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Residents press council to allow more ADUs, repurpose city parking lots for housing and remove parking minimums
Summary
Multiple residents and stakeholders urged the Fort Collins City Council during general public comment to expand accessory dwelling units (ADUs), permit increased density and reduce or eliminate parking minimums. Speakers also asked the city to support House Bill 1273 and to recognize municipal unions.
Sixteen members of the public spoke during the general comment period, pressing the council to make housing more affordable and to change zoning and parking policies.
What speakers asked: Joanne Hawley (District 4) told council she and her husband hope to convert their basement into an ADU to avoid losing their home and asked the city to "allow more ADUs in Fort Collins in all forms and make it easier for homeowners to build and create or create them." Peter Erickson (District 1) said Fort Collins must pair sanctuary and inclusion goals with housing affordability and asked the council what funds or city land could be used to fully fund affordable housing.
Several speakers pressed the council to repurpose city‑owned surface parking in Old Town for housing. "We use the vast majority of it for private car storage, parking lots," said Matthew Bohunan, who noted the assessor values undeveloped land in Old Town at about $3,000,000 per acre and urged land banking or community land trusts.
Other recurring themes: speakers advocated removing parking minimums for commercial and mixed‑use buildings, incentivizing infill and 'missing middle' housing, speeding approvals and permitting backyard cottages and duplex/triplex conversions by right. CSU students and a CSU housing caucus member urged the council to support House Bill 1273 (legalizing five‑story apartments with a single stairway, as described by the speaker) to allow cheaper, faster housing construction.
Labor and unions: Nicholas Solon, an organizer and DSA labor committee chair, and remote speaker Gabrielle urged the city to create a clear recognition process for municipal unions and asked the city manager to recognize the Connection Workers Coalition or establish a recognition method.
Additional public notes: Deborah James alerted council that neighborhood grocery Beavers Market is on the market and urged city support to keep it a grocery store as part of a 15‑minute‑city concept; multiple speakers emphasized equity and family retention concerns.
Council follow‑up: Council members thanked speakers, noted a work session on housing is scheduled next week, and indicated staff will provide follow‑up on some consent items related to EV infrastructure funding (a separate item). No formal council action on housing policy was taken during the meeting.
