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Council tackles housing rules

ADU fees are under discussion

Durango city councilors said Tuesday they want to press ahead with new regulations for accessory-dwelling units in the Animas City area before councilors face election in April.

The city’s planning staff is working on regulations and fees for dealing with the units, typically apartments built onto single-family homes. The city is rolling out the regulations in phases to different neighborhoods.

Residents have been keenly interested in the issue in Animas City, one of Durango’s oldest neighborhoods, north of 29th Street and east of the Animas River.

Some homeowners depend on the rental income from the apartments to pay their mortgages, while for renters, the units offer relatively affordable housing in Durango’s high-rent market.

Some residents oppose the units, which contribute to higher density in existing neighborhoods.

Tuesday’s study session offered only discussion on the topic. The council takes no action at study sessions, but councilors told Greg Hoch, director of Planning and Community Development, to move ahead with a public meeting and a survey, so the council could be in a position to approve the regulations in March.

Mayor Sweetie Marbury said she wants to implement the regulations quickly to keep a promise with Animas City residents to deal with the issue.

“This has got to go forward ASAP,” she said.

Hoch said he would try to organize a public meeting by mid-November, with a survey to be issued in early January. He said he expects strong viewpoints from supporters and opponents of the units.

“There are strong feeling in Animas City – both sides of the table,” Hoch said.

The council has not yet been presented with a schedule of fees, but City Manager Ron LeBlanc said fees in the range of $4,000 to $6,000 are being considered. Given those price tags, LeBlanc said he’s spoken with local bankers about helping residents finance fees.

The bankers weren’t interested, he said. So the city may allow residents to pay the fees in monthly installments.

“If we don’t have a way for people to fund the fees, we won’t be successful,” LeBlanc said.

Councilor Christina Rinderle said the council will take a close look at the fees.

“We still, as a council, have to look at the fee structure,” she said. “Whatever fee that’s going to be, that’s going to be passed along to a renter, or (homeowners) are not going to be able to rent them out.”

Chris Paulson, an Animas City resident, said she’s concerned the council is rushing the regulations to beat the election. She said residents “should not be shortchanged.”

Councilors said they want the regulations approved before the election. That’s partly to avoid passing off the issue to newly elected councilors in April, and partly to defuse a potentially contentious campaign issue.

“That concerns me so close to an election,” Rinderle said.

Councilor Dick White said he’s unsure if he’ll run for re-election and wants the issue settled.

“I’m strongly sympathetic to the view this council should finish the job,” he said.

cslothower@durangoherald.com

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