Larimer County Code Audit and Housing Strategies

Larimer County, CO | 2023

Larimer County is a 2,600 square mile urban and rural county on the front range of the Colorado Rocky Mountains with about 360,000 people and an anticipated population of 412,000 by 2030. Median housing prices have risen dramatically within the past 10 years, and housing stock and supply has not kept up with demand.

Cascadia Partners (CP) was selected by the County to conduct a comprehensive audit of the County’s Land Use code to identify opportunities to advance housing supply and affordability. Working closely with staff and the Board of Commissioners, CP carefully analyzed the zoning map, infrastructure availability, and existing development standards to identify code change opportunities within a complex landscape of rural, suburban, and urban contexts.

Cascadia crafted four foundational code strategies based on the audit:

• Remove barriers to Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs)
• Establish a new allowed housing type of Rural Cottage Clusters.
• Maximize opportunities for multi-family housing on commercial corridors.
• Implement regulatory protections for existing manufactured home parks.

The code audit and strategies were broadly supported by the Planning Commission and Board of Commissioners. They applauded the firm’s ability to respond to the varying land use contexts in the County and propose practical, implementable solutions.

In addition to the code audit, CP provided research and insights into programmatic strategies to facilitate affordable housing development. The firm interviewed subject matter experts and stakeholders and produced a research memo that provided critical guidance for County staff on how to approach land banking, housing trust funds, and lodging taxes.