Don’t be fooled by the high-profile fights between Gov. Jared Polis and local governments.
Believe it or not, housing advocates say, many Colorado cities are taking steps to obey the state’s new land use laws — and some have gone even further than they’re required.
That’s the big takeaway of a report released this month tracking local government efforts to comply with the array of new zoning rules the legislature passed last year.
The report was authored by the Southwest Energy Efficiency Project, a Boulder-based nonprofit that’s been a leading supporter of Polis’ housing agenda at the state Capitol. The group reviewed hours and hours of council meetings and committee hearings in dozens of cities to assess how local officials are responding to the pro-density laws.
“I would say it’s just broad alignment between what cities and what the state legislature wants and the types of policies that are going to deliver more housing (and) lower housing costs,” Matt Frommer, the transportation and land use policy manager at SWEEP, told The Colorado Sun. “It’s kind of no secret what the most impactful tools are. A lot of cities had done their own housing needs assessments or housing strategies and came to very similar conclusions that the state legislature did.”
Next month marks a key milestone in the state’s efforts to increase housing density and — supporters hope — affordability. Laws legalizing accessory dwelling units and eliminating some parking mandates near transit take effect June 30. By that point, cities are also required to show progress toward meeting the requirements of a third: the transit-oriented communities bill (House Bill 1313) that requires qualifying cities to allow denser housing near rail lines and qualifying bus routes.
As of mid-May, SWEEP’s review found that at least 24 cities have at least begun to update their zoning laws to allow more ADUs (House Bill 1152) — separate dwellings built on single-family lots, often in a detached backyard cottage or garage. Over a dozen have proposed or adopted new rules to eliminate parking minimums for multi-family housing developments near transit (House Bill 1304). And dozens have either completed local housing needs assessments required under a fourth measure, Senate Bill 174, or applied for state grant funding to help them do so.
(SWEEP’s report notes that its list isn’t exhaustive, so others may be updating their zoning codes, too.)
A number of cities have gone beyond the state’s density requirements.
For instance, Longmont last year eliminated parking minimums entirely — for housing and commercial properties alike — then went a step further and imposed parking maximums to prevent developers from building too much. Denver’s looking to eliminate parking requirements as well, giving developers the choice of how much is needed for a given project.
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CORRECTION: The lead item in last week’s edition misquoted Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser. He said: “What I’m worried about right now is we’re facing a potential set of ballot wars, and no one’s going to win.”
DEBATE, LEGAL FIGHTS RAGE ON
Frommer says the momentum against parking at the local level shouldn’t come as a surprise. Over the past 20 years, urban planners, including the Colorado chapter of the American Planning Association, have turned against the longstanding pro-parking consensus, arguing that excessive parking contributes to sprawl, generates heat islands and makes communities less walkable.
“This has just kind of become part of the mainstream — this recognition that parking mandates have a really negative impact on our cities,” Frommer said. “It’s this invisible force that makes our cities less affordable, less walkable and more car dependent.”
He believes the state law gave some local planning officials “permission and political cover” to implement reforms that their profession considers best practices in the first place.
Not everyone agrees.
Days after Polis signed an executive order withholding grant funding from cities that don’t comply with state housing laws, six cities sued. The lawsuit argues the land use laws violate home rule under the state constitution and prevent local residents from having a say in how their communities develop.
Some, like Aurora, already encourage housing density, but argue that the state shouldn’t overrule local zoning decisions. Others don’t want density at all. Along the I-25 transit corridor in Greenwood Village, “significant additional housing is neither anticipated nor encouraged,” the lawsuit says.
Greenwood Village also says its parking requirements — which call for at least two spots per apartment unit plus capacity for guests — are “vital” to providing ample space and preventing parking conflicts.
WHAT TO WATCH IN THE WEEK AHEAD
June 6 is the deadline for Gov. Jared Polis to sign or veto bills passed during the 2025 legislative session. He can also let measures become law without his signature.YOU HEARD IT HERE
“This isn’t because I’m quitting. It’s not because I’m tired. It’s not because I’m giving up. It’s because I love our country too much — I love Colorado too much — to not go to the place where I think I can make the biggest difference”
— U.S. Sen. Michael Bennet
Bennet was responding Wednesday during a town hall at the University of Denver to a voter who told the Democrat that she would prefer he stay in the Senate and build on his experience and relationships in Washington, D.C., than run for governor.
The voter’s remark drew a lot of applause.
The town hall was cohosted with the group End Citizens United. Bennet appeared at the event with former U.S. Sen. Jon Tester, a Montana Democrat.
Bennet said when he was considering running for governor, he talked to Tester, who encouraged him to remain in the Senate. But Bennet said he ultimately decided to run for governor because he thinks Colorado can become a national model.
“I view Trump not as the cause of all the problems,” Bennet said. “I view him as a symptom.”
BENNET AGAIN DECLINES TO TAKE A STANCE ON THE LABOR PEACE ACT
U.S. Sen. Michael Bennet, D-Colorado, meets with doctors and patients at Denver Health medical center on Wednesday. He was discussing Republicans’ proposed cuts to Medicaid. (Jesse Paul, The Colorado Sun)Bennet once again refused Thursday to take a position on the future of Colorado’s Labor Peace Act.
When he launched his gubernatorial campaign in April, Bennet declined to weigh in on Senate Bill 5, which would have repealed a requirement in the Labor Peace Act that 75% of workers at a company sign off before a union can begin discussions with an employer over union security. Union security is when workers are forced to pay collective bargaining representation fees whether they are in a union or not.
