Longmont City Councilmember Aren Rodriguez says his experience in local government as well as his business background are key in helping the city face a diverse set of issues over the next four years.
“The city is an uncertain place,” Rodriguez said via email, who is running for a second four-year term for an at-large seat on the council.“There is much that is unknown about the challenges we will be facing post-pandemic. We know there will be what could be long lasting effects to our housing and small business. This provides a very real opportunity to evaluate the best practices we have employed for many years.”
Rodriguez, a real estate appraiser, said after talking to a diverse group of people, he decided it's important to return some institutional knowledge to the city council. The council is losing nearly two decades of experience, as Councilmember Polly Christensen is term-limited and Mayor Brian Bagley is not seeking re-election.
“My experience as a planning and zoning commissioner, real estate appraiser and small business owner placed me in a unique position to contribute to what we know will be continuing challenges after Nov. 2,” Rodriguez said.
Longmont is like a lot of cities along the Front Range in trying to provide housing for residents all along the economic spectrum, Rodriguez said. There is a continuing need for capital “A” affordable, or subsidized housing, he said.
“This, however, is not the only market sector that will continue to require serious work on behalf of the city council,” Rodriguez said. “Market rate housing that is attainable for our teachers, firefighters, police officers, etc. is just as important.”
Rodriguez said his experience in the real estate industry allows him to analyze the efforts of other communities on a nearly daily basis, and will inform his position on housing policy.
“The reality, as outlined by staff at a recent meeting, is that we simply cannot build ourselves out of the situation,” he said. “We will need to be creative and flexible moving forward. This could include exploring non-standard products such as 3D printed housing, conversion of existing non-residential buildings and manufactured homes. We must also continue to evaluate our Land Development Code to see if it is providing us with all the necessary tools to address our housing marking shortages.”
The city may look at changing height limits in appropriate areas of town and allowing residential uses in certain zoning areas that currently bar residential units, Rodriguez said.
Rodriguez said he was not satisfied with options presented to RV dwellers looking for permanent housing in the city. A new ordinance introduced last year banned RV users from parking on city streets.
Allowing RV residents to use the Boulder County Fairgrounds temporarily was a “decent compromise” but that opportunity disappeared quickly with the onset of COVID-19, Rodriguez said.
Most RV residents are responsible and a few “bad apples spoil the bunch in this case,” Rodriguez said.
“The unfortunate part is that it is more difficult to move about the city and see examples of considerate RV owners. This, to a great extent, is an example of how dire our housing market is for many people,” Rodriguez said. “ It would not surprise me that once protections, moratoriums and aid begin to run dry, we will see more folks in RVs and tents.”
