This writer has written a powerful and accurate piece – sosdenver

Why is this so confusing??

By Rebecca Spiess The Denverite 7/28/2021

Developer Westside Investment Partners, which bought what used to be Park Hill Golf Course in 2019, got a measure approved for the November ballot on Tuesday. It’s a counter-measure to an initiative submitted by an opposing group called Save Open Space Denver.

The two organizations have been at odds about the future of the 155 acres of green space in Northeast Denver for years now. SOS Denver wants all of the space turned into a park, while Westside wants to build a mixed-use development, promising some park space, too.

SOS Denver cites the city’s lack of green space as a reason against development, and believes that Westside will go back on its promises. Westside, meanwhile, argues that SOS Denver isn’t listening to nearby residents’ need for things like grocery stores and affordable housing.

Both sides claim to uphold the views and best interests of locals, although everything from city surveys to community feedback sessions have been hotly disputed.

The two ballot initiatives change laws regarding the conservation easement that the land has been under since 1997, but the nitty-gritty is a little complicated. We broke it down for you

GO HERE TO SEE THE BALLOT INITIATIVES

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Approved 12-21-20

BALLOT TITLE

Shall the voters of the City and County of Denver adopt a measure prohibiting the following without the approval of voters in a regularly scheduled municipal or special election:

• any commercial or residential development on land designated as a city park and land protected by a City-owned conservation easement except where consistent with park purposes, conservation easement purposes, or for cultural facilities, and
• any partial or complete cancellation of a City-owned conservation easement unless for the purpose of creating a new park?

CITIZEN INITIATED ORDINANCE

Park and Open Space Preservation

The purpose of this ordinance is to submit to the registered electors of the City and County of Denver a proposed amendment to the Denver Revised Municipal Code concerning a prohibition (1) on any commercial or residential construction on land designated as a city park and land protected by a City-owned conservation easement and (2) on any partial or complete termination, release, extinguishment, or abandonment of a city-owned conservation easement without voter approval.

Be it enacted by the City and County of Denver:

Section 1..  The Denver Revised Municipal Code is amended by the addition of a new Section 193 under Chapter 39 (Parks and Recreation), Article VIII (Natural Areas) to read as follows:

CHAPTER 39 (Parks and Recreation), ARTICLE VIII (Natural Areas)

§39-193 – Park and Open Space Preservation

1. (1) Construction of any commercial or residential building on land designated as a city park or protected by a City-owned conservation easement and (2) any partial or complete termination, release, extinguishment, or abandonment of a City-owned conservation easement are prohibited without the approval of a majority of the registered electors voting in a regularly scheduled or special municipal election.
2. The prohibitions of this section 39-193 do not apply to: (1) construction of and/or improvements to buildings used for limited commercial purposes related to cultural facilities or for park or recreational purposes, and (2) construction of and/or improvements to infrastructure on land protected by a City-owned conservation easement for limited commercial purposes consistent with the conservation easement, and (3) conservation easement cancellation related to the City’s acquisition of the protected land for designated park purposes.
3. If any section, paragraph, clause or other portion of this ordinance is held to be invalid or unenforceable for any reason, the validity of the remaining portions of this ordinance shall not be affected.