loveland housing

via fb post [https://www.reporterherald.com/2026/01/12/loveland-housing-task-force-2026-plans/]

notes/quotes:

Loveland housing task force sets sights on major progress in 2026

After recent policy wins, the Loveland Affordable Housing Task Force plans to expand its efforts with a housing summit, regional housing needs study and new funding tools (jan 2026) by jocelyn rowley

Habitat for Humanity homes, here under construction in south Loveland, are part of an overall concept for an affordable housing neighborhood that Crossroads Church and the Loveland Housing Authority are planning for church property near 57th Street and Taft Avenue.

Since 2021, the Loveland Affordable Housing Task Force has been taking the city’s housing market apart piece by piece to understand why it costs so much to live here and what can be done about it. To date, that work has paid off in reforms to Loveland’s development code, updates to review processes and lower utility fees for smaller units.

But the group’s best year yet could be in the offing. At Monday’s first meeting of 2026, Task Force Chair Lisa Cunningham struck an upbeat tone, saying the group’s recent successes have positioned Loveland for meaningful progress on housing in the coming year.

“We have had a lot of policy wins,” she said. “And we feel that 2026 is going to be a real game changer in Loveland for seeing different types of housing

The task force, which includes developers, housing finance experts, city staff and nonprofit leaders, was formed in response to a challenge from then-Mayor Jacki Marsh, who urged the Loveland Housing Authority to find ways to boost affordable housing in the city.

That call led the Authority’s Executive Director Jeff Feneis to create a group that could bring people from both the public and private sectors together to craft practical solutions.

“That’s how we got here,” Feneis said. “Just me recognizing that maybe we’re a little more than a one trick pony, but we don’t know all the tricks. And if we get the right people in a room, we could move the needle on everything from financing to more multi-family.”

So far, the task force has managed to move the needle with reforms to Loveland’s zoning policies that incentivize housing types other than single-family, such as duplexes, townhomes and mixed-use units. The city also approved code updates to allow more accessory dwelling units (ADUs), which are small, secondary homes located on the same lot as a primary residence.

More recently, the city adopted a sliding-scale utility fee model championed by the task force that sets proportionally lower water and wastewater fees for smaller units.

“We believe this is a signal to developers that Loveland is open for business,” Cunningham said. “It’s creating a more favorable climate to build smaller homes.”

living spaces et al

This year, the task force plans to build on that momentum with new initiatives, including a regional housing needs assessment developed with Fort Collins and Larimer County. It is expected to be released this spring and will help identify gaps in the current housing supply, Cunningham said.

Also underway are plans for a local housing summit hosted in conjunction with the city’s Economic Development Department to educate builders, lenders and housing advocates on Loveland’s reforms, with the goal of encouraging more private-sector participation in the affordable housing market.

“Affordable housing is a key contributor to the vibrancy of the community, the quality of life, as well as the resilience and success of the economy,” said Marcie Willard, the city’s economic development director and a member of the task force. “When companies look to locate or expand, housing is one of the key criteria they evaluate — is there adequate housing stock for the workforce we need to attract?”

unauthorized home less ness et al

More creative funding solutions are also on the task force’s 2026 agenda, such as a regional revolving loan fund that would provide flexible, low-interest financing to developers willing to build below-market-rate units.

Meanwhile, the task force is also helping the city develop new small-lot standards, a change that will make it easier to build compact homes on smaller parcels of land.

shipping container ness.. tiny home ness.. tiny arched cabins.. et al

“I think our standards are designed for big suburban lots, with generous setbacks,” Hahn explained. “And so these are really taking our standards and looking at these more compressed situations. How do we still achieve the same goals that we have with our standards in the smaller footprint?”

Finally, the task force will also be assisting the city’s efforts to encourage more ADUs in Loveland, both through a public outreach campaign and participation in state incentive programs. According to city senior planner Kerri Burchett, Loveland is seeking state certification as an “ADU-friendly community,” which could make it eligible for up to $100,000 in grants to help homeowners cover building and permit costs.

More information about the Loveland Affordable Housing Task Force and its 2026 initiatives can be found at ahtfloveland.org

______

_____

____

____

_____