What's the Point, Arvada?
The city of Arvada is suing the state to continue breaking state law and make housing more expensive.
As Arvadans, we're asking: why?
What laws are they breaking?
Arvada is currently breaking two major state laws, passed in 2024.
- Transit-Oriented Communities, which lets people build denser housing near high-frequency transit stations.
- Minimum Parking Requirements, which lets people build housing with fewer parking spaces near high-frequency transit stations.
Arvada has had nearly a year to go into compliance. They've decided to use your tax money to sue the state instead.
All This Fuss Over Not Much Land
The mayor of Arvada has said that these laws would allow low-income neighborhoods to be "razed for high rises... with nothing we can do about it." Putting aside how ridiculous and inflammatory this rhetoric is, we have to ask a question: how much of Arvada is even under these laws?
Less than 6%.Less than 6% of our city will be affected by these laws in any way whatsoever at all. Is this really worth a lawsuit?
Good Laws. Our Laws?
This lawsuit is ridiculous and frivolous already. It gets worse when you see what they're actually trying to prevent.
Firstly, this isn’t well known but the bill draws heavy inspiration by work Arvada has already done. I was told this directly *by the governor’s office.* One of his chief architects for the land use legislation was an urban planner here and oversaw our own TOD and land use updates in 2018-2020. Good guy.So we're going to sue the government, to stop them from implementing laws... based on laws our city pioneered.
It is true that some of Arvada's existing affordable housing is near transit stations. But these laws don't mandate that everything near transit stations is re-zoned for higher density. They just mandate that some of the areas are. Our city still makes the choice on which areas to re-zone.
If you consult the map above, there's several obvious candidates, especially around Olde Town. There's no reason for us to re-zone everything around the Gold Strike station or along Sheridan. We can simply add a bit more dense housing where our dense housing already exists.
These laws are, as stated previously, largely based on laws Arvada already has. This has given Arvada a head start on complying with these laws. Finishing up that process wouldn't be particularly difficult or time-consuming.
But don't take our word for it. Again, quoting Mayor Simpson:
We’re about 90% compliant already because we started way out in front of the state.
If we're already that close, why are we suing? Wouldn't it be easier to just follow the law?
According to an Arvada city council member, workers in Arvada earning minimum wage are "all doing fine with their housing." But what do the facts say?
According to apartments.com, Arvada's median rent for a studio is $1391/month. Using the standard measure that you should spend 30% of your income on housing, that means you need to make $55,640 to afford that apartment. Arvada's minimum wage of $30,805 a year doesn't even come close. Even with roommates, you cannot affordably split a two-bedroom apartment as a working-class Arvadan.
These state laws are designed to help make housing more affordable, helping our most vulnerable population. Why are we fighting them so strongly?
Support Housing. Stop the Lawsuit.
These state laws will help make Arvada more affordable—and we're almost in compliance already. Tell the city to stop fighting progress.
Sign the petition →
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