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Pitkin County to fund regional housing needs assessment and refill deed-restricted housing program
Summary
Commissioners reviewed a supplemental payment to a regional housing needs assessment and a separate request to refill the county’s deed-restricted housing fund to serve applicants already under contract.
Pitkin County commissioners on June 10 reviewed two related housing items: a contribution toward a regional housing needs assessment and a supplemental refill for the county’s deed-restricted housing program.
Ashley Pearl, resiliency and housing director, described a regional needs assessment being led by the City of Aspen and the town of Snowmass Village and conducted by consulting firm EPS. The county’s request is for roughly $41,000 to cover its share of the contract. Pearl said the regional assessment will meet state requirements for housing needs analyses and will generate household- and income-level detail useful for targeting limited local housing subsidies.
Separately, Housing Program Analyst Andrew Miller told the board the deed-restricted housing fund for 2025 is effectively depleted: all current funds are under contract and expected to close within 30–45 days. Miller asked the board to refill the program bucket to $900,000 so two or three applicants in the pipeline can complete purchases. Commissioners said they support the refill but urged staff to prioritize deed restrictions in Pitkin County (rather than purchases in neighboring counties) where feasible.
Several commissioners expressed frustration with recent state requirements and the state’s “unfunded mandate” approach but said they would support the regional needs assessment and the deed-restricted program refill given the county’s current housing priorities. Staff said both items will be included in the formal supplemental reading at the county’s regular session the following day.
