Lafayette seeks grant to help meet affordable housing goals – Colorado Hometown Weekly

The Lafayette City Council unanimously approved the grant application to help increase the city’s affordable housing stock to meet state and regional goals. The funds the city is requesting are being provided through the Colorado Department of Local Affairs’ Local Planning Capacity Grant program.

Phil Kleisler, long-range planning manager, said Lafayette currently has about 750 affordable housing units, before Willoughby Corner opens. The city needs about 1,000 more units to meet Boulder County’s goal of making 12 percent of the city’s housing stock affordable by 2035. Kleisler said the 12 percent goal is a moving target because the number is likely to change as developments occur in the city and certificates of occupancy are issued.

Kleisler clarified that those figures do not include Willoughby Corner, which will include 400 affordable units.

In July 2023, the city also committed to Proposition 123, requiring Lafatyette to create or convert 115 units to affordable housing by 2027.

“If awarded, (the grant) would provide the necessary support for staff to implement some of the key action items in the strategic plan, really focused on building a strong foundation for our existing affordable housing program,” Kleisler said.

Lafayette hopes to use the grant money to hire consultants to create a road map for the city’s housing program and develop regulations such as an ordinance to help expedite affordable housing projects, or an ordinance requiring developers to create a set number of affordable units. The grant would also help the city manage its current stock of affordable housing.

The city is seeking $192,000 in grant funding and the total cost of the project is $240,000 over two years, with the city contributing 20%, or $48,000. The city’s contribution would come from the Affordable Housing Trust Fund, which covers administrative costs needed to run the housing program.

Mayor pro tem Brian Wong was not present.

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