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Spurred by a recent controversy involving parking requirements for an affordable housing project, the Oak Creek Town Board discussed establishing residential and commercial parking requirements during a Wednesday work session.

Mayor Kathy "Cargo" Rodeman said the two main issues discussed during the work session were on- and off-street parking requirements and the size of buildable lots in Oak Creek.

During recent Town Board meetings, several members of the community raised concerns about the way the town's current codes read, saying they might be open for interpretation.

The Yampa Valley Housing Authority is building four single-family homes and one duplex in Oak Creek as part of its self-help housing program.

At a May 26 Town Board meeting, members of the community raised concerns about emergency accessibility and snow removal if on-street parking is permitted for the homes, as YVHA has proposed. YVHA representatives said the homes would not be affordable if the organization is required to build off-street parking and that the homes were planned with the understanding that off-street parking was not required.

The work session was scheduled to review current codes and requirements to determine whether any changes needed to be made.

Under a compromise reached with the Town Board, Rodeman said YVHA will do the best it can to build as many off-street parking units as possible.

"It's a great program, and I am sure they'll do their best," Rodeman said.

During the meeting, the board discussed setting specific parking requirements for single-family, duplex and apartment homes and retail, office, business and institutional parking.

The new requirements would require single-family homes to have two parking spaces per unit, whereas apartments and duplexes would be required to have one space per bedroom and possibly two per unit.

The retail, office and business parking requirements would be on e space for every 500 square feet of gross floor area but also could be determined on a case-by-case basis. Parking requirements for institutions, churches, business and industrial parks also would be determined on a case-by-case basis.

The other issue that came up during the work session was the appropriate size of a buildable lot in Oak Creek. Right now, the land-use code states that a 50-by-85-foot lot is appropriate to build on, but many community members say that is too small.

The new suggested building lot would be 50-by-125 feet, and many agreed that lot size is more acceptable. Rodeman said there are very few 50-by-85-foot lots left in Oak Creek, anyway.

No official decisions were made at the work session, but the topics discussed will be addressed at the Town Board's next meeting at 7 p.m. Thursday in Oak Creek Town Hall.

The lot-size code would go into effect immediately if the board approves it. Rodeman said she was confident that the board would adopt the new amendments to the land-use code.

-- To reach Alexis DeLaCruz, call 871-4234

or e-mail adelacruz@steamboatpilot.com