Funding for up to 79-unit employee housing project in Snowmass goes to November vote

The Snowmass Environmental Advisory Board met on Tuesday afternoon to discuss the specifics of Snowmass’ proposed major employee housing project, funding for which will be decided by the community in a Nov. 5 vote.

The proposed project would be built in the parcel of land known as the Draw Site, the area directly uphill from Town Hall. It is projected to consist of two residential structures, containing up to 79 units: 49 one-bedroom units, 21 two-bedroom units and 9 three-bedroom units. The units are predicted to cost $1,400, $2,000, and $2,600, respectively. 

“The cost of housing there is beyond the ability of anyone who has to work for a living to afford,” Snowmass Housing Director Betsy Crum said. “I think if you ask most of the people who commute, they would prefer to live here.”

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In 2023, the median unsubsidized Snowmass Village two bedroom cost was $7,475, according to a study commissioned by the West Mountain Regional Housing Coalition.

Annually, Snowmass allocates funding from the budget to its general fund to be used primarily for town operations. Because the project is predicted to cost $86 million — over 40% of the general fund — Snowmass residents will vote to approve or veto the project funding plan, deciding whether to allow the town to go into debt. 

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“We have a strong cost estimate, a strong concept,” Crum said. 

The project would be a step toward a goal set forth by the Town of Snowmass Village to create 185 new affordable employee housing units in the next 10 years.

Environmental Advisory Board Member Joseph Goodman said he thinks the environmental impact of the project outweighs the immediate benefits of building employee housing units at the Draw Site.

“We’ve committed to an Emissions Reduction Plan,” he said. “We have to forward the plan to arrive at that outcome that we’ve committed to.”

The plan, established in 2021, set a goal to reduce emissions in Snowmass by 62.5% by 2030. He said he thinks the operations of the proposed building project could jeopardize the plan and that there must be a more thorough analysis of the environmental impact of the proposed housing project.

“We have to do that type of work to live up to the obligation that we’ve made,” Goodman said.

He suggested an alternative of building employee housing by the turnoff to Snowmass on Colorado Highway 82. 

“The Intercept Lot is absolutely optimized for housing affordability,” Goodman said, referring to the Brush Creek and Highway 82 Intercept Lot. “You could not ask for a better situation to really make a massive dent in terms of impact on local housing workforce.”

But doing so would be difficult for the town, as Brush Creek is outside of the town’s jurisdiction and is owned by the Colorado Department of Transportation.

“With regards to housing at the Brush Creek Park and Ride, the Town of Snowmass Village does not own or control that land nor is it within town limits,” Assistant Town Manager Greg LeBlanc said. “The Town’s Workforce Housing Master Plan (2021) identifies areas within the town that are able to be developed for housing.”

Other areas currently considered for new housing units include the Daly Lane, Public Works, Carriage Way, and Upper Lots.

Snowmass Mayor Bill Madsen noted the advantage of reducing the number of commuters in and out of Snowmass and the impact that could have on reducing greenhouse gasses.

“If we had 79 units, and so upwards of 100 people living there who are then no longer using their car, they’re able to walk to the grocery store, use a bike,” he said.

He also emphasized the importance of having a community that is tightly knit and within walking distance. 

“This project checks a lot of boxes. It’s close to transit, it’s close to work, it’s close to the grocery store. It builds community. And I think that’s one of the biggest advantages,” said Madsen, adding, “we want to run into you in the grocery store, in the post office, and see you in the local restaurants. I mean, that’s how you build community.”

Skyler Stark-Ragsdale can be reached at 970-429-9152 or email him at sstark-ragsdale@aspentimes.com.