I agree that HB-1313 is an outrageous idea. It is clearly not in our best interest and should be opposed in every possible way. This ludicrous law endangers our city that we have worked so hard to nurture. Even if we did comply, there is no assurance that RTD will provide any level of service! Where is the Northwest rail line we were promised and have been paying for all these years? All while they have built out light rail in every other possible direction. This bill is worse than just outrageous and ludicrous, it borders on criminality, stealing what we have worked so hard to create.
Thanks "Longtime Lafayette" for bring me down to earth. I'm a little naive at times in hoping that our politicians have their constuients best interests at heart. Sadly at times that hope comes crashing down. But, have to get back up and keep up the good fight👊
Here are a few of my concerns after attending the March 4th meeting, just for the purposes of ongoing public opposition, especially at the state level.
1. They are asking us to plan to eject people from their homes, many of which would not be able to be relocated in our community based on drastic changes in the housing market since they moved here. We would essentially be driving people from our community, forcing them to leave their friends and families, maybe even their jobs to find other homes, likely nowhere near here. Some could even end up homeless (do not believe that their displacement mitigation plans would make these people whole. They definitely would not). Just to increase ridership on local bus routes? Absolutely immoral!
2. Note that councilor Samson speculated (based on her expertise) that there may be very little to no consequences of ignoring the legislation given that the affordable housing grants the state threatens to withhold may be minimal anyway based on a number of factors, not the least of which is impending budget cuts from the state and federal levels. It may not cost us much of anything, and as has been pointed out by many residents, whatever the cost would be it would pale in comparison to the astronomical costs to our city if we did comply.
3. They mentioned potential litigation as one of the risks, but it’s my understanding that the litigation threats in the original bill (along with the threat of withholding highway funding) were removed before it went to the floor as part of a compromise in response to significant opposition to the bill. I need to go back and reread the law that actually passed, but I don’t believe the state can sue cities who don’t comply.
4. I was a little concerned about councilor Fridland’s remarks about how we have plenty of time to see what we can do politically to work with the state on this. It sounds like he’s ready to go along with a fair amount of this legislation as a compromise, and even going through with part of it would be very detrimental to our city and its residents. I want them to fight to have the law overturned, both so that we can put this high density development issue to rest and to establish our Home Rule Authority as sacrosanct. I’m worried about how many of them danced around this issue, not sounding certain what the right thing to do might be. I appreciate reasoning through a logical response, but the right thing here seems pretty obvious to me, and after having watched the state in action pushing this bill through despite massive opposition, I can tell all involved that trying to get them to see reason is going to be like bringing a knife to a gun fight. These people literally do not care what this legislation might do to us. They are hell bent on this whole idea. We are going to have to do some roughing people up and knocking people down to get out of this alive (figuratively speaking of course, lol). That is the reality based on my recent experience trying to fight this thing. I’m not at all confident that city leadership knows what they are in for.
5. They’re including development based not only on existing transit, but on transit that is currently only being hoped for and/or thought about. This means they are mandating we put permanent scars on our community based on things that may never even happen.
Please contact Kyle Brown and also Governor Polis. Tell them exactly why this dictatorial legislation should be overturned. Tell Polis and Brown that they are trying to do the exact same thing to these small Colorado communities that President Trump is trying to do to bully the states, and they don’t like Trump’s dictatorial intrusion on Colorado any better than we like theirs on us. It is NO different. Beating down our home rule authority and doing irreparable damage to our communities in a massive overreach. Call AND write, and be prepared to do it again when we get a replacement for Jaquez Lewis.
"Longtime Lafayette" you are sharp, engaged, knowledgeable and tenacious. Thanks for succinctly identifying the most critical aspects of the horrendous impacts of this legislation.
Thank you Ron. I could say the same things about you. My Dad used to always say “Cindy, I spent the first two years of your life teaching you to walk and talk, and the rest of it telling you to sit down and shut up!! 😆 I never did!
All kidding aside, this is our seminal moment, and with all of the dedication with which you have gifted us, I beg you to keep showing up for our community as you have been doing for so many years. As with Karen, your invaluable commitment is not lost on us!
Check out the text. It says we can put in a growth cap for 24 months under certain circumstances. You might recall I brought that up during public input because council said they wanted to do it. But I can't find anything that shows they did. I contacted the city clerk and asked about it before the meeting, but did not get a reply as of yet.
