Metro Mayors Caucus Announces Strong Support for HB26-1065 to Boost Transit and Housing Through Incentives
DENVER, CO — The Metro Mayors Caucus (MMC), representing 38 mayors and more than 3 million Coloradans across the Denver metropolitan region, has formally announced its support for HB26-1065, Transit and Housing Investment Zones.
The Metro Mayors Caucus operates on a unique consensus-based decision-making model, ensuring that our positions reflect a true regional agreement across partisan and geographic lines. MMC does not take a formal position on legislation unless a super-majority of our 38 member mayors is in agreement.
The MMC strongly values legislation that encourages meaningful action through incentives and sees this bill as an effective and collaborative approach. In a formal position letter to the General Assembly, the Caucus expressed appreciation for a framework that advances housing goals while respecting municipal leadership.
"HB26-1065 provides a thoughtful and flexible framework that strengthens coordination between transportation investments, housing development, and local land-use planning," stated Littleton Mayor, Kyle Schlachter, Chair of the Metro Mayors Caucus. "By allowing local governments to voluntarily designate Transit Investment Areas, the bill empowers municipalities to pursue transit-oriented development strategies that reflect local priorities while advancing broader regional goals."
The Metro Mayors Caucus supports HB26-1065 for the following reasons:
Collaborative Incentives: We see incentives as an effective approach in contrast to overriding local land use and zoning authority.
Voluntary Designation: By partnering with transit agencies to voluntarily designate investment areas, municipalities can ensure development reflects local constraints and priorities.
Preservation of Local Control: The bill ensures participation is locally initiated and subject to state approval, allowing communities to determine when and how these tools best serve their residents.
Thoughtful Implementation Tools: Leveraging state sales tax increment revenue and targeted incentives will help communities invest in transit infrastructure that promotes mobility, economic development, and efficient growth.
This approach recognizes that Colorado’s cities and towns vary in size, growth patterns, and infrastructure needs, and it appropriately places decision-making authority at the local level. The Metro Mayors Caucus is pleased to support this bill and remains committed to working with sponsors to advance housing affordability while preserving local flexibility.
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About the Metro Mayors Caucus
The Metro Mayors Caucus powered by Civic Results is a unique coalition of mayors from across the Denver metropolitan area, comprised of 38 mayors who represent more than 3 million Coloradans, over half of the state’s population. Mayors formed MMC in 1993 to provide a non-partisan vehicle for regional dialogue and cooperation on issues that transcend individual municipal boundaries. MMC serves as a distinctive platform that cultivates personal connections and leverages dialogue to achieve shared goals, address challenges, and develop solutions that benefit both the region and its member municipalities.
About Civic Results
Civic Results is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that helps local governments and partners work together to solve tough regional challenges. We build trust, lead collaboration, and make things happen where others get stuck.
