WPENA has been following the proposed updates to Denver’s updates to its residential rules, including updates to household size and group living. Association president Tim McHugh has attended a number of meetings to learn more about these updates. By way of background, our City Council representative Paul Kashmann explains the most recent proposed changes: “The Group Living Advisory Committee (GLAC) has put forth a modification of their initial proposal that changes the number of adults allowed to live in a single family home and expands the options for locating group homes in neighborhoods around the city. Currently, our zoning code places no cap on the number of related adults (and their children) who can live in a home, and limits unrelated individuals to 2 adults (and their children).”
Councilman Kashmann on Details of the Proposed Changes
In WPENA’s forthcoming August Newsletter, Councilman Kashmann explains the basics of these two updates:
1. Household Size – Denver’s new plan would allow 5 adults – related or unrelated – and their relatives to live in a home of 1,600sq.ft. or less, with another adult allowed as home size increases by 200sq.ft., up to a maximum of 10 adults – and their relatives. Denver’s building code requires that homes with 5 adults must have an integrated smoke alarm network. Homes with 11 adults or more require a sprinkler system.
2. Group Living – Currently, Colorado’s Group Home statute already requires Denver to treat a group of up to eight people that fall within one of that statute’s protected classes (people over the age of 60 or people with behavioral or mental health disorders, for example) as a household for the purposes of zoning and they may now situate in neighborhoods across the city. When the GLAC proposal was first presented, it had set the number of unrelated Denverites allowed to live together at 8. My initial reaction was, “Eight is a big number, and I’ve got the University of Denver in my district.” Westword newspaper reported last month that “From January 2016 through April of this year, the city’s 311 line received 580 complaints about unrelated adults living together”. While those notifications came from throughout the city, the greatest density of complaints focus on the University of Denver neighborhood.” That being said, I also agree that limiting unrelated residents to 2 is too restrictive. My thoughts have been that increasing the allowable occupancy to 4 or 5 could be a reasonable compromise if capped at that number regardless of home size. I also have concerns that the proposed expansion of group home locations might be an overreach as currently written…Several of us on City Council have asked Community Planning and Development (CPD) to slow the process to give more time for the public to be educated on, and offer comments and suggestions on the proposal. CPD has, thus far, not been receptive to that request.
Planning Board Hearing on Group Living Rules Update: August 19, 2020
From Community Planning and Development (CPD) comes this announcement of the public hearing on these updates and ways you can share your feedback. We encourage all neighbors to learn more and provide your feedback through the appropriate channels.
“After two years of research, study and conversations with community members, local experts, service providers and neighborhood groups, legislative review of the group living project will begin later this month with a public hearing with the Denver Planning Board. The board’s meetings are currently being held in person with options for virtual participation. Visit www.Denvergov.org/planningboard for complete information.”
Planning Board Public Hearing
3 p.m., Wednesday, August 19
Council Committee Room (#391)
& Parr-Widener Community Room (#389)
City and County Building, 1437 Bannock St.
An updated draft of the proposed text amendments to the Denver Zoning Code and a staff report will be posted online Wednesday, August 12.
To submit comments to Planning Board members, please use the board’s online comment form.
Additional information on how to sign up to speak in person or virtually (via Zoom) at the meeting will be posted on the Planning Board webpage and emailed out to this list several days ahead of time. The meeting will also be broadcast live on Denver’s Channel 8 and online at Denver8.tv.
About the Group Living Project
Denver has an immediate need for housing. With the evolving needs of our residents in mind, the challenges of the ongoing pandemic, the renewed push for addressing issues of race and equity, and changes to other housing regulations, city planners has been working with an advisory committee to evaluate the Denver Zoning Code’s rules for “group living.” This evaluation has included a review of land uses and definitions for: households, community corrections facilities, shelters for the homeless, residential care homes, new uses like tiny home villages, and more. Based on this evaluation, planners will recommend updates to the zoning code for some or all of these housing types. Learn more here.