Karen, FYI, I just wrote to Representative Kyle Brown. He really hepled out the people impacted by the Marshall Fire when he was on Louisville City Council. I know he has deep concern for his constituents. Hopefully, he can persuade his colleagues in the State Legislature to repeal this bill.
Don’t kid yourself Ron. After fighting them hard on 1313, my distinct impression is that none of these people, including Kyle Brown, gives one damn about what this legislation will do to our city and its residents. The lack of reason, foresight, and concern was utterly appalling. Polis included.
He voted for the bill the first time around, and also to take away our managed growth controls, so I am not sure what concern he has for our home rule status or the folks who live under it. I was very disappointed.
Agreed. Sent him a letter about this last time and he wrote me back: all rationalization, no care at all. Sent same-mail to Polis pointing out that he and his family live in the country and not in a ‘transit community.’ Did not hear back from him…
He had a cut and paste response that he sent out. Maybe adding a sentence or two at the end.
Hi Karen,
Thank you for reaching out with your concerns about the impact of HB24-1313 on Lafayette. I really appreciate you taking the time to write.
I very much appreciate the nature and history of the cities within House District 12. That history is particularly important regarding how we have tried to grow in the right way, including with affordable housing over time, and it's something I'm very appreciative of.
I want to note that Lafayette as a city has taken an opposed position to this bill, and it is something I'm very aware and considerate of as I review this bill. In fact, I have helped convene meetings between the City of Lafayette with the Governor's office, the Colorado Department of Transportation, the Colorado Energy Office, and the bill sponsors so as to discuss the city's concerns and see whether we can amend the bill in any way to help Lafayette. I recognize that the bill as is could lead to some drastic impacts on the housing stock required in Lafayette, but I also know that such numbers are not necessarily the intention of the bill.
As I continue to work with my colleagues, stakeholders and the cities in our district to consider the merits of 1313, I will make sure to keep your views in mind.
Thanks again for the note, please don't hesitate to reach back out.
I agree that HB-1313 is an outrageous idea. It is clearly not in our best interest and should be opposed in every possible way. This ludicrous law endangers our city that we have worked so hard to nurture. Even if we did comply, there is no assurance that RTD will provide any level of service! Where is the Northwest rail line we were promised and have been paying for all these years? All while they have built out light rail in every other possible direction. This bill is worse than just outrageous and ludicrous, it borders on criminality, stealing what we have worked so hard to create.
I share your anger and frustration.
Thanks "Longtime Lafayette" for bring me down to earth. I'm a little naive at times in hoping that our politicians have their constuients best interests at heart. Sadly at times that hope comes crashing down. But, have to get back up and keep up the good fight👊
Here are a few of my concerns after attending the March 4th meeting, just for the purposes of ongoing public opposition, especially at the state level.
1. They are asking us to plan to eject people from their homes, many of which would not be able to be relocated in our community based on drastic changes in the housing market since they moved here. We would essentially be driving people from our community, forcing them to leave their friends and families, maybe even their jobs to find other homes, likely nowhere near here. Some could even end up homeless (do not believe that their displacement mitigation plans would make these people whole. They definitely would not). Just to increase ridership on local bus routes? Absolutely immoral!
2. Note that councilor Samson speculated (based on her expertise) that there may be very little to no consequences of ignoring the legislation given that the affordable housing grants the state threatens to withhold may be minimal anyway based on a number of factors, not the least of which is impending budget cuts from the state and federal levels. It may not cost us much of anything, and as has been pointed out by many residents, whatever the cost would be it would pale in comparison to the astronomical costs to our city if we did comply.
3. They mentioned potential litigation as one of the risks, but it’s my understanding that the litigation threats in the original bill (along with the threat of withholding highway funding) were removed before it went to the floor as part of a compromise in response to significant opposition to the bill. I need to go back and reread the law that actually passed, but I don’t believe the state can sue cities who don’t comply.
4. I was a little concerned about councilor Fridland’s remarks about how we have plenty of time to see what we can do politically to work with the state on this. It sounds like he’s ready to go along with a fair amount of this legislation as a compromise, and even going through with part of it would be very detrimental to our city and its residents. I want them to fight to have the law overturned, both so that we can put this high density development issue to rest and to establish our Home Rule Authority as sacrosanct. I’m worried about how many of them danced around this issue, not sounding certain what the right thing to do might be. I appreciate reasoning through a logical response, but the right thing here seems pretty obvious to me, and after having watched the state in action pushing this bill through despite massive opposition, I can tell all involved that trying to get them to see reason is going to be like bringing a knife to a gun fight. These people literally do not care what this legislation might do to us. They are hell bent on this whole idea. We are going to have to do some roughing people up and knocking people down to get out of this alive (figuratively speaking of course, lol). That is the reality based on my recent experience trying to fight this thing. I’m not at all confident that city leadership knows what they are in for.
