Lakewood rejects increased housing density
Residents not convinced by affordability claims
Lakewood voted on Tuesday to repeal zoning changes that would have made it easier to build denser housing in Colorado’s fifth-biggest city.
Even though supporters of the zoning changes had much more financial muscle, the pro-repeal side won by a margin of nearly 2-to-1, backed by strong support from single-family homeowners who argued housing density had not improved affordability in other Denver suburbs and could create congestion and environmental harms.
Many pro-repeal residents felt the city brushed off their concerns, and some even said that city officials actively tried to intimidate opponents of the changes. The local water district also ended up in a legal dispute with the city after the water district said raised concerns about the water management impacts of higher-density housing.
Supporters and opponents of the zoning changes both acknowledged that Lakewood urgently needs to deal with housing affordability. The area saw the biggest jump in houselessness in the Denver metro area last year.
But Tuesday’s vote means the city will have to look for new solutions.
Need to Know
🚰 Water quality regulations for mobile home parks could become more stringent under a bill that passed the legislature last week. The measure, which still needs the governor’s signature, builds on a previous law that required water quality testing for all mobile home parks. That testing revealed that roughly 1 in 10 parks did not meet basic standards. Under the new bill, mobile home parks would have to address issues like odor, taste and discoloration in addition to basic safety requirements. (Denver7)
📵 Regulations on social media companies appear to be facing a more favorable political climate in Colorado during this year’s legislative session. Gov. Jared Polis signed a law last week to make social media companies respond faster to police warrants, after vetoing a similar bill last year – and an even tougher bill is still being considered by lawmakers. Other bills aimed at protecting kids are also under consideration. (Colorado Politics, Colorado Chamber of Commerce)
🏡 Colorado homeowner insurance rates are some of the highest in the U.S. due in large part to weather-related risks like hail, fires and floods. Lawmakers are looking for ways to bring down premiums to help more people afford home ownership. One proposal under consideration would tax insurance companies to create a state fund to help pay for hail-resistant roofs. (Denver Post, CPR)
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Something Good
🌴 I’m traveling to spend time with family this week, so I’m going to take a short break from writing this section. I’ll be back on Monday with a review of my experience of the Colorado River from the Grand Canyon.