Summit County Council describes affordable apartment goals

Affordable apartments have long been a hot topic for the Summit County Council, but the council members often have difficulty achieving consensus on the methodology to combat the problem. Questions how big the housing deficit is how the district should promote development and where new units often plague a discussion in connection with living space, determine the conversation and lead the city councils to a patient situation.

But last week the Council opted for specific goals for the first time – 1,500 new units in 10 years.

“We are always hung up because we have no comprehensive plan.

Robinson said that he understood the hesitation, but he was in favor of creating a plan and giving Summit County employees instructions to combat the estimated deficit of 7,600 units, a number that was made available to the Council through economic development and apartment director Jon's Jones.

Tonja Hanson, chairman of the district council, proposed the target of 1,500 units. She said she had the affordable residential projects in Park City and already defined projects in Summit County, such as the public-private partnership with Dakota Pacific Real Estate, reduced from 7,600 units and 25% of this number.

“[It’s] Probably a low number, but I think it's to start somewhere, “said Hanson.

Robinson agreed that the district does not strive for a higher number and may not be overdeveloped or not risked.

“We have to do something, but we shouldn't strive to do everything,” he said. “It will never happen and it wouldn't like us if we were doing it.”

Jones and his employees will work on a strategic plan until the end of April to present the County Council based on the new target of 1,500 units.

The district council also opted for a five -member institution for the newly founded housing authority with three representatives of the council, who acted as commissioners. Only two of the commissioners will be residents of the Summit County Community, a dramatic change compared to the decision of the Council in February to have a body with seven people with only two council members.

However, the composition of the Commission of the Housing Authority can change in the future. According to Robinson, the council hopes to keep the majority of control because the County Courthouse works to iron its affordable housing destinations and put the housing authority into operation for the first time.

The district council did not check the statutes of the housing authority as expected in the past week. The council members prefer to wait until Jones introduces his strategic living plan in April.

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