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6.01 - CURRENT CONDITIONS#
A.
The most pressing concern in Virgin Town regarding housing is related to the need for quality and affordability. With the housing market currently improving, high ownership rates and low vacancy rates have increased housing costs. Virgin Town's proximity to Zion National Park, limited available land, and the purchase of available housing stock for use as vacation rentals in neighboring towns has added to the increased housing costs.
6.02 - DESIRED#
A.
Affordability - Current and future housing needs to be affordable. The Town may need to review and revise planning, zoning and development regulations to allow adequate supply for a variety of housing types along with programs offered by the State and Federal Government. Housing needs to meet the population needs of varied income levels.
B.
Design, Quality and Maintenance - Well maintained and clean neighborhoods are high priority. Housing designs need to be built with quality and maintained.
C.
Adequate Identification - Land should be identified for adequate housing sites appropriately zoned with development standards and public services and utilities needed to facilitate high density and residential developments. As Virgin Town develops, the higher density housing (apartments/condominiums) could be considered for use as a buffer between commercial and residential housing and constructed at a level of one story with a maximum of two stories. Connecting to a potential highway commercial sewer system should be considered and planned for to incorporate this type of housing with its proximity to the highway.
6.03 - INTEGRATION#
A.
GOAL: Providing Affordable Housing.
1.
Encourage a reasonable mix of housing types in new residential developments. Virgin Town needs affordable housing to encourage young families to stay or move in and to accommodate the middle class and the legacy long time residents.
2.
Existing and future infrastructure needs should be addressed in connection with agencies which specifically are directed toward housing developments that assist low and moderate-income families and senior citizen households.
B.
GOAL: Quality and Maintenance.
1.
Identify areas for needed housing rehabilitation and maintenance programs. Utilize a variety of available State and Federal Programs which focus on housing rehabilitation for those currently in need. Some of these are the Community Development Block Grants, HOME and Weatherization programs regionally available through the Five County Association of Governments.
2.
New development should be reasonably complimentary to existing structures, in both scale and architecture.
3.
Street patterns and trails within the neighborhoods should be designed to be direct and interconnected to encourage walking and bicycling. Also mentioned in circulation element.
C.
GOAL: Adequate Identification of Housing.
1.
Adopting reasonable standards for short-term rentals, high-density housing and clustered unit developments.
2.
High density housing and clustering to enhance the availability of land for residential development within the frame work of land use element, zoning and housing element while providing for open space.
D.
GOAL: Maintaining Larger Lot.
1.
Limit denser subdividing in current partially developed, well-established neighborhoods.