Lyons Housing Futures Plan
Housing affordability and attainability is a widespread issue communities throughout Colorado and the Nation are experiencing. The Town of Lyons is currently working through a housing needs assessment to develop an understanding of how best to guide affordable housing policy and investments to best support the needs of the Lyons community.
Affordable Housing? Attainable Housing? Both?
The terms affordable housing and attainable housing often get combined to mean the same thing when discussing community housing needs, however they are, in fact, a bit different. Given the range of housing needs for a community with a diverse population, it is important to consider both when working to develop policy updates and investment strategies to support the needs of any community. General definitions for each are outlined, below, however a key piece of this project is to define affordable and attainable housing as it relates to Lyons and what types of housing are appropriate to develop to support the Town’s current and future needs. Moving forward, the measure for affordability in the Town will be based on the general guideline that housing costs (rent/mortgage payment) are 30% of a household’s gross monthly income or less.
Affordable Housing
Affordable housing serves those households whose income represents 30% to 60% of Boulder County’s Area Median Income (AMI).
For example, a family of 3 with a gross monthly income of $5,980 ($71,760 annual income or 60%AMI) can afford a monthly rent or mortgage payment of $1,794 or less.
Adapted from the Lyons Primary Planning Area Master Plan (2017)
Attainable Housing
Attainable housing is often also considered or referred to as Workforce housing and typically serves those households whose income represents 60% to 120% of Boulder County’s Area Median Income (AMI).
For example, a family of 3 with a gross monthly income of $9,960 a month ($119,600 annual income or 100% AMI) can afford a monthly rent or mortgage payment of $2,990/month or less.
Adapted from the Lyons Primary Planning Area Master Plan (2017)
EVENTS
No events are planned at this time. Many thanks to all for the conversations at the Sandstone Concert Series event on August 2nd!
Previous Planning Efforts
Document Links
The Town of Lyons has completed several planning efforts that include relevant housing-related information. These documents can be viewed by clicking the following links.
Project Outcomes
This project includes the following expected outcomes to support efforts to increase housing attainability and affordability in the Town:
- Evaluation of the existing 2014 Housing Needs Assessment and the recently adopted 2023 Lyons Thrive! Comprehensive Plan’s housing components.
- Updated demographic, economic, housing inventory characteristics and occupancies.
- Updated vision statements, goals, tools, and actions to ensure they are consistent with community desires and present-day housing needs.
- Evaluation of existing density levels and the potential for densifying with affordable and/or attainable housing.
- Identification of suitable locations for affordable and/or attainable housing.
- Conduct inclusive and diverse public engagement.
- Propose tools, strategies, and recommendations for developing affordable housing and for preserving the existing stock of moderately-priced units.
- Propose regulatory changes that will incentivize private developers to build affordable housing.