5. They’re including development based not only on existing transit, but on transit that is currently only being hoped for and/or thought about. This means they are mandating we put permanent scars on our community based on things that may never even happen.
Please contact Kyle Brown and also Governor Polis. Tell them exactly why this dictatorial legislation should be overturned. Tell Polis and Brown that they are trying to do the exact same thing to these small Colorado communities that President Trump is trying to do to bully the states, and they don’t like Trump’s dictatorial intrusion on Colorado any better than we like theirs on us. It is NO different. Beating down our home rule authority and doing irreparable damage to our communities in a massive overreach. Call AND write, and be prepared to do it again when we get a replacement for Jaquez Lewis.
"Longtime Lafayette" you are sharp, engaged, knowledgeable and tenacious. Thanks for succinctly identifying the most critical aspects of the horrendous impacts of this legislation.
Thank you Ron. I could say the same things about you. My Dad used to always say “Cindy, I spent the first two years of your life teaching you to walk and talk, and the rest of it telling you to sit down and shut up!! 😆 I never did!
All kidding aside, this is our seminal moment, and with all of the dedication with which you have gifted us, I beg you to keep showing up for our community as you have been doing for so many years. As with Karen, your invaluable commitment is not lost on us!
Karen, I can't wait to see his response to me.
I bet! I will be writing too.
Wow! Karen i did not know that! I am more than disappointed. I am shocked! Thanks for setting me straight on this.
It was a 2023 bill. I double checked and here are the votes. He is a yes.
https://leg.colorado.gov/content/hb23-1255vote5d5edd
HB23-1255. https://leg.colorado.gov/bills/hb23-1255
Check out the text. It says we can put in a growth cap for 24 months under certain circumstances. You might recall I brought that up during public input because council said they wanted to do it. But I can't find anything that shows they did. I contacted the city clerk and asked about it before the meeting, but did not get a reply as of yet.
Karen, FYI, I just wrote to Representative Kyle Brown. He really hepled out the people impacted by the Marshall Fire when he was on Louisville City Council. I know he has deep concern for his constituents. Hopefully, he can persuade his colleagues in the State Legislature to repeal this bill.
Don’t kid yourself Ron. After fighting them hard on 1313, my distinct impression is that none of these people, including Kyle Brown, gives one damn about what this legislation will do to our city and its residents. The lack of reason, foresight, and concern was utterly appalling. Polis included.
He voted for the bill the first time around, and also to take away our managed growth controls, so I am not sure what concern he has for our home rule status or the folks who live under it. I was very disappointed.
Agreed. Sent him a letter about this last time and he wrote me back: all rationalization, no care at all. Sent same-mail to Polis pointing out that he and his family live in the country and not in a ‘transit community.’ Did not hear back from him…
He had a cut and paste response that he sent out. Maybe adding a sentence or two at the end.
Hi Karen,
Thank you for reaching out with your concerns about the impact of HB24-1313 on Lafayette. I really appreciate you taking the time to write.
I very much appreciate the nature and history of the cities within House District 12. That history is particularly important regarding how we have tried to grow in the right way, including with affordable housing over time, and it's something I'm very appreciative of.
I want to note that Lafayette as a city has taken an opposed position to this bill, and it is something I'm very aware and considerate of as I review this bill. In fact, I have helped convene meetings between the City of Lafayette with the Governor's office, the Colorado Department of Transportation, the Colorado Energy Office, and the bill sponsors so as to discuss the city's concerns and see whether we can amend the bill in any way to help Lafayette. I recognize that the bill as is could lead to some drastic impacts on the housing stock required in Lafayette, but I also know that such numbers are not necessarily the intention of the bill.
As I continue to work with my colleagues, stakeholders and the cities in our district to consider the merits of 1313, I will make sure to keep your views in mind.
Thanks again for the note, please don't hesitate to reach back out.
Take care,
Kyle
Karen, you nailed it! You need more chocolate after that exhausting analysis!
Well done my dear friend.
Thanks Raph!