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State law will remove some parking minimums; Littleton staff recommend limited local exemptions
Summary
City staff explained a new Colorado law that removes minimum parking mandates near frequent transit and asked Council whether Littleton should apply the exemption to smaller (1–4 unit) residential projects within the mapped transit buffers.
City planning staff briefed Council on HB 24‑1304, the 2024 state law that eliminates municipal minimum parking requirements for certain residential and mixed‑use buildings located near frequent transit service. Jared Chipman explained the statute’s map of qualifying corridors and stops and told council that the law exempts multi‑family projects meeting the state’s criteria.
Under currently used city definitions, Littleton treats “multifamily” as five or more dwelling units; the state’s statute does not define that threshold consistently across bills, Chipman said. Staff recommended expanding the exemption to include 1–4 unit residential developments that lie within the state’s transit buffer so the rule would not create an arbitrary incentive to build five units instead of four. Chipman cautioned that the bill removes minimums but does not prohibit developers from providing parking; developers typically respond to market demand.
Council members expressed divided views. Some members said removing minimums could help affordable housing and reduce pavement area near transit corridors; others said it could displace parking into nearby neighborhoods and urged careful application of exemptions. Staff noted the law allows municipalities to adopt a reduced minimum in some narrow circumstances — an approach staff did not recommend because of reporting burdens and potential impacts on affordable housing partners.
What’s next: staff will post redlines and proposed text for public comment and return to Planning Commission. Council did not take a final vote; staff sought direction on whether to apply state exemptions to smaller residential developments within the transit corridor map.
