As you may have gathered from our recent education class and article post, local ordinances pertaining to Accessory Dwelling Units (“ADUs”) are quickly and broadly changing in Colorado. Specifically, the City and County of Denver Land Use, Transportation, and Infrastructure Committee will likely be voting on permitting ADUs in certain areas of Denver on November 9, 2020. This may lead to rezoning for ADUs in Denver.
Currently, ADUs are permitting in about a quarter of Denver, but under Denver’s “Blueprint Denver” the areas in which ADUs are permitted is expected to increase significantly. Blueprint Denver is a citywide land use and transportation 20-year plan. Rather than enacting sweeping reforms in a short timeframe, Blueprint Denver approaches its goal in a piecemeal fashion, changing zoning ordinances on a hyper local level.
The November 9th Committee vote will look to entirely rezone the Chaffee Park Neighborhood in northwest Denver. The Committee is voting to permit all single-family lots in Chaffee Park, in excess of 4,500 square feet, to have an ADU.
Although Chaffee Park has few common interest communities, if the rezoning proves successful, the speed at which Blueprint Denver is implemented may accelerate, and similar rezoning measures may permit ADUs where common interest communities are more prevalent.
The November 9th Committee meeting is open to the public and may be attended if you would like to voice your opinion on the matter.