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Council approves sale and development agreement for A8A parcel to build 380 housing units, including 120 deed‑restricted units
Summary
Council unanimously approved sale of the county‑owned A8A parcel to Servitas LLC for a mixed market and affordable housing project: 380 units total (260 market, 120 deed‑restricted), county investment for deed restrictions ~$7.5M, developer investment ~ $196M; council vote 7–0.
Los Alamos County Council on Sept. 30 approved an ordinance authorizing sale of Lot A8A (125 DP Road) to Servitas LLC and a development agreement to build a mixed‑income housing project that would deliver 380 multifamily residential units, including 120 deed‑restricted affordable units.
Dan Osborne, the county’s housing special projects manager, said the site is about 22 acres with approximately 18.5 developable acres and was cleared in a 2023 environmental assessment for residential use. The proposal calls for 260 market‑rate units and 120 deed‑restricted units serving households at 60%, 80% and 100% AMI (averaging about 80% AMI). Osborne summarized the county participation: the developer will purchase the property for $5,500,000; the county will purchase permanent rent restrictions on roughly 88 units (county purchase price accounted in the transaction) and reimburse up to $2,000,000 for predevelopment costs to secure the remaining deed restrictions, for a total county investment toward the 120 deed‑restricted units of approximately $7,500,000.
Servitas’ senior vice president, Garrett Scharton, described the site plan, structured parking, internal trail connections (with portions to be dedicated to the county) and a phased construction schedule with first occupancy expected about 16–18 months after construction start and a 30‑month full build‑out. Scharton estimated developer investment at roughly $196 million with an anticipated $141 million in construction costs; local GRT during construction was projected at about $5 million.
Supporters at the remote public hearing — including Lauren McDaniel of Los Alamos Commerce & Development Corporation — praised the balance of market and permanently affordable units, the developer’s financing approach and the potential benefits for workforce housing. Some public commenters called for more community involvement and slower pacing; Deborah Bransford said the pace of projects in town felt rapid and asked for more environmental and school‑impact study detail.
Councilors asked about deed restrictions (Scharton and Osborne confirmed they are perpetual), accessible trail connections, due‑diligence and contract off‑ramps (the docketed agreement includes a two‑year due diligence period with a one‑year extension and customary walk‑away provisions if entitlements cannot be obtained). Councilor Veil Clinton moved adoption; the ordinance passed unanimously on roll call (7–0).
Next steps: the county will execute the sale and the developer will proceed through site plan review and required entitlements with county oversight; staff will return on implementation details as the project advances.
