Dillon Ranger District Workforce Housing Administrative Site Lease and Open House
The Dillon Ranger District of the White River National Forest is inviting public comment on a proposal from Summit County Government to lease the Dillon Work Center administrative site for the development of workforce housing. The proposed lease, submitted in partnership with the Town of Dillon, includes up to 177 affordable housing units of mixed configuration along with a community center, residential parking, public transit connections, and upgraded infrastructure and utilities. For more information, please visit the project webpage: https://www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=63214.
PURPOSE AND NEED
The White River National Forest has offered the Dillon Ranger District Work Center (Work Center) property for lease under authority provided by the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 (P.L. 115-334), Section 8623. In accordance with this authority, the Forest Service may enter long-term lease arrangements at qualifying administrative sites in exchange for cash or non-cash consideration. The Work Center parcel was acquired by Special Warranty Deed on April 30, 1963 from the City and County of Denver for use as a residence and work compound. Today, the Dillon Ranger District not only needs to right-size and redevelop these facilities to effectively support operations into the future, but also to identify improved housing options for its staff.
In accordance with the legislation, Summit County has exercised its right of first refusal to pursue a lease at the Work Center property under the Section 8623 leasing authority. Similar to other communities across the White River National Forest, Summit County and the Town of Dillon are experiencing significant housing gaps as well as out-of-reach housing costs. Both entities identified the Work Center property as a suitable location to provide much needed affordable workforce housing due to its size, location, and topography. A leasing partnership at the Work Center property would allow the White River National Forest to support local housing efforts while achieving land and management goals.
PROPOSED ACTION
The proposed action is to lease the 10.89-acre Work Center property (see attached Property Location Map) to Summit County for 50 years. The County, in partnership with the Town of Dillon, has proposed to plan, develop, and operate affordable housing units accessible to Summit County residents as well as Forest Service employees. Concept plans for the development consist of up to 177 housing units (1-, 2-, and 3-bedroom configurations) in multi-story buildings with associated residential parking, community center, improved utilities and infrastructure, and public transit and trail connections (see attached Conceptual Site Plans). The proposed units would be available to the community as long-term, affordable rentals subject to an income qualification to ensure affordability to the residents over the course of the lease. As proposed in-kind consideration for the lease, up to 10 housing units would be reserved for permanent USFS employees and up to 30 beds would be reserved for seasonal USFS employees. District administrative facilities including office, warehouse, workshop, engine bay, fire cache, wareyard, and RV pad spaces would also be redeveloped on roughly 2.5 acres of the site as in-kind consideration.
COMMENT PERIOD
The White River National Forest is providing a 30-day public comment period for this project. The purpose of this comment period is to provide an opportunity for local residents and interested parties to learn more about and to meaningfully participate in management proposals. Comments for this project will be accepted prior to January 6, 2023.
Written comments may be submitted via mail, fax, electronically, or in person (Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., excluding holidays) to: Mr. Adam Bianchi, District Ranger, c/o Anna Bengtson, Project Manager, Dillon Ranger District, PO Box 620, Silverthorne, CO 80498; Electronic comments are encouraged and can be submitted at https://www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=63214.
To be most effective when submitting comments, please include: 1) name, address, telephone number, organization represented, if any; 2) title of project for which the comment is being submitted (Dillon Ranger District Workforce Housing Administrative Site Lease); and 3) specific facts and supporting reasons for the Responsible Official to consider. Names and contact information submitted with comments will become part of the public record and may be released under the Freedom of Information Act. Decisions that are categorically excluded from documentation in an Environmental Assessment (EA) or Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) are not subject to an administrative review process (pre-decisional objection process) (Agriculture Act of 2014, Subtitle A, Sec. 8006).
PUBLIC OPEN HOUSE
A public open house regarding this proposal will be held at the Dillon Town Hall (275 Lake Dillon Drive, Dillon, CO 80435) on December 8, 2022 between 5:30pm and 7:30pm. Representatives from the White River National Forest, Summit County, and Town of Dillon will be present to answer questions and provide additional information on this project.
For more information about this project, contact Forest Service project manager Anna Bengtson at anna.p.bengtson@usda.gov.
Thank you for your interest in this important project and the management of your public lands. I look forward to hearing from you.
Sincerely,
SCOTT G FITZWILLIAMS
Forest Supervisor
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