Westminster to review regional housing needs assessment on Aug. 18; staff says participation voluntary

City staff told the Westminster City Council on Aug. 4 that the city will bring a full presentation on a regional housing needs assessment to the Aug. 18 meeting and asked councilors to review the draft ahead of that session.

Lindsey Kimball, community services director, said Westminster chose to participate in the regional assessment to provide data and access technical assistance and that participation does not obligate the city to adopt any of the report’s recommendations. Kimball said, “it is not compulsory to be engaged in this,” and added staff will continue to use the city’s 2023 housing needs assessment while incorporating regional context.

Kimball and staff said the regional study provides additional perspective on commuting patterns and data sources the city previously did not have. Councilors asked whether the regional results differed significantly from Westminster’s 2023 assessment. A staff member replied that the 2023 assessment identified a need for about 5,000 units and that the regional assessment’s figure was within roughly 500 units of that prior estimate.

Councilors raised related infrastructure concerns, including electricity and water availability for future development. One councilor said Xcel Energy has been unable to supply power in some areas and urged sustained pressure on the utility; Kimball and other councilors said electricity and water capacity are critical constraints that should be assessed alongside any housing targets.

Staff said the regional assessment will be attached to the Aug. 18 memo and that staff and the city’s economic-talent manager will be available to answer questions at that meeting. No formal action was taken Aug. 4; the item was announced for fuller council consideration on Aug. 18.