Requirements dramatically pared back in governor’s “land-use” bill

BY JESSE PAUL AND ELLIOTT WENZLER THE COLORADO SUN

Gov. Jared Polis and Democrats in the Colorado legislature signicantly pared back their major landuse bill amid big questions about whether their signature a ordable housing initiative at the Capitol this year can get enough support to pass.

BY BELEN WARD BWARD@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

Fort Lupton o cials and residents kicked of the Community Regional Park Renovation April 18., e construction will start with laying concrete on the walking and biking trails, extending trails over one mile to connect to the citywide trail route. e change, which came in mid-April, shifts the legislation away from attempting to broadly increase housing density to a more limited approach linked to transit. Without the changes, it appeared the bill, which has received major opposition from cities and towns across the state, would lack enough support to clear its rst committee. e Senate Local Government and Housing Committee approved the overhauled

“Construction is scheduled to start mid-April, with many improvements completed by Fall 2023. e splash park is anticipated to open Summer of 2024, said Dave Cook, Fort Lupton Recreation Manager.

Next, add an outdoor splash pad, onsite restrooms, design ADA-accessible playground equipment, shade structures, picnic tables, and an area that will be a safer environment for kids and adults.

Colorado’s largest cities would no longer be required to let multifamily housing with up to six units be built in all residentially zoned areas under a major amendment made to Senate Bill 213. Instead, those cities — like Denver, Aurora, Boulder, Englewood, Colorado Springs, Fort Collins, Lakewood, Pueblo, ornton and Westminster — would only have to let duplexes, triplexes and fourplexes be built in 30% of their land area currently zoned for single-family homes, concentrated around train and high-frequency bus corridors where applicable.

In all, there were 17 amendments made to the bill, totaling dozens of pages. One of the major changes reduces land-use requirements on resort communities, like Aspen and Vail.

“Along with City funding, a $790,000 Great Outdoors Colorado Grant, $410,000 Weld Trust Grant and a $20,000 grant challenge from Dale’s Pharmacy will help o set some of the total project cost,” Cook said.

Every year before Thanksgiving, First United Methodist Church in Fort Lupton and the Fort Lupton Food and Clothing Bank provide community members with food boxes. This will be the program’s 10th consecutive year. Above, Joe Hubert, left China Garcia and Sue Hubert with Change 4 Change, another organization that helps with the food drive. See more on Page 2.

SEE BILL, P3