Six Colorado cities are suing the state’s government over its efforts to overrule local authority on land use and zoning issues.
Colorado Public Radio reports the cities are also questioning a recent executive order by Gov. Jared Polis that withholds some grant funding from localities that fail to implement two new housing laws – one that mandates cities allow denser housing near transit and one that eliminates minimum parking requirements for some new multifamily developments.
“We’re seeing a steady erosion of our citizens’ ability to have a voice in the communities in which they live,” said Greenwood Village Mayor George Lantz in a statement. “The flurry of legislative proposals continually eroding our Home Rule rights applies a top-down, one-size-fits-all approach, removing all of their uniqueness.”
Lantz said the laws prevent localities from being able to have a say in development planning. He added, “For over 100 years, local land use planning has been left to residents and their locally elected officials, rather than the state.”
Greenwood Village is joined in the lawsuit by the cities of Arvada, Aurora, Glendale, Lafayette and Westminster.
Polis, who gained national attention last year for downplaying the presence of Venezuelan Tren de Aragua gang members in Aurora housing developments, insisted the state has the authority to dictate housing policy over localities.
“Housing is an interjurisdictional regional issue,” he said. “That’s why it’s an issue of state concern. What one community does affects housing prices in other communities because people have a choice of where to live.”
