouragement of public transportation.
Over the years, many neighborhoods in association with local business leaders, have researched, drafted and proposed their own comprehensive parking management and land usage plans but have met with varying degrees of success in getting the city's cooperation in adopting their suggestions for regulations and permits.
As could be expected, it was clear that balancing limited space with an increasing volume of cars was an age-old, complicated challenge that would be ongoing and require some innovative thinking in zoning, use of technology, and management. More importantly, as the solution will be custom to each neighborhood's particular needs and demographics, it would behoove the city planners to work more closely with neighborhood leaders than in the past and utilize their wealth of experience.
The City expects to have its Strategic Plan by October of 2009. We will be posting progress reports on the SCPNA website.
For more information on the Denver Strategic Parking Plan, including documents used in the preparation, you can visit the following websites: www.denvergov.org/SPP and www.denvergov.org/knowparking
Go to the * Discussion Forum *
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2. Making 17th Avenue Safer to Cross
Background:
There has been an email exchange among several residents and SCPNA Officers regarding the fact that very often, in fact most of the time, it is very difficult for pedestrians to cross 17th Avenue to get to City Park. There currently exist lights and crosswalks at Fillmore and Steele streets, but nothing east of there until Colorado Blvd, thus residents of the eastern portion of SCP have to walk four or more blocks to cross, trust their physical skills by playing dodge-car and take their chances, or wait seemingly forever for traffic to clear.
Some excellent ideas have been floated by residents, one of whom is an urban planner, with kids. Please make your thougts and ideas known because we will have to sell the city on any type of plan we come up with.
Go to the * Discussion Forum *
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4. SCPNA 2008 Goals
This list was comprised by Jim Slotta and Roger Lawson — President and Vice President of SCPNA, respectively, after reflection both on past goals and on current anticipated needs of the neighborhood.
As you read our proposed goals for this year, give some thought to the following questions:
What do you identify strongly with? What would you add or eliminate? What would you combine or separate out?
I. Membership
a. Increase membership to at least 600 active (dues paid)
b. Research re-defining membership (qualifications)
II. City Park
a. Maintain connection to City Park Alliance
b. Respond to call for volunteer opportunities
c. Continue regular communication with park staff
III. Promote resident activism
a. Encourage greater resident involvement in community activities (social events, etc.)
b. Improve attendance and participation at meetings
c. Develop Block Teams
IV. Encourage and increase community service
a. Residents volunteer for neighborhood projects
b. Create volunteer pool for SCPNA projects
c. Connect with schools by volunteering
V. Maintain/develop relationships with Colfax businesses
VI. Maintain/revitalize on-going committees, form new committees
a. Ongoing: Zoning, Social, HRC, 1601 Colorado, Executive
b. New: Education, Traffic/Safety, Parking, Communications
VII. Improve Neighborhood Communications
a. Promote greater awareness and use of Website
b. Neighborhood canvassing and interest surveys
c. Build internet address database
d. Develop a rapid internet "flash" communication system
e. Erect community bulletin boards
f. Reduce/eliminate hard copies of newsletter
Go to the * Discussion Forum *
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