Englewood planning commission advances 'missing middle' options, mobile‑home preservation and affordable‑housing work plan

The Englewood City Planning Commission on Wednesday reviewed a draft set of area‑assessment policies that would encourage “missing middle” housing near transit corridors, evaluate preserving seven mobile‑home properties, and establish a long‑term affordable‑housing fund and advisory board.

Planning staff presented the rewritten policies and asked the commission whether to pursue higher‑density residential transitions in industrial areas near the Northwest Greenbelt and along the Broadway commercial corridor, to explore transitional housing options and to pursue several citywide affordable‑housing measures. Staff said the review also responds to new state requirements to analyze density within a quarter‑mile or half‑mile of light‑rail stations and high‑frequency bus corridors.

Why it matters: The proposed policies would guide where the city would support rezoning or developer proposals. Commissioners repeatedly framed the discussion as setting policy direction rather than immediately rezoning property; staff said any rezoning would still require later, separate approvals.

Planning staff member John, who led the presentation, said the department had “done a comprehensive purging and rewriting of many of these policies to make them better written” and highlighted areas that “deserve further discussion” because they are new or potentially controversial. John noted the staff work was intended to identify options the city or private…