Douglas County’s interjurisdictional collaboration on Proposition 123 received a 2025 Metro Vision Award for advancing affordable housing, a county staff member said. The project brings Douglas County together with Lone Tree, Parker, Castle Rock and Castle Pines to coordinate policy and streamline development reviews to increase affordable units.

The effort grew from Colorado’s November 2022 passage of Proposition 123, a ballot measure that redirects existing state tax revenue to support affordable housing. A staff member said the Douglas County Housing Partnership used that opportunity to develop an intergovernmental agreement intended to raise affordable housing units countywide by a defined percentage each year and to expedite reviews for affordable housing developments.

“ Our desired outcome is to elevate the housing needs of those who are vulnerable in Douglas County. So specifically with this project, it's making sure that those with with intellectual or developmental disabilities have access to housing, that is close and convenient to the needs that they have that are particular to their community. And then also making sure that those beneath a particular AMI, in terms of their income would also have access to workforce housing. So for veterans, teachers, those in our community that are so essential to everything that we do, being able to live and work in our community is vital,” Douglas County Commissioner Abe Laden said.

Meeting presenters described a yearlong public outreach campaign meant to explain Proposition 123 and engage residents in local planning. The intergovernmental agreement was described as co-developed through public engagement and meetings with government partners; the staff member said those processes were intended to align resources, funding, and review procedures across jurisdictions.

The transcript and presenters did not specify the exact annual percentage by which affordable units would increase under the agreement or the precise definitions of the AMI thresholds; those details are described in the intergovernmental agreement but were not provided in the presentation. The staff member also did not list specific funding line items or an implementation timeline during the remarks.

Metro Vision, referenced in the presentation as calling for livable and inclusive communities, was cited as the regional planning framework supporting the partnership’s goals. Presenters congratulated the Douglas County Housing Partnership and participating governments on the award and emphasized continued coordination to promote housing affordability and effective growth.