Local leaders use strategy, tools to help make home ownership affordable

If you’ve ever played Monopoly or SimCity, then you’re familiar with what government folks call “land use.” Whether you’re building a hotel on Baltic Avenue or deciding on a library for your futuristic city, land use encompasses tools that governments use to maintain or guide the growth of a city, county or even the state.

Land use tools–things like zoning, transit-oriented developments, planned developments, and yes, affordable housing—can be combined in different ways to positively affect the health and vibrancy of a community. 

Arapahoe County commissioners, in cooperation with the mayors and councils of the 13 cities and towns within the county, are collaborating on land use policies to help make immediate and effective progress on affordable housing and economic vibrancy. These efforts are urgent as the County’s current population of 655,000 is projected to grow to 800,000 by 2030. 

We asked Arapahoe County Planning Division Manager Jason Reynolds to give a high-level overview of some of the tools the County and municipalities use for affordable and attainable housing. Over the next few weeks, we’ll build upon this knowledge as we share some of our successes and news about up-and-coming programs.