COUNCIL TALKS ELECTRIC VEHICLE INFRASTRUCTURE
New developments will be required to have charging equipment
The Longmont City Council discussed electric vehicle charging infrastructure and accessory dwelling units during a study session Tuesday.
Last year, the state legislature passed House Bill 1233, which mandates that all new developments approved after March 1, 2024, have electric vehicle charging equipment installed.
The legislation applies to any new development, whether it be for single family homes, a multiunit apartment building or a business complex.
New residential and commercial developments undergoing major renovations would also be required to meet the electric vehicle infrastructure requirements. A major renovation is one that changes a minimum of 50% or more of the project’s parking area.
New developments with oneand two-family dwellings and townhomes that have onsite designated parking would need to provide “one (electric vehicle) ready space per dwelling unit,” according to a council memo.
A commercial development with 10 or less parking spaces would need to have two electric vehicle ready spaces.
An electric vehicle ready space is defined as a “designated vehicle parking space that has the electrical panel capacity, raceway wiring, receptacle, and circuit overprotection devices installed to support future implementation of electrical vehicle charging,” the council memo noted.
Ultimately, council members directed staffers to bring back an ordinance that will incorporate the changes required by the state concerning electric vehicle charging infrastructure in Longmont.
In addition to planning for more electric vehicle charging infrastructure, the city council discussed a bill making its way through the state legislature that supporters say would encourage people to develop more accessory dwelling units.
Also known as mother-in-law suites, carriage houses or garage apartments, an accessory dwelling unit, or ADU, is a smaller, independent housing unit on the same property as a single-family home.
House Bill 24-1152 would require a subject jurisdiction such as Longmont to allow the owner
of a detached single-family home to build an accessory dwelling unit on his or her property with minimal regulations involved.
City staffers recommended that the council oppose House Bill 24-1152 due to it encroaching on traditional land use and zoning authority of home rule municipalities. However, the council voted 4-3 to support the bill due to the need for housing and
the ability to allow more accessory dwelling units in HOAS.
“The bill will circumvent the arbitrary control of homeowner associations by freeing up the housing market to create more supply of housing to allow ADUS,” Longmont resident Taylor Wicklund said during public comment.