Westminster council hears detailed briefing on new state housing laws; water supply and local control top concerns

City staff on Monday gave Westminster City Council a detailed briefing on three recently enacted state laws that staff said will require updates to the city's comprehensive plan, municipal code and water-supply planning and could force zoning changes around transit.

The presentation by Andrew Spurgeon, long range planner in the community services department, summarized requirements of what he called three acts: “HB 24 13 o 4,” a parking preemption; “HB 24 13 13,” which establishes a housing opportunity goal, and “Senate bill 24 1 74,” which prescribes new methods and deadlines for housing needs assessments, comprehensive plans and water supply plans. “These acts ... are intended to address the state's housing needs, paired with environmental goals to increase transit use and reduce the footprint of vehicles in a built environment. That seems to be the intent,” Spurgeon said.

Spurgeon told council the first statutory deadline is a preliminary community assessment report due June 30. Staff said DOLA (the Colorado Department of Local Affairs) will issue technical guidance at the end of the month to…