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County commits $800,000 in supplemental funding to OPAL Community Land Trust's Pea Patch cottages project
Summary
The San Juan County Council approved a staff recommendation July 15 to commit an additional $800,000 to OPAL Community Land Trust’s Pea Patch affordable cottages project, with the county temporarily covering the commitment from uncommitted refunds until 0.1% sales tax housing funds and a pending CHIP grant application are available.
The San Juan County Council voted July 15 to authorize staff to draft a conditional funding commitment for an additional $800,000 to OPAL Community Land Trust’s Pea Patch cottages project.
Why it matters: County staff said the $800,000 commitment would augment earlier awards and keep the Pea Patch project moving while OPAL seeks federal and state funding, including an application to the state’s Connecting Housing to Infrastructure Program (CHIP). County staff expect CHIP results in January, and plan to replace the temporary funding draw on uncommitted refunds with longer-term 0.1% sales tax affordable-housing funds and (if awarded) CHIP proceeds.
Details: Ryan Page, county staff, told the council the county’s combined available affordable-housing funding sources now exceed $3 million and that OPAL’s project had gathered nearly $200,000 in additional revenue since the last briefing. OPAL executive director Lisa Byers joined the meeting by phone and told the council updated site work and utility cost estimates had raised the project’s cost compared with earlier budgets; she cited contractor contingency increases tied to tariffs, more detailed site work design, and refined water/sewer/stormwater requirements.
Council action: Council member moved and seconded a motion to commit $800,000 in supplemental funds and to authorize staff to draft a conditional funding commitment letter. The motion passed by voice vote.
Follow-up: Staff said the county would cover the $800,000 initially from uncommitted refund balances and then re-charge that commitment to the county’s 0.1% sales-tax housing fund as collections grow and/or to CHIP funds if the project is awarded state grant money. Staff also said the award would not block future applicants from competing for the originally advertised $2.5 million NOFA pool.
Outcome: Motion carried; staff will prepare a conditional commitment letter and return with any contractual language needed for disbursement conditions and repayment if state or other revenues supplant county interim funding.