At the time, Bennet said he didn’t want to wade into the matter because negotiations were ongoing and he didn’t want to influence them. The bill passed and was vetoed earlier this month by Gov. Jared Polis. But Bennet still isn’t talking.
“There are discussions going on right now that I don’t want to get in the middle of and front run,” he said Thursday.
Bennet’s primary opponent, Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser, also isn’t offering total support for removing union security vote requirement. “The questions about these thresholds is not necessarily, call it, a binary,” Weiser said at Colorado SunFest earlier this month. “There’s a range of proposals that were put forward that deserve to be figured out, and the way to do that is through an open process, through true collaboration and listening.”
At town hall, Bennet faces protests over Israel’s attacks in Gaza— The Denver Post ? Phil Weiser on Donald Trump, TABOR, union organizing and his race against Michael BennetWant to reach Colorado political influencers and support quality local journalism? The Sun can help get your message attention through a sponsorship of The Unaffiliated, the must-read politics and policy newsletter in Colorado. Contact Sylvia Harmon at underwriting@coloradosun.com for more information.
THE POLITICAL TICKER
ELECTION 2026
Coloradans for Worker Justice is a new issue committee formed to “support ballot initiatives that protect workers’ rights in Colorado and to oppose measures that seek to limit workers’ rights.”
It was formed May 8 by Mathew Schecter, general counsel for UFCW Local 7.
The committee will likely support a union-backed ballot measure that would make Colorado a just-cause employment state and oppose a measure backed by conservatives that would make Colorado a right-to-work state. Both would be on the ballot in 2026 if their supporters collect enough voter signatures.
READ MORE
Jared Polis vetoes bill that would have restricted the use of rent-setting software, like RealPage Colorado Democrats agree they need to do something about TABOR. But they disagree on what. Mushroom startups prepare to brave Colorado’s new psilocybin healing industry NPR, Colorado Public Radio sue Trump administration over executive order to cut federal funding to public media— The Associated Press Colorado counties can no longer take orphans’ Social Security benefits under new law A fence around a billionaire’s San Luis Valley ranch leads to new state law Universal dyslexia screening is now the law of the land in Colorado— Chalkbeat Colorado Colorado legislature steps in to help kids who need IV nutrition and are down to one pharmacy Governor signs new school funding formula into law, securing an extra $500 million for Colorado schools Jared Polis vetoes rideshare safety bill prompted by sexual assault of state lawmaker Colorado’s struggling low-income health care centers to get boost under new law— The Denver Post ? Colorado increases penalties for wage theft under bill signed by Gov. Jared Polis— The Denver Post ? Gabe Evans, Lauren Boebert shouted down by protesters while defending big, beautiful Trump bill— Axios Denver Yadira Caraveo’s campaign releases internal poll showing she holds wide lead in Colorado’s 8th CD Democratic primary— Colorado Politics ??=source has article meter or paywall
ELECTION 2026
Michael Dougherty highlights contrasts with his Democratic primary opponents in attorney general’s race
Michael Dougherty, Boulder County district attorney, talks to reporters after a 2021 hearing for the man accused of killing 10 people at a Boulder grocery store. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski/Pool)The crowded Democratic primary that will all but determine who is Colorado’s next attorney general got a little spicy Thursday when one of the candidates drew some sharp contrasts with his opponents.
Boulder County District Attorney Michael Dougherty hosted a video news conference with three fellow district attorneys in which they highlighted Dougherty’s leadership experience, nonpartisan record and focus on public safety.
“I can promise you that as the next attorney general, I’m always going to make decisions about what’s right based on the rule of law and principle, never political agendas and never a political ambition,” Dougherty said. “I think where we lose the trust of the people we serve, where we undermine the confidence and integrity that people place in our justice system, is when they sense that the leader of an office, whether it be a district attorney’s office or the attorney general’s office, is hyper-partisan and being guided by something other than the rule of law and principle.”
That appeared to be a dig at Secretary of State Jena Griswold, a Democrat who has been criticized for being too partisan in her position running the state’s elections. Griswold is also politically ambitious — she nearly ran for governor this year and explored running for U.S. Senate in 2020.
Adams County District Attorney Brian Mason, a Democrat who has endorsed Dougherty, told reporters that Dougherty’s criminal law experience makes him the best fit to be Colorado’s next attorney general.
“You can tell by having the three of us on this call and by looking at Michael’s endorsement list that DAs are invested in who our attorney general is,” Mason said. “DAs care about who is in the office of the attorney general because we need a partner. We need somebody in the attorney general’s office who gets it, and Michael Doherty gets it.”
Also on the call were Mesa County District Attorney Dan Rubinstein, a Republican, and 5th Judicial District Attorney Heidi McCollum, a Democrat. Both are also backing Dougherty.
Highlighting Dougherty’s criminal law experience appeared to be in response to Democrat David Seligman’s entrance into the attorney general’s race. The progressive lawyer leads the nonprofit Towards Justice and is heavily focused on legal issues in civil law, like consumer rights.
When asked directly whether he was questioning Griswold and Seligman’s qualifications, but just not by name, Dougherty wouldn’t take the bait.
“You’ll never hear me criticize any of the candidates running for the attorney general’s office,” he said.
THE BIGGER PICTURE
Fetterman, often absent from Senate, says he has been shamed into returning— The New York Times ? “He is Ohio”: Mike DeWine pitches an alternative to Ramaswamy— Politico The GOP has dominated Utah for decades. How Democrats’ choices for party chair say they’ll change that.— The Salt Lake Tribune ? The one thing Texas won’t do to save its water supply— The Texas Tribune?=source has article meter or paywall
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