Wednesday, July 22, 2026, 1:30 p.m. (Denver time), City & County Building, Council Committee Room, Room 391 1437 Bannock Street
Committee: South Platte River Committee
The South Platte River Committee held its biweekly meeting on July 22, 2026, with one action item: a Tier 3 right-of-way encroachment permit (KSE LLC Parking LLC) allowing the Wind Crossing Bridge (associated with the Ball Arena redevelopment, Phase 1A) to span Speer Boulevard. City staff from Community Planning and Development presented the project, describing the bridge's 5% maximum slope, stairs and ramps (no elevators), 20 feet of clear height over Speer, and a future, separate right-of-way vacation along the parking lot area and the downtown playground that would right-size the right of way. Council members asked about the vacation's scope, permit revocation procedures, and construction impacts, including shaft construction starting around March of the following year and periodic closures of Speer Boulevard. A motion and second were made on the permit item. No public comment was given.
0:05 Welcome back to this biweekly
0:07 meeting of the South Platte
0:08 River Committee of Denver City
0:14 Council. Join us for the
0:15 discussion as the South Platte
0:18 River Committee starts now.
0:25 Good afternoon, everyone.
0:27 Thanks for joining us. This is
0:30 the South Committee, JULY 22nd
0:32 2026. COUNCILMAN Torres to
0:33 represent with separate
0:34 districts. We have one action
0:36 item today. Before we get to
0:38 introductions and I'll start
0:38 that presentation, let's do
0:42 with that one online. Thank
0:43 you. MADAM Kind of vision. And
0:47 district 2. Thank you so much.
0:51 And that's it. Ok? I love will
0:51 around the room for
0:53 councilmembers and started my
0:54 right. Does look district 7
0:57 because for 10 and had been
0:58 just different. I don't want
1:02 some 5 district not. All
1:05 right. Thank you so That today
1:10 is a permit can See llc
1:11 Parking llc. I read a right of
1:15 turn it over to Stephen. And
1:15 encroachment permit. So I'll
1:16 Andy, please introduce
1:19 yourselves. And take it away.
1:20 Good afternoon and thank you
1:23 for having us here afternoon
1:27 to present the Tier 3 right
1:28 away. Encroachment for the
1:32 wind crossing bridge. I mean
1:36 and Iraq. Principal sa
1:38 Architects reside 15. 51
1:42 stream I think I forgot that
1:43 part Steven Wilson, community
1:45 planning and development.
1:47 Thank It's a great so I have
1:50 just a couple of slides. So
1:51 today's request is to allow
1:54 the Wind Creek Crossing Bridge
1:58 to cross the spear Boulevard
1:58 and south through the
1:59 Department of Transportation
2:01 and Infrastructure. This is
2:01 called a tier 3 encroachment
2:02 it's only allowed with
2:08 approval. So the location of
2:09 the wake of crossing although
2:10 I think mostly familiar with
2:13 that all. Still to some recap.
2:15 So it's approximately halfway
2:16 in between we Wanna Street
2:17 area parkway and as indicated
2:20 by the Red Arrows on the slide
2:22 and it will connect the phase
2:26 one. A of the ball arena
2:29 redevelopment the the bridge
2:30 circulation on Cherry Creek
2:31 side the area that's currently
2:35 in parking lot. All the right
2:38 away. Encroachment is
2:42 approximately 11969 feet wide
2:43 goes entirely across the span
2:48 of Speer Boulevard. As you can
2:51 see in the the area that
2:52 covers that the area is
2:54 represented with the Blue
2:55 colleague on that's on the
3:00 screen. So there is one other
3:02 future council action that
3:03 just identifying now so that
3:06 you're familiar with it. But
3:08 there is a portion of a right
3:12 of way vacation little happen
3:13 along the repairs. Pro pros
3:15 for a long the parking lot
3:17 area then also along a portion
3:21 of the downtown playground. If
3:23 approved that vacation
3:24 right-sized the right of way
3:25 so that it's a correct with
3:27 all up and down Spare
3:29 Boulevard. That will be a
3:32 separate request and pointing
3:32 it out now because we have
3:34 anticipated that with this
3:38 tier 3 encroachment and the
3:39 tier 3 encroachment will
3:39 automatically adjust if that
3:40 right away vacation. It's
3:45 approved. Terms of project
3:47 highlights. So that bridge is
3:48 an opportunity to provide
3:49 much-needed connection between
3:51 the future ball arena.
