ASPEN — The Pitkin County commissioners aren’t happy with the school district’s plan to build teacher housing on land outside the county’s growth boundary.
But school board members say housing for teachers is a critical need. Every year, some new teachers are forced to renege on their contracts when they cannot find an affordable place to live, Elizabeth Parker, school board chairwoman, said during a recent meeting with the county commissioners.
The school district wants to build teacher housing on land it owns in Woody Creek, near Aspen, calling it the best option for building cost-effective housing for as many teachers as possible.
The district has put a $12 million bond issue on the November ballot to pay for the project.
The school district built 10 units on adjacent property in 1999.
The other land was bought in 1998 for teacher housing, Superintendent Diana Sirko said.
Commissioners said the county’s urban growth boundary was “radically” pulled in during a 2000 update because of concerns about sprawl. They noted that the county decided against developing affordable housing outside the growth boundary.
Commissioner Jack Hatfield said he couldn’t support multifamily housing conflicting with the growth boundary.
