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Planning staff outlines 2026 priorities: comprehensive plan, housing projects and e‑permitting
Summary
Lake County planning staff presented a 2026 work program that includes drafting a multi‑jurisdictional comprehensive plan with adoption targeted in May–June, housing development updates (Sixth Street, 3rd Street modulars), a DOLA grant application and a planned e‑permitting rollout and staffing hires.
Planning staff presented the department’s priorities for 2026, saying the county is finalizing goals, strategies and action teams for a multi‑jurisdictional comprehensive plan and expects a draft in March with adoption targeted for May or June.
Staff described housing work underway: homes being finished on Sixth Street with marketing in February and closings anticipated in March; modular sets on 3rd Street moving through site‑built elements now through March with marketing and sales expected in summer; and ongoing property management of county rental assets on Elm Street with deferred‑maintenance work completed in 2025 (roof replacements) and heating upgrades planned in 2026. Staff said they are pursuing NEPA and SHPO approvals to access $850,000 of congressional spending awarded for housing work and will continue grant administration to support projects.
On programmatic support, staff said the county applied for a DOLA grant for a housing action plan; if awarded, staff expect to enter a professional services agreement in March with Root Policy to produce a housing action plan and update the housing needs assessment beginning in April. Staff also described professional development activities (ICC conference, Rocky Mountain Land Use Institute and APA Colorado) and participation in a DU affordable housing cohort through June.
Staff said the department is advertising to add a planner and has budgeted for a building professional (approximately $80,000 annual) to expand in‑house plan review and inspections. Staff outlined a push to implement CloudPermit e‑permitting in 2026 to streamline permitting across planning, building, code enforcement and septic permitting. The department plans to continue some use of external code experts while increasing local employee capacity.
Commissioners asked for periodic updates from Jackie and regional housing authority representatives to track project timelines and outcomes. Staff said they would bring those updates to the commission and coordinate public engagement for the comprehensive plan and other priorities.