3:53 Redevelopment in historic
3:55 downtown, a lower downtown, a
3:57 neighborhood of the bridge
3:59 will have a 5% slow maximum.
4:02 So as talked about previous
4:03 meetings, there will be no
4:04 elevators that will be just
4:07 stairs ramps. As I mentioned,
4:08 it suspended bridge that spans
4:11 all the way across Beer
4:14 Boulevard. It will enter into
4:17 prominent level, second level
4:19 space the ball arena. Phase
4:20 one, development and then
4:21 transition down to the entry
4:25 level from Ball arena and then
4:27 the bridge will maintain 20
4:29 feet clear height from Spare
4:31 Boulevard. So that maintenance
4:32 existing and future utilities
4:33 can be done underneath the
4:37 bridge with typical equipment.
4:38 So that's the the just the
4:40 highlights on the
4:44 presentation. So South Platte
4:45 River Committee anticipated
4:48 and then we go through.
4:50 Typical process. So here today
4:51 with me we and Iraq are
4:53 architect for the bridge so we
4:55 could go over any of the
4:56 slides that we presented
4:57 previously. Are there any
5:00 questions? Then we also do
5:01 have Jason Preston. Could
5:02 answer questions about the
5:06 Monique, who can answer
5:06 construction of the bridge met
5:07 questions about anything with
5:07 the developer for the
5:12 District. Okay. Thank you so
5:15 much. Let me acknowledge comes
5:16 PRESIDENT Romero. Campbell's
5:19 also joined online open up the
5:25 cue for any questions. Kind
5:29 money I'm the project.
5:29 Stephen. Thank you on the
5:32 student, can you? I go back to
5:37 the right of way. Key what
5:38 that includes. And when that
5:44 comes back to us. Yeah. So the
5:47 rhetoric, a staycation will
5:49 include. So from that
5:50 enjoyable part laughs, there's
5:53 sort of a triangular portion
5:53 and it will be roughly
5:55 parallel to the sidewalk
5:59 typically in right of ways.
6:01 You know, the roadway center
6:01 line and then the curb and
6:02 gutter and then the sidewalk.
6:05 Earl typically parallel in
6:06 this instance because Beer
6:10 Boulevard is very bold. The
6:11 configuration along the edge.
6:14 There is a inconsistent. And
6:15 so the vacation would make
6:20 that consistent. Okay. Who
6:21 What's the vacation there for
6:22 her? What's the right of way
6:28 her best now? The area that's
6:31 to be vacated children's
6:32 playground goes over a portion
6:35 of that. Now and then part of
6:37 the parking lot goes over a
6:38 portion of ok? So we're
6:39 including the territory. And
6:41 even though has been a big kid
6:42 to get went to kids being
6:45 kids, it just becomes a part
6:46 of that permitted area.
6:49 Correct? Okay. Thank you.
6:54 Council. Want to be thank you.
6:56 Committee chair. My question
7:01 is that a permit is revoked
7:02 what does that look like?
7:02 Anyone would be revoked
7:11 permit. That's great in terms
7:13 you know, that the mechanism
7:14 there, are there certain 3
7:17 different levels for
7:18 allowances, not getting the
7:19 right of They're they're all
7:25 revoke a bull. And we have We
7:25 have other permanent
7:26 structures in the right of way
7:30 in the city like Bridges or
7:31 cat walks that have the This
7:36 at the same condition. I think
7:38 it's the typical condition.
