Board authorizes negotiation of directed land exchange with Avon to support an apartment site and community housing

The Colorado State Board of Land Commissioners authorized staff on April 9 to negotiate a directed exchange of roughly 75.725 acres with the Town of Avon to support an apartment site and other parcels envisioned for community housing and annexation planning.

Elliot Boyd, assistant director for sustainability work, walked commissioners through a multi‑year master planning effort for the Section 16 parcels in Eagle County and the statutory framework for directed exchanges. Boyd said staff has been working with Avon, Eagle County and other stakeholders and noted that statute requires a board determination of fair market value and appraisal standards when a transaction is non‑competitive.

Town and county officials urged partnership. "We think this is a primo place, for affordable housing and for housing for our community," Tom Boyd, Eagle County commissioner, said in online testimony. Avon town staff described the proposal as a long‑studied, coordinated effort and committed to next steps if the board authorized negotiations.

Staff also cautioned that disposing of the north parcel could preclude future value if access and development prospects change; the board therefore directed staff to negotiate terms that protect trust interests and require a sale price not less than fair market value. The motion to authorize negotiation of a directed exchange and to delegate appropriate authority to the director carried 5–0.

Staff will continue appraisal work and negotiate guardrails (value protections and terms) that the board said must protect long‑term trust value while enabling community housing goals.