Overview:

The Common Sense Institute and Housing Fellow Peter F. LiFari, together with the Colorado Association of REALTORS®, the Home Builders Association of Metro Denver, and Civic Results are teaming up to put the latest data and facts around housing affordability into an actionable regulatory framework to support cities and counties aiming to increase the supply of starter homes across Colorado.

This initiative - The Colorado Starter Home Initiative - will culminate in the creation of a Starter Home Zoning Template, which is a flexible, locally tailored roadmap to help communities modernize zoning, streamline building codes, and adapt design standards to make starter home development more feasible.

Through detailed affordability metrics, economic modeling, and convenings, the initiative will equip local leaders with practical tools to align regulations with the realities of today’s housing market.

Guiding Principle:

Data and economics must drive affordable housing policy. CSI's goal is to support local leadership - not override it - by equipping communities with research, tools, and actionable solutions that can be adapted to their character and capacity.

Goal:

Create a tailored regulatory model responsive to Colorado’s diverse communities. The template of basic zoning controls will allow administrative approval of starter home developments. The template starts with small single-family detached homes. Because current zoning codes differ significantly in form, substance, and structure the template will include guidance as to what parts of distinct types of zoning ordinances may need to be modified to fit the local context. It will also include guidance to apply to more complex products (i.e., triplexes) and more complex contexts (i.e., high country mountain and resort communities).

Key Components:

Permitted Zoning District
Site Dimensional Standards
Building Design and Development Standards
Administrative Approval Procedures for Starter Home development

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Upcoming Event:

Learn more about our confirmed speakers:

Aurora City Mayor Mike Coffman leads Colorado’s third-largest city and has a long public service record, including roles as Colorado’s State Treasurer and U.S. Representative. His administration has focused on housing affordability, public safety, and responsible development.

Golden City Mayor Laura Weinberg has served as Mayor of Golden since 2019 and has been a long-time advocate for sustainable growth, attainable housing, and community-focused policy solutions. She brings experience in local government collaboration and strategic planning.

Don Elliott is a nationally recognized land-use expert specializing in zoning, housing policy, and urban development. With decades of experience advising cities across the U.S., he brings deep insight into how regulation shapes housing supply.

Peter LiFari is a housing policy leader with extensive experience advancing attainable housing across Colorado. His work focuses on practical, community-centered strategies to expand workforce and starter home opportunities.

Tyrone Adams leads Colorado’s largest real estate professional organization and is a respected voice on housing market trends, policy, and industry challenges. He has spent over two decades shaping conversations around homeownership and community development.

Feedback for template:

The Starter Home Zoning Template is built to support local leaders as they modernize zoning and increase attainable housing. Your feedback is essential. Download the template outline, review the materials, and submit your comments using the feedback form below.

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