Ilium Valley parcel approved for Community Housing zone

Commissioners give green light for Mountain Village’s intent to develop workforce housing

Media Contact: Mike Bordogna, County Manager, 970-738-5429, mikeb@sanmiguelcountyco.gov

Kaye Simonson, Planning Director, 970-728-3083, kayes@sanmiguelcountyco.gov

(August 16, 2023) – San Miguel County, CO --- At today’s regular meeting of the San Miguel Board of County Commissioners (BOCC), the board unanimously approved a rezone of land in Ilium Valley that will facilitate housing for the area workforce. The Alexander property, which is under a purchase and sale agreement with the Town of Mountain Village, was approved for the county’s new Community Housing zone district, paving the way for the completion of the sale, and an eventual plan to build affordable housing close to the towns of Mountain Village and Telluride. The 56.3-acre parcel was formerly zoned as forestry/agriculture. 

“Ilium Valley and this property specifically have been identified in the San Miguel County Master Development Plan as suitable for additional affordable housing so long as services can be provided,” said Mountain Village Assistant Town Manager Michelle Haynes.

Today’s approval was the second of a two-step process required for the property’s rezone to Community Housing. Earlier this month, the County Planning Commission (CPC) recommended approval of the rezone in the first step. Any subsequent development plans submitted by the Town of Mountain Village to the County will be subject to another two-step development review process, which will include detailed studies, engineering reports, and development plans. The development plans will undergo rigorous review by the CPC and the BOCC.

The creation of workforce housing is a stated priority of all three local governments — Mountain Village, Telluride and the County — and each entity is actively pursuing various opportunities including active projects, land banking and, in the County’s case, new zoning to better facilitate any future workforce housing initiatives. The benefits of providing housing close to where people work not only eases environmental impacts as a result of long commutes, but also improves quality of life by increasing the time spent with one’s family and allows residents to be more involved with the community. 

“Building deed-restricted housing leads to better communities,” said Mountain Village Town Manager, Paul Wisor.

Before casting her vote of approval, District 1 Commissioner, Anne Brown, said she was pleased with the thoroughness of Mountain Village’s application for the Alexander property rezone.

“I am very impressed with the due diligence that the Town of Mountain Village has conducted,” Brown said. “The whole process appears to me to have been very thoughtful and transparent. I very much appreciate that. I wholeheartedly believe that community housing is a high priority problem in our region and I'm looking forward to moving this forward and working together on this and other projects.”

“The Mountain Village Town Council is committed to addressing the regional housing crisis, looking both within our community and outside the Mountain Village boundaries,” Haynes said. “With its proximity to both Mountain Village and Telluride and existing residential and mixed-use properties in Ilium Valley, this property is the right size and in the right location for us to invest in building additional housing for the community and region.”

Now that the rezone to Community Housing has been approved, Mountain Village officials will work toward development plans to present to the County at a future date.