7:40 Care. We have Karen from
7:42 Dhabi. I don't know if there's
7:43 anything you could add to it,
7:47 but I think it's a typical
7:48 dottie process, is effort to
7:48 be revoked what understanding,
7:49 yes, there's nothing different
7:55 about this one and just to
7:57 clarify, as we've talked about
7:58 and different here is about
7:59 the same or different issues
8:02 with the same structures that
8:03 any maintenance going forward
8:05 will mean, district correct.
8:07 And by the Metropolitan
8:09 stripping. Thank you. Yes,
8:11 that's all think Ukraine to
8:14 COUNCILMAN Heights. Thank you,
8:17 committee chair. Want see they
8:19 considering some changes to 2,
8:21 3 encroachment process. I'm
8:22 glad that we have the
8:25 opportunity to consider these
8:26 since I joined council, we
8:31 did. Say no to one to 3
8:31 encroachment right after I
8:34 started my district we
8:37 consideration of a second one.
8:38 I don't know if we did obtain
8:42 know that. But but any rate
8:42 this this to encroachments
8:45 are. Rather standard. I don't
8:51 know. I don't know if we've
8:51 ice and then be made is in
8:58 question tv. Have we ever?
9:03 Rufo tear was the last decade
9:06 ever voted 3 encroachment
9:09 against the wishes of the
9:10 encroachment holder. I think
9:17 the answer is no. We It's a
9:24 tricky yet. Well any and it's
9:25 starting units that are you
9:28 taking good encroachment you
9:32 Thank you. Country. My
9:33 question Committee chair and
9:38 thank you. And you kills
9:45 memory holder the over time,
9:47 Councilmember sorry, I during
9:50 my council presidency. Daddy
9:52 had come to me numerous times
9:54 asking me to change these 2 or
9:55 3 encroachments money actually
9:57 not have them anymore and
10:00 money to stream Now and
10:01 wanting to not have them come
10:04 to this city council process.
10:05 And I'll just say publicly
10:07 that I'm not about giving
10:07 relinquishing any of our
10:09 rights, not going to do that.
10:11 Not gonna do that as long as
10:14 I'm on City Council, I feel
10:15 like we should be using these
10:19 tier 3 encroachments to have
10:20 dialogue. And in this case,
10:23 actually this tier could Mont
10:23 had us discover, had we not
10:27 had to go through this
10:28 Councilman Tara son, I would
10:28 have been I have table as much
10:32 figuring out that we actually
10:34 on the land and we had to
10:35 actually buy the land and that
10:36 we had a lot of things going
10:37 on. And so I am a fan of
10:40 keeping tear 3 encroachment
10:41 under the purview of city
10:42 council. And so I had to do
10:46 this whole exercise comes from
10:47 behind that, which ones have
10:49 been denied not. That's the
10:51 most recent one. I also asked
10:51 to deny not this class by
10:53 asked to up to tonight like
10:58 during covid in my Because it
11:01 was in Highland and it was
11:02 egregious and the neighborhood
11:03 didn't want it. I that was my
11:06 only way of leveraging with
11:07 the developer to get something
11:08 different. It didn't end up
11:10 coming for us. But I was well,
11:11 mean, for you ought to have if
11:14 it had to vote it down. So I
11:17 think that this isn't good
11:21 mechanism that we have to be
11:22 able to get different outcomes
11:24 when it comes to development
11:26 in our right away that we have
11:27 purview over. So that's why I
11:28 just that's at the forefront
11:29 of my mind because I've been
11:35 asked. Numerous times to if
11:36 explain getting rid of this
11:37 under council for viewing as
11:39 council PRESIDENT, I was like
11:40 absolutely not. You get it to
11:41 my colleagues. Vote count
11:43 around me that I will be a no.
11:47 So with Just want to say that.
11:48 Thank you all for working with
11:52 us. Thank you all for having
11:53 this. I really appreciate you.
11:55 And being action item on
11:57 today's agenda because I don't
11:58 think we have to Coach wants
12:01 always come to city council.
