Commission approves 2024 tax adjustments for Self Help Homes after extended debate over precedent and greenbelt option

Washington County commissioners voted to approve a staff‑recommended adjustment of property taxes for parcels owned by Rural Housing Development Corporation, doing business as Self Help Homes, that the staff said would reduce 2024 property taxes to zero on specified development parcels.

Staff introduced resolution R‑2024‑3361 to grant the adjustment for three projects: Hurricane Heights (about 20 income‑qualified lots remaining), Sage Point in Hurricane (planned for about 56 lots), and a LaVerkin parcel (about 36 planned lots), for a total of roughly 112 income‑qualified lots. Brad Bishop, executive director of Self Help Homes, explained sales progress at Hurricane Heights (9 lots sold recently, permits forthcoming) and described delays tied to federal funding cycles—he said HUD/SHOP funding was reduced this year and that the organization is working to move lots toward construction and sale.

Commissioners pressed several concerns: the precedent of annually waiving taxes for parcels held for affordable housing, the time parcels may remain undeveloped while still receiving relief, and ways to reduce holding costs such as placing land in greenbelt/agriculture until development is ready. One commissioner urged the owner to make a short‑term lease with a local farmer to establish greenbelt status and lower holding costs until permits and construction are ready.

Brad Bishop said Self Help Homes uses federal SHOP funds, sweat‑equity homebuilding models and that most revenue is reinvested into the nonprofit's affordable‑housing mission. He stated Hurricane Heights was purchased in 2019 and that earlier phases had been developed and exempted previously; he estimated the LaVerkin parcel might take up to two years before construction.

A commissioner moved to approve the tax adjustments for the listed parcels and encouraged the applicant to pursue greenbelt arrangements where practicable to reduce fire risk and holding costs. The motion carried on a voice vote after a second. Commissioners noted they expected to see evidence of reasonable efforts to move properties to active development and indicated their willingness to re‑examine similar requests in future years.

What happens next: staff will process the tax adjustments as approved by the commission; commissioners urged Self Help Homes to pursue interim steps to reduce holding costs and to provide evidence of efforts to accelerate development if the organization returns seeking future waivers.