Littleton voters have so far favored a ballot measure that disallows multiplexes and similar types of housing in single-family home neighborhoods, according to the returns posted after polls closed on Tuesday night.

The “yes” campaign led opponents by 10 points, 55% to 45%, with 13,202 total votes cast from Arapahoe, Jefferson and Douglas counties, the unofficial tally showed.

At issue is whether to alter the city’s charter to disallow development of multiplex homes – like duplexes, triplexes and quadraplexes – in neighborhoods zoned for single-family homes, part of a larger push for “density” in metro Denver.

Back in January, Littleton councilmembers considered an ordinance allowing duplexes, multiplexes, triplexes and ADU’s within single-family zoned neighborhoods. Homeowners, in response, pushed back on the city, resulting in the council indefinitely postponing the ordinance.

Littleton officials said the city the needs 6,550 more housing units over the next few decades.

Proponents of “density” argued it would provide more affordable housing options and give that decision to homeowners. Meanwhile, critics countered it would change the character of single-family homes and undercut what homebuyers expected when they first purchased their houses.

Rooted in Littleton, a group formed against the proposal, garnered enough signatures to place 3A on the ballot.

In its latest campaign finance report, the “Yes on 3A” campaign received about $38,000. Meanwhile, the No on 3A committee, raised about $8,500. Vibrant Littleton, a group that is also against 3A, raised $2,540.

Mark Harris, a spokesperson for Rooted in Littleton, expressed gratitude to voters, maintaining that 3A is not a partisan issue.

“This is about neighborhoods and homes and what you want your neighborhoods to be like in the future,” Harris told The Denver Gazette at a “Yes on 3A” watch party.

“I think 3A did break through a partisan barrier,” he said, “because I think homeowners have raised their voices here in Littleton. They like their neighborhoods, and they want them to stay the way they are. They don’t want blanket density of multiplexes throughout our town.”

LITTLETON CITY COUNCIL

Mayor

Littleton voters are set to give Kyle Schlachter a second term as mayor over challenger Patrick Driscoll, according to the early returns.

Schlachter, the incumbent mayor, led Driscoll, a councilmember, by 12 points, 57% to 43%, with 12,781 of votes tallied so far.

Four Littleton City Council positions, including the mayor’s seat, are up for grabs in a city that 45,000 people call home.

The biggest issues among the candidates are density and single-family home zoning, as encapsulated in 3A, the ballot measure.

Driscoll, during his campaign, criticized “density” in single-family home neighborhoods; Schlachter supported it.

At-large

Littleton voters appeared to be returning appointed incumbent Joel Zink over challenger David Carlton to Littleton’s at-large city council seat, the early returns showed.

Zink, who was appointed to the seat, led Carlton, a financial expert, by 12 points points, 56% to 44%.

Here are the the results of other races in Littleton:

District 1: Darren Lemorande (36%), Merrill Stillwell (64%)

District 3: Amanda Henderson (57%), Curt Samuelson (43%)

CENTENNIAL CITY COUNCIL

Centennial voters are poised to pick Councilmember Cristine Sweetland over Councilmember Donald Sheehan and Bennett Rutledge for the mayor’s seat, the initial tally showed.

Sweetland led Sheehan, in second place, by 15 points, 55.83% to 40.46%, with 27.31% of Arapahoe County voters reporting, according to the second release of unofficial results Tuesday night.

Eleven Centennial City Council campaigns this year are vying for five seats in Tuesday’s election. Centennial’s council is composed of nine seats, with each four districts represented by two councilmembers.

In their campaigns, Sweetland raised $47,550.28, while Sheehan took in $66,195. Rutledge raised $524. The candidates focused on housing, business growth and affordability.

Here are the results of other races in Centennial as of 7 p.m.

District 1: Robyn Carnes (45.87%), Cindy Sandhu (54.13%)

District 2: Ashish Vaidya (51.34%), Carrie Penaloza (48.66%)

District 3: Ryan Dwiggins (60.54%), Patty McKernan (39.46%)

District 4: Durrell Middleton (52.30%), Jeffrey Gilliam (47.7%)