{"id":27992,"date":"2019-06-30T14:14:38","date_gmt":"2019-06-30T14:14:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.vailvalleypartnership.com\/?p=27992"},"modified":"2019-06-30T14:14:38","modified_gmt":"2019-06-30T14:14:38","slug":"a-key-to-addressing-the-housing-challenge-is-political-will-and-following-zoning-guidelines","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.vailvalleypartnership.com\/2019\/06\/a-key-to-addressing-the-housing-challenge-is-political-will-and-following-zoning-guidelines\/","title":{"rendered":"A key to addressing the housing challenge is political will – and following zoning guidelines"},"content":{"rendered":"

Town of Vail Planning & Environmental Commission and Town Council members,\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

At Vail Valley Partnership<\/a>, our guiding principle is to promote the long-term economic health of Eagle County and solidify an economic base that is strong, diverse, and resilient. Economic development is about building sustainable communities that can thrive indefinitely.<\/p>\n

Eagle County communities derive extraordinary economic and social benefits from the ongoing health and beauty of our natural environment. Respecting this heritage, efforts to strengthen our economy in diverse, collaborative, and sustainable ways that fit the particular context of our communities.<\/p>\n

We must ask ourselves if the decisions, policies and programs that we pursue are likely to create outcomes that are economically viable, environmentally sound, and socially acceptable. The framework of Community Sustainability is a sensible framework for decision-making that considers: Economic Sustainability, Environmental Sustainability, and Social Sustainability.<\/p>\n

When there are community issues \u2013 including but not limited to housing, healthcare, and transportation – those issues are Chamber issues. Well-thought-out development, construction, and proper land use will create jobs and opportunities through retention and expansion of existing companies, and the attraction of new companies.<\/p>\n

The careful balance of economic, environmental, and social sustainability also requires careful consideration of the underlying zoning that exists on various parcels considered for development.<\/p>\n

The proposed Booth Heights (East Vail workforce housing parcel) project supports important wildlife habitat and is closely surrounded by habitats and wildlife uses that are unique in the Gore Creek Valley. Development and human habitation of this site without designing it around the wildlife community, without safeguards, and without habitat enhancement would result in impacts that would be unacceptable to the local community.<\/p>\n

The Town of Vail\u2019s housing district environmental language (criteria E) states environmental impacts resulting from the proposal have been identified in the project’s environmental impact report, if not waived, and all necessary mitigating measures are implemented as a part of the proposed development plan.<\/p>\n

Note, it does not indicate that projects should not be approved but that \u201cnecessary mitigating measures are implemented\u201d. Emotional pleas aside, the bighorn sheep winter range is 1,800 acres and development will occur on 0.2% of sheep range. Managing bighorn habitat<\/a> to restore, enhance, or maintain vegetative openness is key to survival of the herd. The development proposes to permanently set aside and enhance 18 acres of private property for wildlife.<\/p>\n

The Wildlife Mitigation Plan<\/a> for the East Vail Workforce Housing will be provided to residents of the Workforce Housing subdivision to educate them about (1) the parcel\u2019s setting, (2) the sensitivity of the local wildlife, (3) the effort that went into the development\u2019s design to avoid, minimize, and compensate for project effects, and (4) requirements that residents must abide by to live in this sensitive setting.<\/p>\n

The 2009 Environmental Sustainability Strategic Plan (Goal #3 \u2013 Ecosystem Health) is to ensure that the natural environment, specifically air and water quality, water quantity, land use and habitat are\u00a0maintained to current or improved levels\u00a0<\/u>of biological health.<\/p>\n

Note, in the case of the proposed Booth Heights neighborhood in East Vail, the developer is proposing the largest private wildlife mitigation in the history of the Town. This certainly qualifies as \u201cmaintained to current or improved levels of biological health\u201d for the sheep herd.<\/p>\n

Of equal importance to those focused on facts rather than emotion, the East Vail parcel is private property designated as a housing zone district and is the only<\/u> undeveloped Housing zone parcel in the Town of Vail. No variances to town code are proposed and the 2018 housing needs assessment<\/a> shows need for 4,000 additional units valley wide by 2020.<\/p>\n

Please keep the following additional facts in mind as you review the application:<\/p>\n