The Durango Planning Commission unanimously approved recommending 12 changes to the Land Use and Development Code – including a provision to allow employer-provided housing.
The Community Development Department was inspired to add this type of housing by a motel owner who is providing housing to employees. Another hotel owner is looking into similar housing, said Greg Hoch, the director of the Community Development Department.
This change is one of many the city is considering to promote workforce housing.
Before an employer could build housing, the business must present a case for how many units it would like to provide and how many people it planned to house, said planner Vicki Vandegrift.
As part of the changes, the board also approved a new category in the code to govern businesses that wish to produce nonalcoholic drinks or food on a small scale and offer a restaurant setting for customers to enjoy them.
For example, a small coffee roaster who wanted to sell its product wholesale and also run a coffee shop would fit into this category.
These proposed changes to the land-use and development code also must be approved by the Durango City Council.
