The city of Durango wants to know what residents think could help solve the affordable housing crisis.
The community’s input at a forum on Thursday will help shape a plan that will guide possible housing policy changes, said Community Development Director Kevin Hall.
For example, the plan could propose changes such as a reduction in parking requirements or height restrictions, that could later become part of the Durango City Code.
City officials have not started drafting this plan yet, he said.
However, officials presented major housing policy changes to the Durango City Council earlier this year. Councilors have considered changing fees that developers can pay instead of building affordable housing units, regulations to help ensure demolished housing is replaced, and changes to the construction defects ordinance, among others.
The Durango City Council has approved an ordinance that protects condominium developers from frivolous lawsuits. The threat of lawsuit has slowed condo development statewide.
Since the housing policy changes were introduced, Kevin Hall took over as the Director of Durango Community Development Department, and a planner who was working on housing issues left the department.
“We really need to reboot a little bit,” Hall said. This community forum will help with this process.
A timetable for developing a housing plan has not been set, and it could be affected by the outcome of the April Durango City Council election.
One idea for encouraging housing is to reduce parking requirements. This idea has been floated for awhile.
Mayor Christina Rinderle, who is term-limited in April, sees reducing parking requirements as one way to create a more vibrant urban core.
“I think there is further room to revisit a decrease in parking regulations to allow for in-fill development opportunities to create additional housing units where it is convenient for people to get around without a car. If downtown were re-developed to today’s parking standard, every other building would be a parking lot,” she said in an email.
However, on Thursday, the city is open to hearing all suggestions that encourage affordable housing. They would also like to hear what the housing search entails.
mshinn@durangoherald.com
If you go
The city of Durango and the city’s Housing Policy Advisory Committee are hosting a forum on housing from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. Thursday at the Durango Public Library, 1900 East Third Avenue.
There will be short presentation at 6 p.m. but community members can drop in at any time.
For more information
Visit http://www.durangogov.org/index.aspx?NID=877 online to learn more about the city’s housing program and to view a presentation.
