Denver Mayor Mike Johnston and City Council President Jamie Torres support the federal land use bill, which has drawn criticism from all quarters. The two city leaders announced their support Thursday, along with five other City Council members.
Proponents of the bill, called House Bill 1313, titled “Housing in Transit Centers,” said the bill would provide incentives to build housing near transit and workplace centers, Johnston said. , which they argue is particularly attractive to Denver. The city faces a severe shortage of affordable housing, and building more housing was a key pillar of his mayoral campaign.
One of Johnston's key initiatives in his first year in office will be to create an “Affordable Denver” city and build 3,000 units of long-term affordable housing by the end of the year. He said the bill is an important step toward achieving a more affordable future for Denver and the state, especially given its focus on transportation-centric projects.
“HB-1313 is a balanced approach to land use that will move local governments in the right direction. Policies like HB-1313 will change the status quo and create a more affordable Colorado. I can make it.”
Surrounding towns disagree that this is a “balanced approach,” arguing that land use and zoning decisions are local issues and should not be forced by the state. Even though a majority of House Democrats approved the bill, all seven people from areas affected by the bill voted against it.
House Bill 1313 appears to some to be the 2024 version of Senate Bill 13-213, which was repealed on the final day of the 2023 session after cities and towns across the state denounced the bill.
But Denver leaders say the bill is a good one.
“HB-1313 aligns with Proposition 123 as a way for local governments and our partners to build more affordable housing and reduce costs for all Coloradans. This is something that all of our communities desperately need,” Torres said. “The core of this bill is to give all local governments the power to address Colorado’s housing needs.”
Ninety cities and towns have not agreed, and on March 28, they will send a letter to their legislators urging them to work together rather than against each other.
Many legislators, including those who sponsored the bill, opposed the provisions of HB-1313 that penalize non-compliant municipalities by forfeiting funds allocated to them under the State Highway User Tax Fund. There is. Additionally, the bill authorizes the Department of Local Affairs to file injunctions against these offending communities.
This could lead to revenue losses for state and local governments, according to a fiscal analysis of the bill. It would also cost about $35 million in general funds, which would be $13 million more than he budgeted in the ongoing bill.
