BOCC ADOPTS EMPLOYEE HOUSING IMPACT MITIGATION FEE REVISIONS

Fee structure includes a phased-in approach and modifies mitigation rate steps

Media Contact: Kaye Simonson, San Miguel County Planning Director, 970-369-5436, kayes@sanmiguelcountyco.gov

(March 27, 2023) – San Miguel County, CO --- This month, the San Miguel Board of County Commissioners strengthened its ability to address the crucial need for affordable housing in the county. In June of 2022, the BOCC approved a revised schedule of Employee Housing Impact Mitigation Fees, which increased the outdated fees and made them more in line with today’s economic realities. These fees are used to support the development of capital projects that will further county housing goals and policies and assist in the construction of workforce housing. 

The recent revisions made to the 2022 resolution are in response to significant public input and include increasing the exemptions for homes from 1,800 to 2,000 square feet in size.   The mitigation rates were revised so that the gaps at the transition points between mitigation rates are eliminated.

Effective July 15, 2022 the new fees phase in, starting with 50% of the impact fee assessed and applying to all complete building permit applications submitted between July 15, 2022 and May 31, 2023.  Building permit applications that are submitted and/or made complete on or after to June 1, 2023 will be subject to 100% of the mitigation fee.

Employee housing impact mitigation fees were first adopted in 2007 and amended in 2022.  The new mitigation fee is based on a Market-Affordability Gap approach, which looks at the difference between the free market price of housing in the Telluride region and an amount that is affordable to those living in the community and earning 100% of the Area Median Income (AMI). This same method is used by the Town of Telluride and Town of Mountain Village, as well as by officials in Gunnison and Pitkin counties. 

The adopted Affordable Housing Impact Fee Calculation Worksheet is available online at https://www.sanmiguelcountyco.gov /DocumentCenter/View/9648/SMC-Affordable-Housing-Impact-Fee-Calculation-Worksheet-31233