Town Council Worksession and Meeting Minutes - Affordable Housing Update with BACH (March 10, 2015)

Sep 2, 2026

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Town Council worksession and meeting minutes document a presentation by Economic Planning Systems (EPS) on an updated Housing Needs Assessment for Basalt, Colorado. EPS summarizes findings from data updates, a survey of the top employers, and qualitative interviews, addressing employment trends, demand from low-wage workers, and regulatory or financing influences. Recommendations propose a housing program of about 200 units, focused on family and entry-level affordability, plus alignment of Basalt’s Inclusionary Housing Ordinance with Eagle County. Council questions and next-step actions are recorded, including agenda topics for affordable housing code and policy updates.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryLetters

FormatDOCX

Pages11

Reading Time4 min

AccessFree to download

Groundbreaking and Agenda Items

Affordable Housing Update with BACH

EPS Presentation: Housing Needs Assessment

Employment Trends and Demand

Targeting AMI, IHO Alignment, and Framework

Housing Market and Affordability Definitions

Council Questions and Responses

Findings and Community Approaches

Unit Mix and Cost Tables

Acknowledgements and Agenda Discussion

BACH Discussion Topics and Next Steps

101 Midland Avenue, Basalt, CO 81621 Meeting Date: March 10, 2015 Time: 4:00 PM Location: Town Council Chambers 4:00 PM Groundbreaking - Habitat for Humanity House – Homestead site at 213 E. Homestead Drive TOWN COUNCIL WORKSESSION AND MEETING MINUTES 5:00 PM Affordable Housing Update with BACH EPS Presentation – Housing Needs Assessment Assistant Planning Director James Lindt introduced EPS (Economic Planning Systems) representatives David Schwartz and Dan Guimond who were present this evening to discuss an Update of the Town’s Housing Needs Assessment. BACH (Basalt Affordable Community Housing) Committee and town staff put out an RFP for an update to the Needs Assessment and contracted with EPS to do the work. EPS completed a data update from 2008 and 2009, conducted a survey of the top 5 employers in town, and conducted some qualitative interviews. David Schwartz began by stating the purpose of this meeting was to explain the report – their findings and recommendations, and take questions. David reviewed the questions that guided the update. Findings and recommendations were summarized in the report and displayed via PowerPoint. The findings related to employment trends over the last decade and how employment conditions have changed over the 7 or 8 years; demand from the low-wage labor force; and how local or state regulatory or financing issues may contribute to the problem. They also spoke with the employers in Basalt to gauge their interest in taking on more private employee housing developments, or their interest in partnering with the town on certain town-led developments. EPS recommended a housing program in the magnitude of 200 units to service existing need and future demand. The affordable inventory should be focused on family and entry level units to meet the needs of current working households who commute in to Basalt. EPS discussed Area Median Income (AMI) categories to target ownership and rental opportunities. They noted the Town should align its IHO (Inclusionary Housing Ordinance) with neighboring Eagle County’s requirements. The Economic and Demographic Framework was discussed noting Basalt’s 3-mile planning area, employment trends by valley community, by industry, wages, incomes, and commuting patterns. Population and Households presented information for housing affordability policy analysis. The Housing Market reviewed Occupied Housing Units, Tenure of Occupied Housing, and Units by Size. A study of Residential Building Permits, Homes Sales and Projects in the Development Pipeline contributed to this section of the report. The EPS report continued with the Definition of Affordability, Affordability for Permanent Residents and Cost Burden. The Employer Survey completed the survey with Residency and Housing Type Preferences, Importance of Home Features, and Home Purchase Considerations Council questions: Rob Leavitt asked what EPS learned from the report that surprised them. David Schwartz said there was not much that surprised them in terms of affordability conditions. David said all the housing policy or analysis they had conducted over the past 5 years had very similar results in terms of incomes stagnating or not exceeding the rate of the cost of living. Housing prices have escalated faster than incomes in most communities. There is increasing cost burden in most communities. The increase in the low-wage work force, or the loss of higher paying jobs was a little more disproportional. Gary Tennenbaum asked what they had seen in the way of other communities trying to bridge this gap. David Schwartz said other communities were willing to take steps on the regulatory side to try to solve their affordability problems with inclusionary housing ordinances, incentive based policies. Some communities are developing a more comprehensive approach to developing affordable housing solutions through creating new funding sources, commercial linkage programs, residential linkage programs,

FAQs

What was the purpose of the EPS presentation in the meeting?

EPS representatives explained the Housing Needs Assessment report, including findings, recommendations, and answered council questions.

What affordable housing program did EPS recommend?

EPS recommended a housing program on the order of 200 units to address existing need and future demand, with emphasis on family and entry-level units.

What issue did council members raise about affordability and housing policy alignment?

Council discussed that Basalt’s affordable housing requirements may be high and out of sync with neighboring jurisdictions, prompting a review of code and policy updates and possible alignment with Eagle County’s requirements.

Sep 2, 2026

Upload by James