Overview

• Arvada, Aurora, Glendale, Greenwood Village, Lafayette, and Westminster filed a lawsuit in Denver District Court against Gov. Jared Polis and the state of Colorado.
• The cities argue that two 2024 laws mandating higher housing density near transit and eliminating parking requirements infringe on Home Rule protections under the state constitution.
• The lawsuit also targets a recent executive order tying over $100 million in state grants to municipal compliance with the housing reforms, claiming it exceeds the governor's authority.
• Gov. Polis defends the reforms as necessary to address Colorado's housing shortage and remains confident the courts will rule in the state's favor.
• The legal battle highlights tensions between state-led efforts to address regional housing challenges and municipal concerns over preserving local autonomy in land-use decisions.