2023 Colorado Revised Statutes › Title 29 - GOVERNMENT - LOCAL (§§ 29-1-101 — 29-37-210) › IMMIGRATION STATUS - COOPERATION WITH FEDERAL OFFICIALS (§§ 29-29-101 — 29-37-210) › Article 32 - STATEWIDE AFFORDABLE HOUSING FUND (§§ 29-32-101 — 29-32-106) › Section 29-32-105 - Affordable housing commitments - local governments - tribal governments - three-year commitment cycle - expedited development approval process - eligibility for assistance from the fund

(1)
(a)
Not later than November 1, 2023, the governing body of each local government, other than local housing authorities, or tribal government desiring to receive funding under this article or desiring to make affordable housing projects within its territorial boundaries eligible for funding under this article shall make and file with the division a commitment specifying how, by December 31, 2026, the combined number of newly constructed affordable housing units and existing units converted to affordable housing, within its territorial boundaries shall be increased by three percent each year over the baseline number of affordable housing units within its territorial boundaries, determined as provided in subsection (1)(c) of this section.
(b)
In the case of a county, the requirements of this subsection (1) only apply to the unincorporated areas of the county, except as set forth in subsection (3)(d)(II) of this section.
(c)
The baseline number of affordable housing units within the territorial boundaries of a local government or tribal government, as referenced in this subsection (1), shall be determined by the local government or tribal government by reference to:
(I)
The 2017-2021 American Community Survey 5-year estimates published by the United States Census Bureau. The baseline number shall reset for 2027, based on the 2020-2024 American Community Survey 5-year estimates, expected to be published in the spring of 2026 and every third year thereafter with the publication of the corresponding American Community Survey 5-year estimates; or
(II)
The most recently available Comprehensive Housing Affordability Strategies estimates published by the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development; or
(III)
A web-based system created, maintained, and updated by the division with the estimates specified in subsection (1)(c)(I) of this section, or if the division finds that the estimates specified in said subsection (1)(c)(I) would be impractical or deleterious to the efficacious implementation of this section, an alternative source of estimates that the division finds to be appropriate.
(d)
By November 1, 2026 and by November 1st of each subsequent year in which the baseline resets, the governing body of each local government, other than local housing authorities, or tribal government desiring to receive funding under this article or desiring to make affordable housing projects within its territorial boundaries eligible for funding under this article shall make and file with the division a commitment specifying how, by December 31 of the third year thereafter, the combined number of newly constructed affordable housing units and existing units converted to affordable housing, within its territorial boundaries shall be increased by three percent each year over the baseline number of affordable housing units within its territorial boundaries determined as provided in subsection (1)(c) of this section.
(e)
In drafting and enacting commitments under this subsection (1) local governments and tribal governments should prioritize high-density housing, mixed-income housing, and projects consistent with the goal of environmental sustainability, when appropriate, and should prioritize affordable housing in communities in which low concentrations of affordable housing exist.
(2)
(a)
In order to receive financial assistance under this article, or for affordable housing projects within a tribal government, municipality, a city and county, or the unincorporated area of a county to be eligible for funding, the tribal government or local government, other than a local affordable housing authority, must establish processes to enable it to provide a final decision on any application for a special permit, variance, or other development permit, excluding subdivisions, of a development project for which fifty percent or more of the residential units in the development constitute affordable housing not more than ninety calendar days after submission of a complete application, referred to herein as a "fast-track approval process."
(b)
A local government's or tribal government's fast-track approval process may include an option to extend the review period for an additional ninety days at the request of a developer, for compliance with state law or court order, or for a review period required by another local government, tribal government, or agency, within the local government or tribal government or outside, for any component of the application requiring that government's or agency's approval.
(c)
A local government's or tribal government's fast-track approval process may include extensions to allow for the submission of additional information or revisions to an application in response to requests from the local government or tribal government. Such extensions shall not exceed the amount of time from the request to the submission of the applicant's response plus thirty days. Applicants shall provide such additional information or responses promptly and shall, whenever practicable, provide a response within five business days.
