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Council adopts new community housing regulations and hears housing plan recommendations
Summary
Ridgeway adopted Ordinance O 04‑2026 establishing community housing regulations (10% set‑aside trigger, AMI targets, covenant and resale rules) and received a preliminary housing action plan from Points Consulting outlining timelines and strategies to meet state requirements and future unit‑count commitments.
The Ridgeway town council approved Ordinance O 04‑2026 on second reading July 8, establishing Chapter 7‑13 (community housing regulations) and adopting companion guidelines intended to remain dynamic.
Staff summarized the new regulatory framework: a 10% set‑aside requirement triggered when market‑rate residential development or mixed‑use projects create three or more units or lots; ownership affordability targets set at up to 140% of area median income and rental targets at 100% of AMI; primary‑residence and occupancy rules (nine of 12 months) and workforce‑hours expectations; required covenants and a 3% annual appreciation cap on resale were also described. Staff noted alternative compliance options (on‑site units, fee‑in‑lieu, land banking and other reasonable methods) and that developers must submit a community‑housing plan describing compliance and any incentives requested.
That adoption followed a presentation from Points Consulting, which outlined the town’s housing action plan timeline: a draft implementation and policy package intended for an August work session, a 30‑day public review in September, and a council public hearing in October ahead of the DOLA‑mandated January 2028 deadline. Points Consulting emphasized five goal areas — policies/procedures, providing for future housing (land banking, community land trusts, employer programs), life‑cycle housing provisions (aging in place), momentum building (incentivized ADUs and missing‑middle pattern guidance), and workforce housing enhancements (landlord‑renter programs and mixed‑use incentives).
Points Consulting and staff stressed aligning local strategies with DOLA’s menu of options and the importance of community engagement focused on renters and households at high risk of displacement. Staff also reported HomeTrust’s progress implementing a deed‑restriction inventory and Kintone software to manage compliance cycles.
Councilors approved the ordinance and a resolution adopting the program guidelines; staff and consultants will return with implementation details and development‑agreement templates for projects seeking alternative compliance options. The council’s approval codifies the program’s basic structure but preserves flexibility through guidelines and potential alternative compliance approaches.
