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Summit County workforce housing legislation clears latest congressional hurdle

Joe Moylan
jmoylan@summitdaily.com
Summit County Commissioner Dan Gibbs, foreground, and former U.S. Sen. Mark Udall, (D-Colorado) in 2014 when they visited the Lake Hill property that the county is now in the process of buying from the U.S. Forest Service for workforce housing development.
Courtesy / Summit County |

Summit County’s workforce housing bill last week cleared its latest congressional hurdle when the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee filed its report on the Lake Hill Administrative Site Affordable Housing Act and placed it on the Senate calendar.

Should the bill pass by a vote of the full Senate, it would then go to President Barack Obama for his signature.

The bill is sponsored by U.S. Sen. Mark Udall and cosponsored by Sen. Michael Bennet, both Colorado Democrats. Udall also serves on the Energy and Natural Resources Committee, which decided on Thursday, May 22, to place the bill on the Senate calendar.



“Workforce housing is essential so businesses and job creators throughout Summit County can attract talent and keep their competitive edge,” said Udall in a statement. “The Lake Hill Administrative Site Affordable Housing Act is a common-sense proposal that will support Summit residents and businesses alike — and it’s why I am fighting to get this bill passed through the U.S. Senate.”

Summit County Commissioner Dan Gibbs said last week’s announcement was the latest in a series of wins for the pending legislation. Gibbs has been advocating for the bill’s passage since June 2013 when U.S. Rep. Jared Polis, D-Boulder, introduced companion legislation in the House. Polis’ version of the bill passed out of the House in October 2013.



“There’s good momentum behind this legislation now, and we really appreciate Sen. Udall’s commitment to addressing our community’s housing needs,” Gibbs said. “If Summit County and the town of Frisco get the green light to acquire the Lake Hill property, it would be a major win for local workforce housing efforts.”

The Lake Hill Administrative bill would convey 40 acres of the Lake Hill property in the White River National Forest to Summit County. The land, currently owned by the U.S. Forest Service, sits between Interstate 70 and Dillon Dam Road and between the towns of Dillon and Frisco.

If the transfer is approved, proceeds from the sale would go to Region 2 of the U.S. Forest Service for capital improvement and maintenance of Forest Service facilities.


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