Dara MacDonald – Community Development Director
First, Randy Sack has asked me to let everyone know that biosolids are now available at the wastewater plant. The best time to pick up this free fertilizer is between 7:30 a.m. – 3:00 p.m., Monday – Friday.
On the real topic of my column, the cost of housing is rising in our community and the city is exploring ways that we can help ensure there is adequate housing available for residents who may need assistance. Earlier this year the city adopted the City of Salida Strategic Housing Plan which is available for review on the city website. We are now beginning to consider ways to implement the action items recommended in that plan.
At their meeting on June 23rd, the planning commission began considering changes that can be implemented quickly to help address the concerns about rising housing costs. The changes being considered initially include reducing the minimum lot sizes to more easily permit duplex and townhome ownership in addition to condominiums. The commission may also recommend allowing modular homes to be placed in any residential zone. Currently they are only permitted in the R-4 zone. Annexations are new additions to the municipality and the city may require that any annexations which include residential units incorporate housing dedicated for affordable ownership.
Additional recommendations were made in the Strategic Housing Plan about actions the city can consider to address the problem of rising housing costs. Some of these require more research or are items that we must educate ourselves on so that we understand any possible ramifications of implementation. To assist with educating staff, planning commission and the city council, the Chaffee Housing Trust has organized an education session on Tuesday which everyone is welcome to attend.
The Chaffee Housing Trust is a new organization in the community that is committed to promoting responsible community development by providing affordable and sustainable home ownership to qualifying residents. They have arranged for Aaron Miripol of the Urban Land Conservancy to speak at the Senior Citizens Center, 300 F Street, on Tuesday, August 5th at 6:00 p.m.
Miripol will provide information to the community on how to achieve affordable workforce housing. He will specifically address changes to the zoning code that the city can consider which can facilitate creation of affordable housing opportunities in our community. Both city council and members of the planning commission have been invited to attend and the presentation is open to the public.
The rising cost of housing affects everyone in the community including working families, senior citizens, employers and young adults just getting started. I hope you will join us as the city council and planning commission consider ways that the city government can help to alleviate this growing problem in our community.
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