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Chaffee Housing Trust seeks quick fee decision after River Village sewer emergency
Summary
Chaffee Housing Trust told commissioners it has 56 homes in inventory and described a sewer backup at River Village Mobile Home Park that required temporary hoteling of residents and emergency repairs; the trust asked the county to consider fee waiver or short-term funding to permit modular homes to be docketed this week.
Reid, representing Chaffee Housing Trust (CHT), updated the Board on the trust’s inventory and ongoing redevelopment work, saying CHT currently holds 56 homes in inventory, including 14 newly completed units at BB Crossing in Buena Vista. "We've got 56 homes in inventory," Reid said, noting sales and rental activity as some units lease or sell.
Reid described an emergency at River Village Mobile Home Park where a previously unproblematic western sewer line backed up. Crews investigated and installed a new sewer branch to fix services for three units; the trust temporarily housed impacted households and incurred emergency costs, including a stated $13,000 expense for immediate work. "We ended up hiring 3 additional people, spent about 5 days there... ultimately put in a new sewer line for those 3 units... $13,000 bill that goes towards that project cost," Reid said.
CHT also asked the county to consider options to move modular homes onto Parcel B. Reid said plan approval requires an initial fee (about $1,280) and a secondary plan-review fee; paying by Thursday would place the project on the docket for late October–early November approval and allow four modular units to be reserved in the factory. Commissioners discussed fee-waiver policy options, whether to accept the application without fee payment, possible county reimbursement, and alternative funding such as lodging-tax reallocation to support housing projects.
Commissioners emphasized the importance of showing how county funds directly reduce buyer cost and asked CHT to provide clearer capital‑stack reporting. Staff said the lodging-tax reallocation fund could be a candidate for directed support and that the county will examine fund balances ahead of a July meeting; budget hearings are planned for August to consider broader partner funding needs.
Next steps: Reid will continue permit work and follow up with county staff; commissioners asked staff to explore short-term funding options and to include housing partners in upcoming budget hearings.
