Adams County seeks amendments to HOME Act to preserve local planning and narrow administrative approvals

Adams County staff urged the commission to shift from monitoring to amending the HOME Act so the county can pursue or support targeted changes in the Senate that better protect local planning authority and clarify affordability provisions.

Staff said the bill had been amended in the House (including a small 10% Prop 123 bonus for qualifying affordable units and WUI exemptions) but that additional changes were needed in the Senate. Key staff requests included aligning subject jurisdictions with prior ADU (accessory dwelling unit) definitions used in HB 24 11 52, adding a robust list of exempted properties (industrial or former industrial sites, transit districts, housing authorities, schools), requiring projects to be consistent with a jurisdiction's comprehensive plan or future land-use map, and narrowing the administrative-approval pathway so it does not allow rezoning and subdivision to bypass local public review.

Staff also asked for an ownership-duration requirement so qualifying entities (nonprofits, housing authorities) cannot be used by developers to quickly flip parcels during processing, and for clearer affordability language to avoid widely divergent interpretations by county attorneys. County staff and several commissioners said they wanted to engage proactively with sponsors and cities to find acceptable fixes, and some commissioners noted the political trade-offs: collaborating to shape the bill versus risk of a weaker local outcome.

Board direction: commissioners expressed support for an 'amend' position and for staff outreach to cities and partner organizations; staff will continue engagement with CCAT and regional peers to prepare amendments for the Senate.

Closing note from the meeting: staff described the HOME Act as "on a road toward passage," and commissioners agreed to pursue amendments rather than oppose outright.