Denver considers restricting new gas station locations

Why it matters: Denver desperately needs more affordable housing.

How it works: The bill would bar a new gas station within a quarter-mile of an existing one, a quarter-mile of a rail transit station and 300 feet of certain residential districts, including those with single-unit zoning.

• Exceptions include retail spaces larger than 20,000 square feet, such as grocery stores.

State of play: Councilmember Amanda Sawyer, who co-sponsored the bill, said during the meeting that vacant land currently available for these stations "can and should be used for housing."

• "We are not short [on] gas stations in the city," Sawyer said.

The other side: The city received at least 123 comments from the public, with 35% opposing the plan, citing property rights and competition concerns, associate city planner Alisa Childress said Tuesday.

Context: Under the bill, available space for fueling stations would be concentrated near interstate highways and in neighborhoods like Northeast Park Hill, Central Park and Green Valley Ranch.

What's next: The full Denver City Council is tentatively scheduled to consider the bill on Feb. 18.