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FAQ

I support affordable housing. Won’t these ordinances help create more?

We all support affordable housing, but these measures will do the opposite. By forcing developers to make 30% of units “affordable” without any public funding, most projects simply won’t get built. Fewer projects mean fewer homes, and that drives prices up, not down. Affordable housing requires collaboration, incentives, and smart planning – not punitive mandates that make construction impossible.

A lot. These ordinances would quadruple the number of development fees – from 3 to 12 – including raising water and sewer fees from 2 to 5 separate charges. That’s not just a small increase; it’s a cost spike that makes Louisville one of the most expensive cities in the region to build in. New businesses and housing projects will simply choose nearby communities with lower, more predictable costs.

Yes – and they already do. Developers in Louisville already pay significant impact fees that have been set by Louisville’s City Council to support infrastructure, schools, parks, and services. These new ordinances pile on extra costs without clear benefits to residents. “Fair share” should mean fair – not punitive fees that push projects, jobs, and tax revenue to other cities.

Not likely. Development is competitive – investors and builders have choices. If Louisville proves too expensive and unpredictable, major employers and businesses will likely opt for neighboring communities like Lafayette and Bromfield that have friendlier, more balanced policies. Once an investment goes elsewhere, it’s hard to get it back.

We agree Louisville’s charm is worth protecting – but we can’t freeze Louisville in time. Healthy growth brings new energy, supports local businesses, and keeps housing within reach for seniors, families, and workers. Without it, we risk becoming a place only the wealthy can afford.

It might sound that way, but if higher fees kill development, the city collects nothing. In other words, 100% of zero is still zero. That means no new homes, no new businesses, no new tax base. Sustainable revenue comes from thoughtful, balanced growth, not fee hikes so extreme they shut down the projects that pay them.

Because it’s financially unworkable without subsidies. This requirement forces developers to sell or rent 30% of their homes at a significant loss, which is such a high cost that projects will lose money even if they raise prices on the other 70%. Studies from UCLA, Pittsburgh, and George Mason University show that high mandatory affordability percentages slash construction by 30–60%. If we stop the majority of projects before they start, we don’t get affordable units – we get nothing.

The name is misleading. The ordinance targets commercial areas for rezoning but attaches requirements so strict that development won’t happen. Instead of new homes or mixed-use projects, we’ll be left with empty lots and missed opportunities. If we push development away, instead of making room for homes near businesses and schools, we encourage more suburban sprawl and long commutes by car instead of walking or biking within Louisville.

True fairness means making Louisville a place where everyone has the opportunity to live, work, and thrive – not setting up rules that push people and jobs away. Fairness is about balance, and these measures tip the scales too far.

Louisville’s schools are only at 2/3 capacity, with enrollment declining in recent years as families find it harder to afford to live nearby. Declining enrollment means less funding for our schools. We have room to welcome new families so that their kids can benefit from some of the best schools in Colorado.

Louisville Together supports real solutions:

  • Incentives for developers to include affordable units
  • Partnerships with nonprofits and employers to create workforce housing
  • Infrastructure investments that grow our economy without driving out small businesses
  • Policies that keep Louisville welcoming, vibrant, and financially healthy

Good policy is about what works, not what just sounds good.