As Denver’s housing market continues to thrive, so, too, do the development-related concerns of existing residents.  The rapid pace of development in many City-close neighborhoods has at times pitted residents desiring attractive, pedestrian-oriented communities against developers responding to high demand for urban housing options.  On Monday, August 22, 2016, the Denver City Council passed a pair of City-wide development moratoria aimed at addressing parking and architectural issues.  CB16-0498 concerns use of the City’s small zone lot parking exemption.  CB-16-0541 places a one-year moratorium on use of the Zoning Code’s Garden Court Building Form.  Both bills passed with a unanimous vote of Councilmembers present and took effect August 25, 2016. 
Continue Reading Denver City Council Passes Pair of Development Moratoria

While negotiations on construction defect legislation reform came to a halt in the Colorado Legislature last Thursday, a package of three bills aimed at increasing affordable housing in Colorado moved forward at the State Capital on May 5, 2016.
Continue Reading Affordable Housing Legislation Advances at State Capital

Last week, the negotiations for a construction defects reform package fell apart, making it extremely unlikely that Colorado would see any state action on the issue this year – the fourth time such attempts at legislation have failed. Immediately after that failure, Senate Bill 213 was introduced, which would establish a ten-person study group appointed by State leaders.
Continue Reading Mejor que Nada? Construction-Defect “Study Group” May Get Legislative Sanction

On Thursday, May 05, 2016 negotiations for a construction-defects reform package broke down, making it unlikely that a bill will even get introduced this year. While Denver and several other Colorado communities have passed their own ordinances, without a state-wide legislative change, the shortage of affordable housing in Denver and elsewhere in Colorado is likely to continue, as many developers are unwilling to risk such ordinances being overturned.
Continue Reading Fourth Time Not the Charm: 2016 Construction Defect Legislation Reform Unlikely

A Bill allowing for limited residential collection of rain water cleared its final hurdle on Friday, April 1, 2016, when it was approved by a majority of the State Senate. HB16-1005, commonly referred to as the “Rain Barrel Bill”, stalled several times in the State House before eventually making its way through the Senate. Governor Hickenlooper will now sign the Rain Barrel Bill into law and it will take effect August 10, 2016.
Continue Reading Colorado Rain Barrel Bill Clears Final Hurdle