A petition to take Denver’s group living amendment to the voters in November has received over 18,000 signatures — double the amount needed to qualify for the ballot, according to officials with Safe and Sound Denver.

The group living amendment, passed by the City Council in February, updated the citywide zoning code to allow for five unrelated adults to live together in one detached house, up from two adults prior to the amendment’s passage.

The legislation also increased the number of unrelated adults allowed to live together in duplex, apartment and condos to five from four. Households can have an unlimited number of people as long as everyone is related.

Though the amendment was passed by the City Council in an 11-2 vote (and expanded unanimously in April), it has met noteworthy opposition in the community.

Safe and Sound Denver, which organized the petition, has advocated against the change in policy since it was first introduced, arguing that increasing the number of people allowed to live in households would lead to noise, parking and safety issues.

“We object to our unique and diverse neighborhoods being used as an experiment for unproven agendas,” said Florence Sebern with Safe and Sound Denver. “Placing this referendum on the November 2021 ballot gives Denver residents a voice and a choice about housing uses in their neighborhoods.”

Denver City Council expands group living amendment citywide

Opponents to the amendment also raised concerns about its component that permits residential care facilities and congregate housing to operate based on the number of residents, rather than type of use.

That element of the amendment expands the amount of territory in Denver where community corrections facilities can locate. The residences, commonly known as halfway houses, were previously limited to industrial and some downtown zoning districts.

Safe and Sound Denver alleges that the City Council did not adequately address the concerns and oppositions from community members during the voting process.

In contrast, during the City Council meetings, many council members argued that the concerns were largely unfounded and based on misconceptions of the amendment.

For example, when the council voted to expand the amendment citywide, nearly all of the opposition letters claimed it would drastically increase the number of residents allowed in individual condos when, in fact, it is more restrictive in most cases by getting rid of the unlimited relatives rule for unrelated roommates.

Under the amendment, households with five unrelated adults cannot have any additional adult relatives living with them, and property owners can still limit the number of residents they allow to rent their properties.

Opponents of group living referendum disappointed at effort, unsurprised at 'anti-immigrant' comments

The group living amendment was championed as a promotion of affordable housing and housing stability, with city officials saying it will reduce housing costs, enable flexible housing options and provide a more inclusive definition of households, without substantially increasing average household sizes.

The Safe and Sound Denver Issue Committee will submit its petition to the city clerk at 9 a.m. Thursday.

In Denver, referendum petitions must be submitted 90 days from the date of the attested ordinance and must have the signatures of at least 9,184 valid Denver registered voters to qualify for the ballot.

“Thousands of Denver residents came together to work collaboratively, educate their neighbors, and voice their concerns about an ill-conceived Amendment that will significantly impact Denver today and for years to come,” said Paige Burkeholder with Safe and Sound Denver.

“We sincerely thank our petition circulators and the generous hosts of 40-plus signing events held in 30 days,” she said.