Uncategorized
Housing trust reviews resort tax, Meadowview project, water use
Published
5 years agoon
Posted By
Outlaw PartnersBy Michael Somerby EBS Digital Editor
BIG SKY – On Feb. 21, the Big Sky Community Housing Trust advisory council met in the Human Resource and Development Council offices in Meadow Village Center to review the Feb. 20 Senate Bill 241 hearing in Helena, discuss the appropriate vernacular for defining affordable housing projects in Big Sky, and assess the state of water usage in the community, among other items.
SB 241 seeks to provide 10 resort areas and communities around Montana the option to levy a supplementary 1-percent tax in addition to the existing 3-percent resort tax on luxury goods and services sold in these communities.
Funds collected by this incremental 1 percent in resort tax would be used solely for infrastructural projects. “Infrastructure,” as defined by SB 241, means, “tangible facilities and assets related to water, sewer, wastewater treatment, storm water, solid waste and utilities systems, fire protection, ambulance and law enforcement, and roads and bridges.”
If SB 241 is passed, appropriations from funds gathered by the existing 3 percent tax have the potential to increase if the local community voted to implement the tax, benefitting organizations like the housing trust. Last June, the Big Sky Resort Area District board approved $1.945 million in funding to the housing trust, a number that could increase as less of the funds derived from the standing 3 percent resort tax are diverted for infrastructural needs.
“It’s obvious housing is a huge need in this community, so we want [BSRAD] to know they have our support,” housing trust member and Big Sky Chamber of Commerce CEO Candace Carr-Strauss said.
A major component of the trust’s role in garnering funds from the resort tax board is clearly defining projects in advance of application for funding, in addition to documenting and communicating measurable successes from previously funded projects.
“I think that the resort tax board sees the Meadowview developments as a success,” said Brian Wheeler, vice president of real estate development for Big Sky Resort and housing trust member. “They trust our team to make good use of funds.”
The Meadowview property northwest of the Big Sky Community Park is comprised of 52 units for which there are 60 qualified applicants, according to Wheeler, underlining the high demand for subsidized housing in the area.
The current construction timeline for Meadowview has the earliest units available on June 1, with the last units completed by the close of the calendar year.
When describing projects like Meadowview, the trust noted the importance in distinguishing deed-restricted housing projects from those termed “affordable” or “attainable” by a developer or property manager.
When a future owner of a deed-restricted Meadowview unit decides to sell, the subsidy will remain tied to the unit rather than the seller, maintaining the unit’s affordability in perpetuity.
Conversely, the first owner of a property or unit that is not deed restricted may gather the windfall of a subsidized unit by selling at market value, rendering the property potentially unaffordable for successive buyers.
“We’ve seen ‘workforce housing,’ ‘affordable housing,’ and ‘attainable housing,’” Laura Seyfang, program director of the Big Sky Community Housing Trust, said. “I prefer ‘deed-restricted community housing.’”
The Meadowview units are meant to house permanent community members, not seasonal employs, Yellowstone Club General Manager and housing trust member Hans Williamson said.
“Seasonal workforce housing should be the employers’ responsibility,” Williamson said.
All Meadowview applicants were required to prove a minimum of 24 months of employment in Big Sky to ensure their long-term commitment to the area.
“We’re looking for people that are actively demonstrating a desire to make Big Sky their permanent home,” Seyfang said. “People that will become part of the permanent fabric of this community.”
One of the principal roadblocks in securing housing developments in a community like Big Sky is water and sewer infrastructure.
“The land may not be the issue when acquiring property for attainable community housing, the challenge is water and sewer,” Wheeler said. “But the cooperative irrigation plan last summer helped the BSWSD increase pond storage capacity to extraordinary levels. The improvement allows all parties to plan for future needs and opportunities while implementing plant upgrades.”
The Outlaw Partners is a creative marketing, media and events company based in Big Sky, Montana.
Upcoming Events
march, 2024
Event Type :
All
All
Arts
Education
Music
Other
Sports
Event Details
Children turning 5 on or before 9/10/2024:
more
Event Details
Children turning 5 on or before
9/10/2024: Kindergarten
enrollment for the 2024-2025 school year can be completed by following the
registration process now.
Children
born on or after September 11, 2019: 4K enrollment is now open for
families that have a 4-year-old they would like to enroll in our program for
the 2023-2024 school year. Please complete the 4K Interest Form to
express your interest. Completing this form does not guarantee enrollment into
the 4K program. Enrollment is capped at twenty 4-year-olds currently
residing within Big Sky School District boundary full time and will be
determined by birth date in calendar order of those born on or after September
11, 2018. Interest form closes on May 30th.
Enrollment now is critical for fall preparations. Thank you!
Time
February 26 (Monday) - April 21 (Sunday)
Event Details
My Barking Dog is a nightmare comedy
more
Event Details
My Barking Dog is a nightmare comedy that tells the story of Toby and Melinda, two lonely people whose lives are forever changed the night they encounter a starving coyote at their apartment building. Over time they grow to expect him, leaving ritual offerings to entice the coyote every night. Toby and Melinda forge a connection over this visitor and share curiosity and concern about his presence in the city. The coyote expands their world–until, one night, their world is shattered. Their lives are pushed suddenly into uncharted territory, sending them on a surreal odyssey that changes their city–and the world–forever.
Directed by LX Miller. Starring Max Schneider and Denise Hergett
Verge Theater is continuing their mission to provide accessible theater to our community. Tickets for My Barking Dog are Pay What You Wish with a suggested price of $35. Audience members are offered the opportunity to select the price point that is comfortable for them when purchasing tickets.
My Barking Dog runs March 15-17, 22-24, 28-30
Performances on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays begin at 7:00 p.m., with Sunday matinees offered at 3:00 p.m.
Suitable for ages 16 . No animals are harmed in the staging of this production.
Tickets are available online at www.vergetheater.com
Time
15 (Friday) 7:00 pm - 30 (Saturday) 8:30 pm
Location
Verge Theater
18mar8:00 pm10:00 pmGays on Blades8:00 pm - 10:00 pm Event Type :SportsEvent City:Big Sky
Event Details
Join Big Sky OUT at the Len Hill Park Community Ice Rink for a free and inclusive ice skating event for all levels. Everyone is welcome, especially allies! There will be
Event Details
Join Big Sky OUT at the Len Hill Park Community Ice Rink for a free and inclusive ice skating event for all levels. Everyone is welcome, especially allies! There will be hot cocoa donated by the Hungry Moose and pizza donated by Blue Moon Bakery. Ice skate rentals are available at East Slope Outdoors until 8pm.
Time
(Monday) 8:00 pm - 10:00 pm