By Jon Murray
The Denver Post POSTED:   06/08/2015

The Denver City Council early Tuesday morning approved a controversial rezoning request from a developer planning to build apartments and townhomes next to Crestmoor Park.

Opponents in orange T-shirts on Monday night packed the hearing, which began just before 9 p.m. and ended at 2:18 a.m. with the council’s 8-4 vote. The crowd of opponents — many of them wearing T-shirts carrying the message “Zone it Right 4 Crestmoor Park” — outnumbered project supporters about 2 to 1, though many speakers later in the hearing were outspoken in favor of allowing denser development.

Several council members said they were torn by the testimony. But ultimately, enough sided with the developer, Metropolitan Homes, to grant the rezoning needed to allow a three-story building with 50 apartments, plus 25 townhomes, at 195 S. Monaco Parkway in east Denver.

Crestmoor Park neighborhood resident Alan Singer waits Monday night for the start of a public hearing on a rezoning proposal.

Crestmoor Park neighborhood resident Alan Singer waits Monday night for the start of a public hearing on a rezoning proposal.

At-large member Robin Kniech cited support Monday night from several people who live near the site, the clear separation of the site from the park and the project’s inclusion of a rental housing component, which she called “a part of every strong community.” READ MORE