This story was produced as part of the Colorado Capitol 暗黑爆料 Alliance. It first appeared at .
In a blow to Gov. Jared Polis鈥� pro-housing agenda, the Colorado Senate has defeated a measure that would have given churches, schools and universities the right to build housing on their land.
The measure, , would have overridden local zoning laws, continuing a between the state and local officials over the degree to which cities and counties should control housing policies in their communities.
The bill, which passed the House in March, was effectively killed by Senate leadership after supporters said it didn鈥檛 have the votes to pass the chamber. Lawmakers postponed a vote on the bill until Thursday 鈥� the day after the 120-day lawmaking session ends.
The proposal was inspired by the , or YIGBY, a religious-based movement that sprang up in response to neighborhood-level opposition to new housing.
Polis and many legislative Democrats saw it as a tool to increase housing affordability, building on efforts in recent years to encourage local governments to enact denser land use laws and allow more housing construction.
Rep. Andrew Boesenecker, a Fort Collins Democrat who sponsored the bill, described the measure as a 鈥渂old first attempt to ease red tape鈥� in order to tackle the housing crisis. But bold ideas, he added, often fail on their first attempt at the legislature.
In a statement, a governor鈥檚 office spokesperson said the bill鈥檚 failure was disappointing and blamed lawmakers for trying to use it as a 鈥渕idnight bargaining chip鈥� in the final days of the session.
鈥淭his common-sense policy is backed by non-profits, congregations, schools, housing, and conservation organizations,鈥� said Shelby Wieman, a spokesperson for Polis. 鈥淐oloradans are demanding action to cut housing costs, and we remain committed to continuing this important work.鈥�
Church leaders across the Denver metro area also supported the bill, which they said would allow them to better serve their charitable mission by providing housing to those in need. Nonprofit housing developers say local zoning laws frequently delay housing from being built on church land, and sometimes prevent such projects entirely.
Local officials, however, said the bill would upend their own efforts to plan for new housing in locations where it makes the most sense 鈥� with adequate roads and sidewalks, utilities, and access to amenities like parks, social services and transit.
Many churches are built in such areas already. But some are more remote, or surrounded by sprawling commercial or industrial developments that may not make for good neighbors, local planning officials say.
The measure also would have allowed child care providers to operate on church land.
At the heart of the debate was a deeper policy fight that鈥檚 playing out across the country. How much power should local governments 鈥� and by extension, their existing residents 鈥� have to block new homes within their communities?
As housing costs have risen in recent years, Colorado and other states have looked for ways to relax restrictive local zoning policies in order to spur more housing construction. But while state leaders have argued that housing is a matter of statewide concern, local officials say state-imposed zoning policies are at minimum an affront to local control 鈥� and may violate constitutional powers granted to home rule cities.
鈥�(The Colorado Municipal League) remains committed to a vision of legislation that promotes housing options that municipalities can support, that would both preserve constitutional home rule and local control, and that supports local elected officials鈥� direct relationships with residents,鈥� Kevin Bommer, the group鈥檚 executive director, said in a statement. 鈥淲e will always be able to get more done with partnership, not preemption.鈥