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Castle Rock votes to use DRCOG regional housing‑needs assessment rather than produce its own
Summary
Council voted 6‑1 to participate in the Denver Regional Council of Governments (DRCOG) regional housing‑needs assessment to meet a state statute requirement; participation means the town will use DRCOG’s analysis to satisfy the state deadline and is not an obligation to change local land‑use rules.
On Aug. 19 the Town Council voted 6‑1 to participate in the Denver Regional Council of Governments’ (DRCOG) regional housing‑needs assessment, allowing Castle Rock to use that regional analysis to comply with a state requirement stemming from the Sustainable Affordable Housing Act (passed May 2024).
Staff presentation: Tara (planning staff) and Brad Bolen (long‑range planner) summarized the DRCOG study and what participation means for the town. The state law requires jurisdictions to complete a housing needs assessment by Dec. 2026; participating in the DRCOG regional assessment allows Castle Rock to use the regional methodology and findings rather than hire a separate consultant to produce an independent town assessment. Tara said DRCOG’s assessment covers the Denver region, breaks need down by jurisdiction and income bands, and found the region will need roughly 500,000 new housing units by 2050; for the 10‑year window (2023–2032), DRCOG identified about 223,000 units across the region and suggested Castle Rock’s share was roughly 3,400 units over 10 years (an average of about 340 units per year), with the greatest unmet need in the under‑50% AMI (area median income) band.
Council questions and context: Council members asked whether participation obligates the town to change zoning or local rules — staff answered it does not; the statute requires an assessment and later a housing action plan (due in 2028), but participation in DRCOG’s assessment does not itself force zoning changes. Staff noted the Douglas County Housing Partnership will coordinate the next step — a housing action plan — and jurisdictions may choose their own actions in future years. Mayor Pro Tem Kavey voted no; she said earlier she believed some smaller jurisdictions were not required, and she raised concerns about mandated changes tied to transit areas (which do not apply to Castle Rock).
Vote and next steps: The council motion directed staff to participate in DRCOG’s regional assessment with no comments submitted before DRCOG’s public comment deadline (Sept. 12, 2025). Staff will participate in regional planning and later return with action‑plan discussions as state deadlines approach.
Ending: The DRCOG assessment gives Castle Rock a regional data set to inform future housing policy; staff said it avoids duplicating consultant costs now and leaves local zoning decisions to council discretion in subsequent planning.
