Housing Affordability Code Audit to Kick off

The Town of Buena Vista was awarded a planning grant from the Department of Local Affairs' (DOLA) Innovative Affordable Housing Strategies (IHOP) grant program. After a Request for Proposals (RFP) process, the Town engaged Cappelli Consulting as the lead consultant to take a deep dive into our Unified Development Code, as well as our development review processes and procedures. The goal is to identify and put forward recommendations for changes which could incentivize or remove barriers to the creation of affordable and workforce housing.

A kick off meeting will be held on Thursday, March 31st at 5:30 in the Aspen room (West side) of the community center - join us!

The scope of work for Cappelli as well as their sub-consultants Willaford Consulting and Clarion Associates is as follows:

1. Research and review - read and understand current code language as well as relevant processes and procedures.
2. Interview stakeholders - consultants will interview Town staff, local and regional developers and builders, real estate agents, and others who have, or may, interact with the development process.
3. Coordinate with the updating of the Housing Needs Assessment (HNA) - consultants will take new data from the forthcoming HNA to help shape their recommendations.
4. Draft recommendations - consultants and staff will work to present draft recommendations to the Planning & Zoning Commission for feedback, as well as the Board of Trustees
5. Finalize recommendations - taking all data gathered as well as P&Z and Board feedback, the consultants will finalize a report of recommendations for staff and Board consideration.