12:03 This one I again worried about
12:04 is I have to Councilmember
12:05 Hines. I know you and I have
12:08 commiserated about committee
12:09 Loc Bridges are a really good
12:13 asset. And then they can be
12:15 really, really challenging on
12:16 our community if they're not
12:18 right. If they're not that
12:19 cared for. And since your
12:20 point, it's an encroachment.
12:24 How do But the ball. How does
12:27 it get revoked? I don't I've
12:28 never experienced that before.
12:30 I just have had to go to the
12:33 hall when small sound towers
12:34 which small, they're really
12:35 making our neighborhoods.
12:37 Those who are out here, 3
12:38 Coachman says, that's when I
12:39 really dug into 2 or 3
12:39 encroachment. And I was
12:40 working for council member has
12:43 been a cent and they said they
12:43 would make noise when a
12:44 question from in weeks 10
12:48 tonight, really in pain. I so.
12:51 Back to this one hand. I
12:52 really appreciate all of the
12:56 average you all have
12:58 appreciate that in that that
13:00 we got a for last committee
13:02 that you will be responsible
13:04 for this. And I'm glad that we
13:04 clean up the entitlements so
13:06 that when you go back. And
13:08 we're not sitting around this
13:10 table that the entitlement
13:12 work will show who responsible
13:14 for and that this is a
13:15 mechanism for us to be able to
13:18 understand what is being built
13:19 within the city and county of
13:22 Denver right away that for
13:23 some reason into mechanism
13:24 that comes to city council and
13:30 a tool that we have I will say
13:30 that maybe it has stopped some
13:33 of bank. Is that going to the
13:34 legislative process, I
13:36 understand had to time to and
13:40 sometimes time can be utilized
13:41 in a different way. I think
13:42 that we actually utilize this
13:44 time and found some things
13:45 that had we not done all of
13:49 this due diligence, the wind
13:50 to come to fruition. The way
13:52 had you all that have been in
13:53 a really hard place had on the
13:55 Union Pacific will not land.
13:57 Heidi, do it here. Dream coach
13:59 And that's not in the city and
14:00 county of Denver signed really
14:04 do believe that this has been
14:05 utilized the way that it
14:06 should be. And I'm a fan of
14:07 having these come before this
14:10 body so that you can remain a
14:12 checks and balance and I don't
14:13 have any concerns. I think
14:18 that. 2 I forgot about the
14:19 vacation guide about that. So
14:20 thank you for reminding me
14:22 that one question I have is
14:23 that in the key right now? Is
14:25 that going to the agency
14:27 process is yes, I could look
14:27 it up on next looking at and
14:30 make sure. Don't have any and
14:32 how those groups together. I
14:34 don't have any concerns right
14:35 now, but I forgot about that.
14:36 Vacations checked that out
14:37 before it comes to the floor
14:38 and make sure anything any
14:41 questions. I have a son of
14:44 your way. Thank chair. Thank
14:47 you. Other one that we've the
14:51 second term voted tonight. It
14:52 when exposition next decision
14:55 wall that we took note. I
14:56 think there is going to be
14:59 when Ball Park a member you're
14:59 going fake hate and then they
15:00 were going crouch in the right
15:01 away. That's going to they're
15:06 not guarantee for sure. Yeah.
15:07 And can you are somebody from
15:08 your team talks me a little
15:10 bit about timeline and we're
15:11 construction. I would look
15:19 like on a sense of for Good
15:21 afternoon. Jason Prospect. The
15:22 key with area manager and also
15:22 project director for this
15:26 project. And of course, we
15:28 were going through the design
15:29 process right now and getting
15:30 through those gates, which is
15:32 which is pretty important.
15:34 We're currently looking to
15:36 start the chef construction in
15:41 MARCH of next year. So the
15:42 shafts or 9 foot bn diameter d
15:44 chefs on both sides of the
15:47 bridge and then there's a huge
15:47 buttress concrete buttress on
15:53 the ball side. Really this
15:54 this part has thrust is really
15:55 interesting. One direction. So