DENVER — The Denver City Council approved changes to its group living rules during a meeting Monday night.
The update will allow for up to five unrelated people to live in one household. The previous rule allowed for only two unrelated people to live in one household.
The change also allows for up to four unrelated people to live together in a duplex or apartment.
The measure also adjusts rules for residential care facilities. Under the changes, residential care facilities will now be regulated by the number of people they serve, rather than by the service they offer.
The issue has garnered interest for years now. More than 1,100 people wrote in their comment for the meeting, and more than 100 people signed up to speak during the council meeting.
Supporters said the change would give more housing options to families and individuals, while opponents stressed how worried they were about their neighborhoods.
"We already have some problems in our community and I wish some of the people would have decided to come out, some of the council people to come out into our communities, and see what was going on before they decided to do this," one woman said.
Another man expressed his support for the change.
"We need to be searching for every opportunity to promote success, whatever it looks like, to promote different ways of living and I think this is just a really great example of that," he said.
The update passed 11-2. It is expected to be signed into law by Denver Mayor Michael Hancock sometime this week.