Notes from the Director
Happy May!
I hope each and every one of you are out enjoying this spring weather! I want to take the time to thank the Community Development Office staff for all the good work they are doing, as well as our local communities for their partnership.
I also want to take an extra moment to congratulate Planning Director, KC McFerson, on being DOLA’s recipient of the State of Colorado’s prestigious Public Service Recognition award this year!
KC has worked for years to support local governments with planning, especially planning for water and for affordable housing. Her vision and dedication brought incredibly successful stimulus-funded programs like the Innovative Affordable Housing Strategies and Strong Communities grant programs.
Local government partners consistently praise KC for her exceptional transparency, helpful tools, clear presentations, personalized assistance, and straightforward guidance. Her DOLA colleagues value her insights and thoughtful leadership, as well as her commitment to supporting local governments. She truly exemplifies the excellence and commitment that DOLA stands for.
I am grateful for KC and this team, and look forward to continuing the work of bringing more housing to Colorado communities.
All the best,
Andy Hill, Director, Community Development Office
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Land Use and Housing Implementation Updates
New Guidance on Land Use and Housing Legislation Compliance
On May 16, 2025, Governor Polis issued an Executive Order (EO) Regarding Strategic Growth through Compliance with State Laws (D 2025 005). This EO provides new guidance for State agencies responsible for the implementation of strategic growth legislation and the local governments subject to those laws. Local governments have been asking for months what enforcement looks like for noncompliance, and this EO provides additional clarity.
Specifically, the executive order:
- Directs DOLA to share subject jurisdiction compliance status with some recent land use and housing laws with three other state agencies (Office of Economic Development and International Trade (OEDIT), Colorado Energy Office (CEO), Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT)) as statutory deadlines approach;
- Enables DOLA (specifically, Community Development Office) to work with local governments that are acting in good faith to reach compliance even if that work extends beyond statutory deadlines; and
- Directs DOLA, OEDIT, CEO, and CDOT to submit a list of discretionary grant programs to the Governor’s Office that will be considered for prioritization.
Note: The list of potential funding opportunities subject to the Executive Order excludes funding based solely on statutory criteria, or other criteria for which the Relevant Agency has no discretion. Additionally, funding opportunities that are “necessary solely for public health or safety or disaster relief programs will be excluded”.
We know there are challenges and obstacles when it comes to this work, and we’re grateful that many local governments have dedicated time and resources to work with state agencies to refine guidance and tools, share lessons learned and effective approaches, and generally work together toward compliance.
The CDO team continues to make itself available to local governments seeking assistance in complying with the new laws. Find information about the 2024 land use/housing laws on our land use and housing legislation website (more information coming soon about the 2025 laws listed in the executive order).
Housing Planning Grant Program (HPLN) Awards Announced
DOLA and CDO announced the first round of awards for the Housing Planning Grant Program!
The new CDO program supports local governments and regional entities in developing actionable Housing Needs Assessments (HNAs), Housing Action Plans (HAPs), and comprehensive plan elements, including water supply and strategic growth elements.
Next Round Opens in June
The second round of the Housing Planning Grant (HPLN) Program opens June 9, 2025, with applications due July 11, 2025.
Program guidelines, application materials, and other relevant information is available on the program website, and interested applicants should email Program Manager Ashley Basham to discuss your project.
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DOLA Launches Interactive Multilaw Applicability Web App
CDO developed and recently launched a new Land Use and Housing Implementation Portal to allow local governments working to implement the 2024 Land Use and Housing Legislation to submit all required information electronically.
The Portal was developed to be efficient and easy to navigate. Users can view and sort all forms that their jurisdiction is subject to, including optional forms. Users can also sort forms by law, deadline, and completeness. In addition, a local government can assign multiple users to the Portal.
Representatives of subject jurisdictions should have received a notification regarding new account setup. Those who have not received an email or are experiencing any issues while interacting with the Portal may use this form or contact dola_luhip@state.co.us for any inquiries or assistance.
Feedback Requested: Colorado Land Use Survey
DOLA, in partnership with the Colorado Municipal League, Colorado Counties, Inc., and the American Planning Association Colorado Chapter, just launched the Colorado Land Use Survey to better understand the planning practices of Colorado local governments.
DOLA has administered at least the eight of these surveys DOLA since the survey first launched in 1976. DOLA issues this survey approximately every five years to assess the planning needs and trends across our state.
Results of the Land Use Survey will be aggregated to assess statewide needs. Where an individual community has identified their work as a model for other communities, DOLA may highlight work with the permission of the featured jurisdiction. Results will NOT be used to assess the compliance of a jurisdiction with 2024 and 2025 land use and housing laws.
- The survey closes June 20, 2025.
- The survey should be filled out by a local planner or someone with knowledge of land use issues in the municipality or county.
- The survey takes 20-30 minutes to complete.
- Those who complete the survey will be entered to win a free annual American Planning Association (APA) subscription, thanks to the generosity of APA Colorado!
Please reach out to Emma Scheetz, Land Use Survey Administrator, with any questions. We look forward to hearing from you.
CDO Staff Facilitated Growing Water Smart Workshop
 DOLA's Water and Land Use Planner, Scott Williamson facilitated a local team from the Middle Colorado Watershed Council at the Growing Water Smart Workshop in Montrose in April.
The workshop was led by the Sonoran Institute in partnership with the Babbitt Center for Land and Water Policy, and supported by staff from some of the state’s leading organizations working to integrate water and land use, including the Colorado River District, Southwestern Water Conservation District, Colorado Water Conservation Board, DOLA, CSU Colorado Water Center. Stay tuned for future training opportunities and contact Scott Williamson to learn more.
Community Spotlight: Gunnison County - Sawtooth II Housing
Gunnison County recently celebrated the grand opening of Phase II of Sawtooth Community Housing. The county received $800,000 from the Strong Communities Infrastructure grant program (now expended) to cover tap fees, roads, water and sewer systems, and community outdoor space for 50 rental units (including duplexes, accessory dwelling units, and a 32-unit apartment) for the local workforce.
Gunnison County developed the full site to serve community members with an Area Median Income (AMI) of 80%-120% (that’s $57,700 - $86,520 for a single person). The development used modular construction featuring solar panels and energy efficient air source heat pumps from Fading West of Buena Vista, which created a significant time savings and a reduction in carbon emissions.
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Division of Local Government (DLG) Releases Community-Driven Engagement Guide for Community Planning
DLG has released the new Community-Driven Engagement Guide for Community Planning to assist local agencies in the development of best practices for community engagement. This guide supports communities in meeting their formal requirements for specific grant-funded projects (such as a comprehensive plan) and encourages good governance through robust public participation in ongoing operations, including annual budgeting, capital improvement planning, and policy creation.
Local Planning Capacity Grants Awarded
DLG has awarded $1.7 million to 11 projects that support local governments in their efforts to gain compliance with the two key requirements of Proposition 123: fast track requirements and unit count commitments.
The Proposition 123 Local Planning Capacity (LPC) grants are designed to expand local government planning capacity to streamline and add affordable housing incentives to local codes and processes, utilize technology enhancements to support streamlined permit review, and hire staff and consultants to support affordable housing development.
The current LPC funding cycle is open through May 30, 2025.
Early Adoption Incentive
DOLA has also set aside $2 million of LPC funding for an incentive program for local governments who have opted into Proposition 123 to reward early adoption of fast track review policies. Local governments that adopt a Proposition 123-compliant expedited development review process by December 31, 2025, will receive up to $50,000 in grant funding, with no local match required.
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