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Weld County adopts housing needs assessment to meet state mandate
Summary
Weld County commissioners adopted a housing needs assessment required by Colorado Senate Bill 24-174, citing rapid county growth, a shortfall of small units, rising housing costs and a deadline for DOLA consistency review.
Weld County commissioners voted Nov. 3 to adopt a housing needs assessment (HNA) prepared by Kimberly Horn & Associates, a step county staff said fulfills requirements of Colorado’s Senate Bill 24-174 and begins a required state consistency review.
Consultant Ryder Reddick, principal in charge of the study, told the board the HNA was developed with community outreach — an online survey and two in-person meetings — and described the document as “a comprehensive evaluation that helps communities understand their current and future housing needs by analyzing data on housing supply, affordability, demographic trends, and economic conditions.” He told commissioners the county’s rapid growth and an aging housing stock were central findings.
The HNA’s key findings, as presented, included that Weld County experienced rapid population growth (the presentation said the county was the fastest-growing in Colorado in the 2021–2022 period), a projected population increase of more than 60% between 2025 and 2050, and that 68% of the county’s housing stock is older than 30 years. The consultants reported a shortage of small units: they said there were roughly 25,357 one-person households but only about 7,354 studio and one-bedroom units available, leaving an estimated 18,003 residents in larger units that may not fit their needs or budgets. The assessment also flagged that nearly half of renters (46%) are cost-burdened, paying more than 30% of income on housing.
Reddick and project manager Ines Galmish walked commissioners through policy recommendations focused on regional collaboration, targeted grant-seeking, and ongoing monitoring and evaluation. Reddick outlined the submission process: after adoption the county must post the approved HNA and submit it to the Colorado Department of Local Affairs (DOLA) for a consistency review; DOLA has up to 90 days to complete that review.
Commissioners praised the work and asked a few clarifying questions about outreach and assumptions in the report. Commissioner Kevin Ross moved to adopt the HNA and Commissioner Scott James seconded; with four commissioners present the motion passed by voice vote.
Next steps: staff will post the approved HNA on the county website and submit it to DOLA for review and consistency determination.
