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Westminster joins other cities in lawsuit challenging state laws on home rule authority
Summary
City manager reported that on May 19 Westminster joined five other municipalities in litigation challenging two state laws that the city says infringe its home rule powers. The city provided a website for updates and said it will brief council as the case progresses.
Westminster city officials told council on June 2 that the city joined five other Colorado municipalities in a lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of two state laws the city says infringe on home rule authority over local planning and development.
Details and parties: City Manager Andrew Andrews said Westminster filed the case on May 19 alongside Aurora, Arvada, Glendale, Greenwood Village and Lafayette. The lawsuit challenges two separate bills enacted by the state legislature; city staff described the suit as a defense of Westminster’s home rule charter authority to plan and regulate local growth.
Why it matters: Council members described the action as a defense of local control over land use and development, which the city said is a constitutional home rule matter. The city posted a public update site (westie.news) for residents who want ongoing updates, and staff said they will provide further briefings to council as the litigation progresses.
Quote: “That lawsuit challenges the constitutionality of two laws that were created by two different house bills because they, in the city's views, infringe on constitution constitutional rights as a home rule jurisdiction,” the city manager said during his report.
Next steps: Staff will monitor the litigation, post updates to the city’s public information site and return to council with new information or requests for direction if required.
Ending: The city emphasized the litigation is part of protecting municipal home-rule planning authority and promised to keep the public informed through official channels.
