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I-MX-5Industrial

I‑MX‑5 – Industrial Mixed‑Use (5‑story) District

Purpose

I‑MX‑5 is intended to enable mixed‑use redevelopment while retaining employment opportunities. It allows a wide range of light industrial, residential, and commercial uses with minimum build‑to requirements and increased transparency to promote active pedestrian areas along public streets. This zone supports affordable housing and seeks to balance industrial preservation with new development.

Height & Scale

Building Placement

Build-to (Primary)I‑MX‑5 requires a high build‑to percentage along primary streets, creating a continuous street edge. Ground‑floor setbacks are minimal, promoting street activation. Side and rear setbacks accommodate service areas, loading docks, and parking. Structured parking is encouraged; surface parking must be located behind or beside buildings.

Design Standards

Transparency (Primary)Design standards call for transparent ground floors, frequent doors, and pedestrian amenities (such as wide sidewalks, street trees, and benches). Industrial uses should integrate with other uses and be screened or buffered when adjacent to public streets. Upper floors may contain offices or housing with balconies, terraces, and high‑quality materials. Building façades should articulate massing through vertical and horizontal modulation.

Permitted Uses

Permitted uses include light manufacturing, research and development, warehousing, office, retail, restaurants, breweries/distilleries, artisan workshops, civic uses (such as libraries or schools), and multi‑unit residential (including live/work units). To ensure employment opportunities, some rezoning approvals may require that a percentage of ground‑floor space be reserved for industrial or commercial uses.

Typical Application

I‑MX‑5 is mapped on larger industrial sites near transit corridors or arterial streets where mid‑rise development is appropriate. It can be used to redevelop underutilized industrial parcels into mixed‑use campuses featuring maker spaces, offices, retail, and housing. Examples include industrial parks near light rail stations or major bus routes that are transitioning to mixed‑use districts.

Quick Reference

CodeI-MX-5

FamilyIndustrial

TransparencyDesign standards call for transparent ground floors, frequent doors, and pedestrian amenities (such as wide sidewalks, street trees, and benches). Industrial uses should integrate with other uses and be screened or buffered when adjacent to public streets. Upper floors may contain offices or housing with balconies, terraces, and high‑quality materials. Building façades should articulate massing through vertical and horizontal modulation.

Denver Zoning Code

Properties Zoned I-MX-5(0)

No published properties currently zoned I-MX-5.

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