BY FREDA MIKLIN
GOVERNMENTAL REPORTER
An April 18 meeting hosted by Cherry Hills Village Mayor Katy Brown, Cathy and James Crapo, and Judith and Gary Judd at the Crapos’ CHV home, drew 150 invited guests to hear State Sen. Jeff Bridges discuss SB23-213, a proposed law that would change residential zoning rules across the State of Colorado.
Before the meeting began, State Sen. Chris Kolker, who represents Centennial and Littleton, told The Villager, “As the bill is currently written, with the proposed amendments I’ve seen, I am not in support. It just hasn’t gone far enough, based on what my constituents want and our needs.” To gain his support, “It would have to give local governments the ability to keep their codes and code enforcement. Right now, it’s pre-empting them. I want the local governments and the state to work together and collaborate.”
Mayor Brown opened the meeting by describing SB23-213 as, “a statewide pre-emption of local land use and zoning codes.” She continued, “Zoning and land use have been a matter of local concern in Colorado for more than 100 years, so this is a very big shift.” Speaking for CHV, the mayor said, “We cannot support anything that pre-empts our citizens’ ability to have input and control over their own community.”
State Sen. Bridges, who represents CHV and GV, explained that the goal of SB23-213, which came directly from Governor Polis, is to provide opportunities for Coloradans, noting that more than one-third of metro-Denver residents are “cost-burdened,” spending more than 33% of their gross income on housing.
He continued, “Folks should be able to live in the kind of neighborhood that they want to live in, and this bill takes that option away,” adding that it also takes away the ability of local officials to provide citizens the types of communities they want. He predicted the bill would be amended in committee and again on the Senate floor.
Sen. Kolker pointed out that, although he doesn’t support the bill as written, there is still the problem that, “We don’t have enough people to fill our jobs, so we need an opportunity for people to have affordable housing.”
Every other elected city official in the room who spoke said that they, too, opposed SB23-213, primarily because it usurps cities’ ability to self-determine the type of housing that best suits their residents.
Sheridan Mayor Tara Breiter-Fluhr pointed out that her city, whose average income is $48,000, “is aggressively championing affordable housing,” but this bill could result in market-rate housing that would cause displacement of current residents.
Centennial City Council Member Christine Sweetland shared that her city “wants less people burdened by housing,” and that they are increasing density, pointing out that, “Colorado ranks ninth in the number of building permits pulled, but it takes time.”
Doug Robinson, who was a candidate in the 2018 Republican gubernatorial primary, rose to remind people that, “When Governor Hickenlooper wanted to make significant changes around Gallagher, transportation…he (spent) months gathering input from citizens all around the state (before) it went through the legislative process…Housing is an issue we have to address (but) I just found out about this bill two weeks ago…”
One person in the room spoke in support of SB23-213. Michael Farrington said, “I can’t afford to live in Denver, the city I grew up in. I see my neighbors moving out because they cannot afford it.” Turning to Sen. Bridges, he asked, “How many people who make less than $100,000 have asked you to oppose this bill?” He continued, “We have an affordability crisis in this state. Do you know what 40% of your income looks like when it goes to housing? Do you know what the wages in Denver are? This bill is not perfect, but arguing for its complete abandonment is a mistake…I’ve heard people argue for local control. If there is so much local support for affordable housing, why don’t we have more affordable housing? Local officials have not stepped up. That’s why the governor is stepping up.”
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