zoning
-
Appeals court tells Grand County judge to reexamine spat between town officials
—
by
Colorado’s second-highest court directed a Grand County judge last week to conduct further analysis of the defamation claim by two former Grand Lake officials against the ex-town manager. The immediate issue before the Court of Appeals was relatively narrow: Did defendant John Crone act “willfully and wantonly” when he sent a 2021 email to the…
-
Federal judge hears religious exercise case of Castle Rock church, with SCOTUS looming in background
—
by
In a case that appears designed to catch the attention of the U.S. Supreme Court’s conservative majority, a federal judge heard arguments on Monday about whether a Castle Rock church’s religious belief that it should house the homeless is enough to let the congregation bypass the town’s zoning restrictions and continue operating temporary shelters in…
-
Appeals court rules developer may bring ballot initiative to rezone Telluride neighborhood
—
by
Colorado’s second-highest court on Wednesday clarified that a developer may bring a ballot initiative in Telluride to rezone part of a planned-unit development for affordable housing despite other lot owners’ objections. A three-judge panel for the Court of Appeals stressed that the question of whether the zoning change infringes on the rights of homeowners in…
-
Denver mayor won’t hold community meeting following successful zoning appeal of Overland Park homeless site
—
by
Denver Mayor Mike Johnston’s office won’t conduct another community meeting following a Denver resident’s successful appeal, which disputed the “micro-community” zoning code for the Overland Park neighborhood and forced the city to resubmit the permit request. Craig Arfsten, president and co-founder of Safe and Clean Denver, successfully persuaded the city’s appeals board that a zoning…
-
Appeals court sides with Lakewood in Colorado Christian University’s zoning discrimination case
—
by
Even though a recently enacted zoning ordinance only applies to housing operated by Colorado Christian University, the state’s second-highest court last month concluded the city of Lakewood did not unconstitutionally discriminate against the school by forcing it to stop leasing to students in a residential neighborhood next to campus. CCU sued the city over an…
-
‘A nightmare:’ Residents demand changes to Denver’s city planning department
—
by
As Mayor-elect Mike Johnston prepares to take office next week, some Denver residents are calling on him to make major changes to city planning. Around 80 people gathered at Carla Madison Rec Center Monday afternoon to share their thoughts on Denver’s Community Planning and Development Department. This was the latest of Johnston’s 28 planned public forums…
-
Colorado’s property tax system hangs in balance as state Supreme Court mulls COVID-19 challenges
—
by
Colorado’s Supreme Court justices on Wednesday spent three hours pondering a pair of questions that could open the door to widespread, perhaps even perpetual, property revaluations across the state: Did COVID-19 and the accompanying public health orders in 2020 constitute “unusual conditions” necessitating a reexamination of property values? And did those revaluations need to happen…
-
Denver City Council approves rezoning, paves way for affordable housing in Cherry Creek East
—
by
The Denver City Council Monday approved on a 9-3 vote a rezoning proposal that will allow for market rate, and affordable housing in Cherry Creek East. The two affected properties are near Gates Tennis Center at 3400 E. Bayaud Ave. and 121 S. Madison St., owned by Travis McAfoos. The approvals came despite area residents’…
-
Initiative 108 could blunt local land-use rules, officials warn
—
by
Local officials and municipal attorneys warn that a proposed constitutional amendment – backed by the Colorado Farm Bureau and the oil and gas industry – will blunt the ability of cities, towns and counties to make many land-use decisions. The measure is Initiative 108. Backers are currently gathering signatures in hopes of placing the measure…
-
Sessions’ move to protect churches gets James Dobson’s applause
—
by
U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions was in Denver last week talking about religious liberty. Wednesday he made a move applauded by two top religious leaders in Colorado. Dr. James Dobson and Dr. Tim Clinton issued a statement Wednesday evening praising Sessions for the Place to Worship Initiative to protect religious buildings from potentially discriminatory zoning…
