Residents praise Jefferson County staff coordination on housing planning and urge regional cooperation

During the meeting’s public comment period, residents praised county staff coordination on regional housing planning and urged continued collaboration with municipalities and state agencies.

Mindy Moore, 11570 West Seventieth Place, Arvada, said she was speaking for herself and Kathy Smith of Golden and described the county’s work to integrate transportation, water and environmental constraints into housing planning as “incredible.” Moore said county departments—development and transportation, planning and zoning, housing, economic and human services—are coordinating to develop implementation plans and consider cumulative impacts of development proposals.

Moore specifically commended county engagement with the Colorado Department of Local Affairs (DOLA) on transit-oriented community requirements and housing opportunity goals, and she said the county is considering applying for a state housing planning grant that was allowed by a recently passed local ballot measure referenced in the meeting as 1A. Moore said that coordinated cross‑department planning “sets a model” for the county and thanked commissioners for directing staff to pursue these approaches.

Moore urged continued close coordination between Jefferson County and the cities within the region to plan for housing, transportation and water constraints going forward. The comments were offered during the meeting’s public comment period and were not a formal agenda item; no board action was taken during the comment period.