Check out my latest blog post on the climate argument for smart growth ⬇️

(2/2) The takeaway? Smarter land use means fewer miles driven, lower energy bills, and more resilient communities. CO's new housing laws are a start. Now cities need to fully implement them. Our analysis: housingforwardco.org/five-ways-sm...
#LandUse #energy #transpo #climate #Colorado #housing

(1/2) The CO Energy Office modeled how smart land use policies impact GHG emissions &climate risks. The results:
🏘️ -31% building emissions
🚗 -15% household transpo emissions
🌲 +30% of new homes shifted from greenfield development to infill
🔥 -Tens of thousands fewer homes in wildfire-prone areas

Transportation is Colorado’s largest source of GHG emissions, and one of the hardest to decarbonize. EVs help, but we also need to reduce driving. Compact, walkable neighborhoods can cut household transportation emissions by 15% in fast-growing areas. Learn more: housingforwardco.org/five-ways-sm...

Great new op-ed from State Rep Stewart on the benefits of Lakewood's zoning code proposal to expand housing choices by legalizing "missing middle housing".

These housing options cost $230k less than single detached homes. They also reduce driving & energy/water use.
coloradosun.com/2025/08/07/o...

New press release from SWEEP & partners:
Environmental and housing groups support new executive order rewarding local governments for tackling the housing affordability and climate crises.

www.swenergy.org/conservation...

I'm so proud to have played a tiny part in helping make this happen! This is the most impactful land-use policy change for enabling more housing in urban areas -- not to mention important for fighting urban heat islands and protecting watershed quality! 🏘️☀️💧🌄

SWEEP's latest report in the Colorado Sun:
"The cities that aren’t fighting Jared Polis’ housing agenda - Many Colorado cities are taking steps to obey the state’s new land use laws — and some have gone even further than they’re required." @maxnardoco.bsky.social
coloradosun.com/2025/05/30/t...

Great thread and blog post from Max Nardo with a summary of the results from Portland's middle housing legalization and how a similar policy might play out in Colorado:

Big shout out to Wheat Ridge City Council for getting rid of parking minimums for all multifamily development across the city. Motion passed last night 7-0!
@rachelhultin.bsky.social
www.youtube.com/live/FqvVCaT...

ok I love this park and the grass and trees but am continually annoyed by the sprinklers! Why don't they go off at night!!

Berkeley - the city that literally invented single-detached-only zoning – passed landmark zoning reform on Friday.

Berkeley will now allow 70 homes per acre across all residential zones (~8 homes per 5k sf lot). 🔥🔥🔥

Huge congrats to @eastbayforeveryone.bsky.social & their coalition!

Essential reading for Coloradans interested in housing & land use.

“The state’s lot size and parking requirements are “really at odds with this notion of Colorado being an environmentally friendly state, a state where people care about the land, where a lot of attention is paid to land management.”

Proud to have worked on this! Check the thread for some key takeaways. Basically, progress is happening to make CO more affordable and sustainable!!

Colorado faces a shortage of affordable, diverse housing options. Our new blog looks to Portland, Oregon, for lessons on how middle housing reforms can help fix that🏘️
From SWEEP and our new Housing Forward Colorado campaign

Smart and well researched op-ed by Lukas Hagen with the Neighborhood Development Collaborative

Excellent new op-ed from Lukas Hagen on how removing parking mandates in Denver will "help lower rents and home prices in an era of high building material costs and exorbitant interest rates."
www.westword.com/news/denver-...