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Lafayette to submit comments on DRCOG housing needs assessment and emphasize housing options beyond unit counts
Summary
Council directed staff to transmit an amended comment letter to the Denver Regional Council of Governments supporting the assessment while urging emphasis on housing options and Lafayette’s leadership on affordable production; the motion included a legal reservation related to ongoing litigation over state housing legislation.
At the Sept. 2 meeting Lafayette City Council reviewed the Denver Regional Council of Governments (DRCOG) regional housing needs assessment and directed staff to transmit a comment letter with two additions: praise for DRCOG’s work and a request that regional strategies emphasize housing options and diversification—not just unit counts.
Phil Kleisler explained the assessment responds to state law (SB 24‑174) and that participating in DRCOG’s process would satisfy the city’s requirement to adopt a state‑compliant needs assessment. He summarized DRCOG findings that demand outpaces supply at lower AMI brackets and presented regional and local ten‑year need estimates. Staff recommended transmitting the attached letter and noted legal counsel proposed language reserving the city’s rights related to litigation challenging parts of the 2024 state housing package (the city is a plaintiff in that litigation) while continuing to participate in the regional assessment.
Councilors asked for the letter to highlight Lafayette’s relatively strong progress on housing goals and to request that strategies include a focus on housing types and services for aging residents and workforce households. Council unanimously moved to acknowledge review and direct staff to submit the amended letter to DRCOG.
Next steps: Staff will finalize the comment letter with the council’s additions, include the legal reservation language suggested by the city attorney, and submit comments to DRCOG before the Sept. 12 deadline to preserve options under state law.
