A shared responsibility

Summit County is the latest governmental entity in Utah to be sued over allegations that its lack of affordable housing violates the federal Fair Housing Act. A coalition that includes ethnic minorities, people with disabilities, private property owners, developers and others has filed a class-action suit alleging that the county's zoning practices are discriminatory because they render moderate- and low-income projects economically infeasible.

Many cities and communities in Utah have done little to address the affordable housing needs in Utah, which is a disservice to people who must commute long distances to work in the service industry, and patently unfair to the Utah cities and counties that have made affordable housing a high priority. The need is more acute in places such as Summit County where the hospitality and service industries are so heavily dependent on low- to moderate-wage workers.

Summit County officials said they were willing to examine any complaints, which is laudable. We hope the two parties can reach some reasonable settlement of these issues, which the plaintiff's attorney says are tantamount to discrimination and violations of state and federal fair housing laws.

The lawsuit targets the new Snyderville Basin Development Code for the western sections of the county. The code, approved by the Summit County Commission in December, allows for one housing unit for every 20 acres. Meanwhile, in the eastern portion, the ordinance provides for one unit per acre in the "highway corridor" zone and one unit per 40 acres in the "agricultural zone."

"The result is a county that is more white, less disabled and less ethnically diverse," said plaintiffs' attorney Michael Hutchings. "They have created a scenario for the elite." He has suggested that affordable housing could be constructed in the range of five to 10 housing units per acre.

Summit County officials say three new developments in Snyderville Basin have affordable-housing components. The county approved the new code and housing densities to help preserve its mountain-resort character.

Still, the code appears to squeeze out certain classes of people who want to live close to where they work or who want housing options that are accessible and affordable.

It is hoped that there can be a meeting of the minds that complies with state and federal housing laws yet is sensitive to Summit County's careful development plans. At the very least, it should be a wake-up call to other cities that haven't done enough to ensure their communities offer a wide range of housing options.