What Is a View Plane?

By Peyton, City Cast Denver

The City’s view plane restrictions are hindering a redevelopment plan for the acres of parking around Ball Arena. City Council is considering an exemption to the rules.

Stan Kroenke — the billionaire owner of the Denver Nuggets, Colorado Avalanche, and Ball Arena — has big dreams for the area around the stadium. A City Council committee recently advanced his proposal to convert 65 acres of stadium parking lotsinto housing, hotels, parks, restaurants, and venue space. But there’s still at least one big thing standing in the project’s way: a historic view plane.

What Is a View Plane?

According to the city’s department of planning and development, view planes are designated areas protected by “a set of rules that restrict building heights … to preserve a view from a specific public vantage point.”

Denver has 14 view plane points, almost all of which preserve views of the Rocky Mountains. They include views from Cheesman Park, City Park, Civic Center, Coors Field, the State Capitol, and the Old City Hall Bell — the pesky view plane impeding on Kroenke’s plans.

Past Exceptions

Kroenke is asking City Council to grant him an exception that would allow his new development to obstruct the view of the mountains from downtown. If they do, it wouldn’t be the first time — an exception was permitted for the new Broncos stadium in 1999. And the Auraria Campus, which doesn’t have to follow local ordinances because it’s a state entity, has several buildings that already impede on the Old City Hall Bell plane view. That’s why senior City Planner Tony Lechuga called that view plane “effectively obsolete.”

Next Step

Kroenke’s plan has already received approval from the Community Planning Board in July and the South Platte River Committee last week. Negotiations are underway with community leaders to create a community benefits agreement that would help Kroenke secure the support of the public. The full City Council is expected to vote on the project in the coming weeks.