A new building heights plan adopted for the area near Denver’s new 38th and Blake transit station proposes that the city offer a deal to developers hungry to break ground in the burgeoning neighborhood: Include affordable housing, and the city would allow them to build higher — up to 16 stories.

The first-of-its-kind recommendation for a focused affordable housing incentive is part of the 38th & Blake Station Area Height Amendments, which the City Council approved 13-0 Monday night.

That plan’s intent is to foster density and walkability as redevelopment takes hold in the area surrounding the first stop out of Union Station on the University of Colorado A-Line, the commuter rail line that opened in April from downtown to the airport.

In an area bisected by freight rail tracks and covered by a mix of warehouse blocks and old city blocks, the plan recommends maximum heights ranging from three stories (near existing single-family homes) up to eight stories.

But developers would be able to build up to 12 stories on some places and up to 16 stories nearest to the station if the council follows through on the recommendation to create rules allowing an affordable housing incentive in the area. That would occur before the council initiates expected rezoning and zoning overlay proposals in coming months.

The idea of a carrot exchanging more height for developers’ agreement to provide a certain proportion of income-qualified apartments or condos grew out of community meetings earlier this year. Commercial developers could agree to pay into an affordable housing fund for the area.

“It’s my belief that if we figure out how to do incentive zoning right … then this is something we can replicate, adapt and learn from at other station areas,” Curtis Park community advocate Joel Noble told the council. He also is a Denver Planning Board member. “Because it’s been commented on by council here tonight: It’s a shame that although we’re getting more density around station areas, it’s generally market-rate,” with high rents as the norm.

A city planning spokeswoman said some downtown zone districts have allowed the inclusion of affordable housing among several options for obtaining approval for higher density. But developers often have won approval for more height without it.

The 38th and Blake proposal could present a clearer option.

The council’s consideration of the height amendments plan occurred Monday night after it passed a $150 million, 10-year citywide affordable housing plan that relies on a new property tax and development impact fees.

“The last bill was the most important that I’ve been a part of on City Council. This bill is probably the most intriguing, cool bill that I’ve been a part of,” said council president Albus Brooks, who represents the station area.

The plan also urges developers to orient buildings along the South Platte River toward the riverfront as a way of activating it and improving safety.

And the heights plan recommends the establishment of strong design guidelines for the 38th and Blake area. A separate height incentive urged by the plan could allow for more stories if developers reduce the massing of buildings or meet other design standards, but supporters said the most focus by plan participants has been on the affordable housing incentive.

The 38th and Blake height amendments were aimed at ironing out inconsistencies in several overlapping neighborhood plans, including a previous station area plan and documents guiding future development in River North, northeast downtown neighborhoods, Globeville and Elyria-Swansea.