Englewood planning commissioners give staff direction to amend code after state housing and landscaping laws

Englewood Planning and Zoning Commission members heard a staff presentation Aug. 19 on a package of state housing and landscaping laws that require changes to the city’s development code, and they gave nonbinding, high-level direction for staff to draft ordinance changes and take them to City Council.

The item covered five main areas staff said require city code edits: a state ban on enforcing some minimum parking requirements for multifamily housing near transit; new statewide ADU (accessory-dwelling-unit) rules and a Department of Local Affairs (DOLA) guidance package; limits on local household-occupancy rules that reference familial status; and new restrictions on “nonfunctional” turf for certain development types. Staff said they will return to council with draft language after getting the commission’s direction.

The parking law was the most contested subject. Staff member Brian (presentation), explaining the state statute, said the law prevents cities from enforcing minimum parking requirements for multifamily residential development located roughly a quarter‑mile from bus routes or transit stops and for projects that are at least 50% residential. Brian said the statute allows a city to adopt a one‑space‑per‑unit requirement only for projects of 20 units or more or for qualifying affordable housing projects, but the city would have to demonstrate a negative traffic or parking impact to exercise that exception.

Commissioner Noah (Planning and Zoning Commission) urged the commission to consider removing minimum parking citywide, saying, “Minimum parking requirements are a…intervention in the market” and that eliminating them can reduce development costs and encourage more housing near transit. Several other commissioners, including Eric and Amy, voiced support for at least meeting the state’s minimum compliance and for making the rules as clear and administrable as possible.

Commission…