Udall, Polis Hail Senate Passage of Proposal to Expand Workforce Housing in Summit County

Lake Hill Workforce Housing Bill Would Support Local Businesses Through Affordable Housing, Now Heads to President’s Desk

WASHINGTON, D.C. – July 10, 2014 – (RealEstateRama) — U.S. Senator Mark Udall and Congressman Jared Polis hailed the U.S. Senate’s passage of their bill to help Summit County support local businesses and jobs by expanding affordable workforce housing. The Lake Hill Administrative Site Affordable Housing Act conveys 40 acres of federal administrative land from the U.S. Forest Service Dillon Ranger District to Summit County to build affordable workforce housing while supporting a new Dillon Ranger District administrative building nearby. The bill now heads to the president’s desk.

“I’m proud the Senate joined with Summit County residents and me today to ensure that hardworking families and public servants have access to affordable housing while they live, work and recreate in the high country,” Udall said. “Access to affordable housing is often desperately needed to support Colorado’s tourism economy. This bill — which has received broad community support — will help support local businesses and bolster Coloradans’ high quality of life.”

“I am thrilled that the Senate has passed the Lake Hill Administrative Site Affordable Housing Act and I am confident the President will take the opportunity to sign this bill into law, creating high quality affordable housing for the people of Summit County,” Polis said. “This bill is the product of a community-driven effort to ensure that residents are able to continue to live and work in beautiful Summit County, despite rising costs of housing. This bill will also help the U.S. Forest Service fund improved facilities. I want to thank Senator Udall and all of the local officials whose partnership was critical to push this measure forward.”

The parcel of land, which sits between Interstate 70 and the Dillon Dam Road, is no longer suitable for management by the Forest Service. The transfer would allow Summit County to develop the area to provide much-needed affordable housing near public transit. The proposal has received broad community support, including from the Summit County Board of County Commissioners, the towns of Frisco and Dillon, and Conservation Colorado.

Udall and Polis have been longtime supporters of the Lake Hill Administrative Site Affordable Housing Act, along with cosponsor Sen. Michael Bennet. Udall helped pass the bill through the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, on which he serves, after hosting a public comment period last year. Polis championed companion legislation in the U.S. House of Representatives, which passed the bill last October.