Summit County council presses ahead on Klein Dolly RFP and seeks wider housing strategy

Council members spent the longest portion of a day‑long retreat debating how the county should pursue affordable and workforce housing, endorsing near‑term steps on specific parcels while asking staff to convene a facilitated process to set longer‑term targets.

Staff told the council the Klein Dolly RFP will come back for council consideration on Oct. 23, and members agreed to continue talks with the developer DPRE on a proposed public‑private partnership at Kimball Junction. "Klein Dolly RFP will come back to council on October 23 with recommendations on housing options from staff," one staff slide summarized, prompting discussion about whether the county should assume a larger role in shaping proposals and in underwriting risk.

Why it matters: council members said they want to avoid ad‑hoc decisions that invite community backlash or create projects that lack services. Several members argued the county should use the RFP and negotiations to extract more public benefits—deed restrictions, set‑asides for teachers, first responders and county employees, and community amenities—rather than simply accept the developer’s first plan.

What council debated: members agreed on two linked tasks. First, finish the immediate, parcel‑specific work (Klein Dolly and continued negotiations with DPRE), with an aim for a decision framework or MOU by year‑end. Second, begin a facilitated, data‑driven conversation in early Q1 to set achievable targets (AMI bands, demographics to prioritize, pace and guardrails) before expanding any county‑wide housing program. "There is general agreement that affordable housing is an asset, not a liability," staff summarized; several councillors asked that language be tightened to avoid implying unlimited growth.

On public‑private partnerships: multiple councilmembers pushed for earlier employer commitments to backstop demand—school districts, resorts or large employers reserving units or long‑term leases—to make projects financeable. Members pointed to the SlopeSide model as an example where employer involvement and location helped make a project feasible.

Next steps and outstanding questions: staff will return the Klein Dolly RFP on Oct. 23, continue negotiations with DPRE on Kimbell Junction and schedule the facilitated sessions on long‑term strategy for early Q1. Councilmembers asked staff to draft RFP language that includes concrete community benefits and options (for‑sale, rental, deed‑restricted or deed‑restricted with limited appreciation) so the market can respond to explicit county priorities.

The council did not take a binding vote on county‑wide targets at the retreat. Members set a process and timetable to provide staff with clearer direction before any final approvals.