(d)
Nothing in this subsection (2) shall be interpreted as requiring an affordable housing developer to utilize a fast-track approval process.
(3)
(a)
Beginning in 2027, to be eligible under this article for direct funding, or for affordable housing projects within a local government's or tribal government's territorial boundaries to be eligible for funding, local governments, other than local housing authorities, or tribal governments must satisfy both the requirements of subsection (1) of this section to commit to and achieve annual increases in the number of affordable housing units within their territorial boundaries, and the requirements of subsection (2) of this section to implement a system to expedite the development approval process for affordable housing projects.
(b)
(I)
If a local government or tribal government makes and files with the division the commitment required by subsection (1) of this section by November 1, 2023, it shall be deemed to have satisfied the requirements of subsection (1) of this section through December 31, 2026.
(II)
If a local government or tribal government makes and files with the division the commitment required by subsection (1) of this section by November 1, 2026, or by November 1st of a subsequent year in which the baseline resets, and it met its commitment to increase affordable housing made under subsection (1) of this section for the previous three-year cycle, it shall be deemed to have satisfied the requirements of subsection (1) of this section through the end of the current three-year cycle.
(III)
If a local government, other than a local housing authority, or tribal government fails to make and file with the division the commitment required by subsection (1) of this section by November 1, 2023, or by November 1st of a subsequent year in which the baseline resets, it shall be ineligible to receive financial assistance from the division or administrator during the following calendar year.
(IV)
If a local government or tribal government fails to meet its commitment to increase affordable housing made and filed pursuant to subsection (1) of this section for any three-year cycle, it shall be ineligible to receive financial assistance from the division or administrator during the first calendar year of the next three-year cycle.
(V)
An ineligible local government or tribal government may apply for a subsequent year with a new commitment under subsection (1) of this section for the balance of the then-current three-year cycle.
(VI)
A developer, whether for-profit or nonprofit, or a local government or tribal government developing an affordable housing project within the territorial boundaries of a local government or tribal government that fails to meet the requirements of subsection (1) or (2) of this section shall be ineligible to receive financial assistance from the division or administrator. Notwithstanding this restriction, a project within the territorial boundaries of an eligible municipality shall be eligible for funding even if the county in which the project is located is ineligible.
(VII)
Ineligible local governments and tribal governments and developers of projects in ineligible local government and tribal government jurisdictions shall not be required to pay back to the division or the administrator money paid to them under this article prior to ineligibility.
(d)
(I)
The division shall be responsible for determining compliance with this section. For the purpose of calculating whether a local government or tribal government has met the requirements of subsection (1) of this section, a new residential housing unit is to be counted at the time it is permitted rather than the time it is constructed. An existing housing unit newly qualifying as affordable housing is to be counted at the time it is permitted and fully funded rather than at the time the conversion is completed. For the purpose of calculating whether a local government or tribal government has met the requirements of subsection (1) of this section, in addition to affordable housing growth achieved through the programs in this article, any new deed restricted affordable housing, newly constructed or converted to affordable, within a local government's or tribal government's territorial boundaries shall be counted toward the local government's or tribal government's growth requirement. For the purpose of calculating whether a local government or tribal government has met the requirements of subsection (1) of this section, all units funded through the programs created in section
29-32-104 (1)(b), (1)(c)(I), (1)(c)(II), and (1)(c)(III)
are counted towards the local government's or tribal government's growth requirement.
(II)
Regional collaboration and partnership is encouraged. Local governments and tribal governments may enter into written agreements with other local governments and tribal governments that allow each jurisdiction to receive partial credit towards the local government's or tribal government's growth requirement for the purpose of calculating whether a local government or tribal government has met the requirements of subsection (1) of this section. The sum of the total units credited to the local governments and tribal governments shall not exceed the total number of units produced through the collaboration.
Amended by 2023 Ch. 381,§ 4, eff. 6/5/2023.
Added by 2022 Ballot Proposition 123, passed by voters in 11/8/2020 election, effective 12/27/2022.