PuebloPlex urges county to form County Revitalization Authority to spur development

Representatives of PuebloPlex asked Pueblo County commissioners to consider forming a County Revitalization Authority (CRA) that, they said, could be used to spur private development, affordable housing and infrastructure improvements in blighted or distressed areas.

Russell DeSalvo of PuebloPlex framed the proposal: "PuebloPlex is bringing forth the idea of the county forming a county revitalization authority," and said the group engaged legal counsel to assist, if the county chooses to proceed. He introduced attorney Paul Benedetti, who explained the CRA statute and steps to form an authority, including a 30-day published notice and a public hearing or a petition from electors. Benedetti characterized the CRA as a new statutory tool similar to urban renewal with tax increment financing powers but with key differences, notably that school districts cannot pledge tax increment revenues under the CRA statute.

Benedetti said the authority could operate countywide while specific plan areas would be adopted individually. He described potential benefits for disaster recovery: the statute includes provisions that allow an expedited plan adoption in federally designated disaster areas. "You could institute some provisions in here to maybe help speed up permitting, and rebuilding land use and building requirements," Benedetti said, noting it could help in areas like Aspen Acres.

Commissioners asked detailed questions about how tax increment revenues would be generated at PuebloPlex and whether administrative costs prior to revenue generation could be funded. Presenters said revenues could come from taxable uses on the site (property tax, personal property and sales/use taxes) and suggested possibilities for the county to embed CRA staffing within existing departments or contract for services and reimburse administrative costs from future tax increments when available.

Multiple commissioners voiced support for continuing to explore the tool and asked staff to work with planning to review a draft resolution and plan materials that Benedetti offered to help prepare. No formal action to create a CRA was taken at this meeting.