Summit County officials say they plan to bring their housing policy in line with state law in light of a pending federal suit by several minority organizations, who say the county's residential zoning policy discriminates against low-income and minority populations.

During a pre-trial conference in U.S. District Court this past week, Jody Burnett, attorney representing Summit County, said the county plans to hire an outside consultant to come up with a housing plan to replace their existing one. Burnett said the move is to bring the county's policy in line with state law, which mandates certain criteria to allow for low-income housing.

Last May, the county was sued by the NAACP, Utah Coalition of La Raza and the Disabled Rights Action Committee, which accused the county of using its zoning laws to block affordable housing from being built. The suit claims the county has enforced a housing density of one unit per 20 acres in the Snyderville Basin. Minority groups say that precludes the possibility of building more affordable, and higher density housing.

Summit County officials have said these minority groups are being used by developers to increase profits, but representatives from NAACP and Utah Coalition of La Raza, said money will be made either way and they see the addition of more affordable housing in Summit County, which could be used by many low-income service workers who work in and around Park City, as part of their overall goal for minority rights.

Burnett said the county anticipates having a new policy in place within four months. Attorney for the plaintiffs, Alain Balmanno, said the policy change will likely address some of his clients' claims in the suit, however some issues will still remain.

Attorneys from both sides said the case will still go through many turns in federal court before reaching a resolution. According to an attorneys' report filed by both sides, the chance of reaching an out-of-court settlement in the suit is listed as "poor to fair."

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