HomeMy WebLinkAbout2023 - RESO - 20 - Land Use Bill Resolution in OppostionCITY OF WHEAT RIDGE, COLORADO RESOLUTION NO. 20 Series of 2023 TITLE: A RESOLUTION IN OPPOSITION TO STATEWIDE LAND USE AND ZONING PREEMPTIONS IN SENATE BILL 23-213 UNLESS AMENDED TO ADDRESS LOCAL CONCERNS
WHEREAS, for a century, the State of Colorado has committed both in statute and in the state constitution to the local control of land use planning and zoning because local
governments are closest to the land and to the people that occupy it; and
WHEREAS, Senate Bill 23-213 would place statewide mandates on hyper local land use matters and substitute the judgment of legislators and state regulators who lack the
understanding needed to make the right decisions for our community; and
WHEREAS, Senate Bill 23-213 will undermine long-range planning efforts and will severely limit our ability to maintain reasonable zoning regulations to ensure a high quality of life and sound economic environment for our current and future residents, workers, and business owners; and
WHEREAS, Senate Bill 23-213 silences the voices of our residents by taking away the right to be heard at public hearings on zoning matters or to use their constitutional rights of initiative or referendum to address zoning and land use matters; and
WHEREAS, the City of Wheat Ridge was awarded a grant from the Department of Local Affairs in 2021 to complete an Affordable Housing Strategy and Action Plan (“Action Plan”); and
WHEREAS, the Wheat Ridge City Council adopted this Action Plan on January 9, 2023
as a guiding document to address housing affordability in Wheat Ridge; and
WHEREAS, the Action Plan recommends several local solutions to address housing affordability in Wheat Ridge, none of which include statewide mandates which violate the local
control on land use planning and zoning.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Wheat Ridge City Council, that:
1. It is the position of the City of Wheat Ridge that municipalities are best suited to determine
appropriate zoning laws for their communities and that collaboration and cooperation – not top-down statewide mandates and giveaways to special interests – are the solution to Colorado’s affordable housing problem.
2. The City of Wheat Ridge opposes Senate Bill 23-213, unless amended, and strongly urges its legislators to vote NO on this unprecedented and irresponsible preemption.
DONE AND RESOLVED this 10th day of April 2023.
Bud Starker, Mayor ATTEST: Steve Kirkpatrick, City Clerk