The town of Bayfield gave final approval this week to Phase 1A of the Mustang Crossing subdivision.
The subdivision is expected to bring 81 single-family homes to Bayfield east of the Mesa Meadows subdivision. Phase 1A will build 19 homes, stormwater facilities and begin work on a pedestrian trail that will loop around the development.
Bayfield Community Development Director Nicol Killian said the homes will be available at market rate, but Bayfield is working on other affordable housing projects.
Among those are deed-restricted projects like the Pine River Commons project and Cinnamon Heights. Pine River Commons is a 17-acre parcel with 68 single-family lots to be located west of the Conoco gas station, south of U.S. Highway 160.
Cinnamon Heights will offer 30 townhome units, which is zoned for multifamily use east of the Conoco gas station along Highway 160.
Bayfield has experienced an increase in median home price since 2019.
In 2019, the median price for a home in Bayfield was $334,000, but had risen to $397,500 during the first quarter of 2023, according to statistics from Durango Area Association of Realtors.
“Bayfield used to be the affordable workforce housing community for Durango. But with the inventory so low, we're running into an issue of affordability as well,” Killian said.
Earlier this year, Killian said Bayfield had a total of 1,100 housing units.
Construction on Phase 1A should begin by the end of this week or early next week. She said residents who live in adjacent neighborhoods may experience construction traffic. Construction traffic will access the property via Louisiana Drive until the connection to Mustang Drive is made.
Mustang Crossing LLC is heading the project and managing member Glenn Mosell said site work should be completed by the end of the summer with home building beginning this fall.
After Phase 1A is finished, the town will review the remainder of the plan before it can be finished.
Mosell estimates the full project will likely be completed by 2027. The cost of each home will likely run between $450,000 and $650,000.
“We’ll be building various floor plans and elevations from 1,250 square feet to 2,200 square feet,” he said.
Each lot will have about a quarter-acre of land, and the homes will have a modern farmhouse architectural theme.
“We’re very excited to be a part of the smart growth in Bayfield,” Mosell said.
He added that the development is a logical and sensible move for the community, because the development will bring quality homes to La Plata County.
tbrown@durangoherald.com
