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Dillon, Silverthorne work together on housing

CAITLIN ROW
summit daily news
Summit County, CO Colorado

DILLON ” The Dillon Town Council gave preliminary approval on an ordinance to join forces with Silverthorne Tuesday on an eight-unit affordable-housing complex in the Ptarmigan Trail Estates subdivision bordering Silverthorne and Dillon.

If Silverthorne approves final plans for the development, Dillon will provide taps, water and sewer for the affordable-housing complex under an agreement between the two towns at an in-town rate. The Dillon town council would consider waiving tap fees too.

“It helps to keep costs down by having some joint cooperation,” said Mark Leidal, Silverthorne’s community development director. “Dillon’s line most easily services the project. … It’s pretty helpful. It’s nice to see that Dillon is willing to service the project even though it’s out of town.”



The final plan for the development will likely be submitted to Silverthorne at the end of the month, Leidal added.

Dillon town manager Devin Granbery anticipates the units to be for sale by the end of the year if the project moves forward as planned. They will be available exclusively for purchase, not for rent.



Under the annexation agreement, three units will initially be set aside for the developer’s employees, with the other five being available on a first-come, first-serve basis. The Summit Housing Authority will be managing all of the deed-restricted units, said Leidal.

Though all Dillon councilmembers supported collaborating with Silverthorne on an affordable-housing project, many expressed the desire for Dillon town employees to get a crack at purchasing units.

Granbery said that units will be available to anyone who qualifies within the county, with no favoritism towards town employees.

“Our employees will just have to get first in line,” said Dillon Major Barbara Davis.

Dillon’s 5A funds, which are designated for affordable-housing projects, may be used to offset utility costs if approved by the Dillon town council, Granbery said. That would make the land more affordable.

The town must use 5A funds before 2010 or return it to the Summit Combined Housing Authority.

The Ptarmigan lot originally was originally purchased from Dillon for a public-use trail connection from Silverthorne to the rest of Summit County’s trail system. It also was decided that it would be a good site for affordable housing.

The eight-unit development is one of the community benefits required under an annexation agreement being forged by the Town of Silverthorne with the South Maryland Creek Ranch development.

The ordinance allowing council to approve in-town rates for water and sewer service won’t be official until its second approval, expected at Dillon’s next council meeting.


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