Amanda P. Sandoval

Denver's Neighborhood Planning Initiative (NPI) is a program of Community Planning and Development to ensure every corner of the city can enjoy the benefits of a focused land use and transportation plan. The planning process brings communities together to identify a vision for an area and provide recommendations on how to achieve that vision. Area plans provide a level of analysis, detail, and guidance on issues affecting local areas that citywide plans cannot and they help implement citywide plans at a local level.

The Near Northwest Planning Area is made up of the neighborhoods of Chaffee Park, Sunnyside, Highland, and Jefferson Park. The plan will guide future private and public investment, policy decisions, and land use changes for the next 20 years. Visit the plan page to learn how you can participate and help shape the future of this area!

Near Northwest Area Plan

Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) are independent, smaller living spaces that are built behind or attached to a single-unit home. They are often called mother-in-law suites, granny flats, casitas, backyard cottages, garage apartments or basement apartments. An ADU has its own kitchen, bath and sleeping area, but is not considered a separate property and cannot be sold on its own. Many people want a separate space where elderly parents or kids living at home can still have independence, a space that can be rented out to generate income, or just to rent a smaller, more affordable space. ADUs are a low-impact way to meet these needs and expand housing options for people of all ages.

ADUs have been part of the fabric of Northwest Denver since the beginning. Unfortunately, there are gaps in where they are currently zoned for in District 1, which puts the burden of rezoning on individual homeowners. Councilwoman Sandoval is committed to expanding constituents' choice to build ADUs through neighborhood-wide rezonings that save owners the time and expense of one-off rezonings.

Current ADU projects:

Councilwoman Sandoval is exploring rezonings to allow Accessory Dwelling Units in parts of the Regis neighborhood and West Highland neighborhood. Visit the project webpages to learn more: 

West Highland ADU Rezoning

Completed neighborhood-wide ADU Rezonings:

• Regis Neighborhood
• Chaffee Park Neighborhood
• Sloan's Lake Neighborhood

More information about ADUs:

• ADU project guide
• ADUs in Denver Text Amendment Project (re-examining standards around ADUs, led by Community Planning and Development)

Over the past several years, a lot of new development has occurred in Sunnyside, especially in areas zoned to allow duplexes. Many of these new buildings are out of character with the existing context of Sunnyside. Existing homes tend to be modestly sized and 1-2 stories with pitched roofs and prominent front porches. Many new buildings are significantly larger, taller, have flat roofs and lack porches.

In response, community members from Sunnyside United Neighbors Inc. (SUNI) have worked with Councilwoman Amanda Sandoval and her office to develop a proposal for a conservation overlay. This overlay would add extra design standards on new development to help it fit in better with the neighborhood and follow a more human, pedestrian-friendly scale. We are now reaching out to the community to get your input.

To learn more and take the survey, visit The Sunnyside Conservation Overlay Page

Councilwoman Sandoval publishes a land use update document each month that highlights important city projects, rezonings, and land use news particular to each District 1 neighborhood. Sign up for the Councilwoman's newsletter to get the update straight to your inbox each month or access current and past updates with the link below.

District 1 Land Use Updates

Quick Land Use Links

Site development map

Zoning map

Property information map