DENVER (KDVR) — A new bill under consideration at the Colorado Capitol would override local housing density rules to allow more housing near transportation hubs.
Colorado’s affordable housing shortage has been a main legislative priority during the 2024 session, with legislators and Gov. Jared Polis sharing ideas for how they would like to solve the issue. The ideas have included allowing for more accessory dwelling units or even strengthening protections for construction workers so homeowners have fewer legal options to remedy defects.
Colorado House Bill 1313, Housing in Transit-Oriented Communities, was introduced in February. The Transportation, Housing and Local Government committee was scheduled to debate the matter on Wednesday afternoon. As presented, the bill would rezone areas near transit hubs to create denser, more walkable neighborhoods.
State Rep. Iman Jodeh, a prime sponsor of the bill and a Democrat representing Arapahoe County, spoke about the measure during a press conference on Wednesday.
“We want to encourage local communities to build more housing near transit, and we think that is a solution that can cut the cost of living and create more walkable neighborhoods,” she said.
Denser housing would be required by Colorado transit areas
As introduced, the bill would essentially force about 30 Colorado municipalities mostly along the Front Range to rezone housing areas near transit hubs. These areas would be called “transit-oriented communities.”
The definition in the bill requires these municipalities to have a local government entirely within a metropolitan planning organization, have a population of over 4,000 people and contain at least 75 acres of certain transit-related areas, like a commuter rail service. The proposed “denser” housing could mean more multifamily housing units, like townhomes, duplexes or apartment buildings with up to 10 floors.
The bill also has some strict timelines. By July 31, the Department of Local Affairs would be required to publish a map designating transit areas that would be used to calculate overall housing opportunity goals, and by Dec. 31, publish models and guidance to assist communities in meeting those goals.
Additionally, the bill requires a transit-oriented community to submit a progress report to the department every three years. There would also be monetary incentives from the state for the rezoning, and as currently written, the bill would appropriate $35 million to fund those incentives.
Heather Willard
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