Canyons has dormitory-style employee housing on Ozzy Way near the Cabriolet lift called Slopeside Village. It was built to fulfill a promise made by the Summit County resort in 1999: more than 1,100 beds for employees.

Tony Tyler of Columbus Pacific Development received positive feedback on the Phase 2 plan for 324 more at the Snyderville Basin Planning Commission on Oct. 22.

“Everything we’re seeing tonight is above and beyond what was required as part of the Canyons development agreement,” County Planner Tiffanie Robinson told commissioners.

What’s different about phase 2 from Slopeside is that it would have no income restrictions. Phase 1 was reserved for Summit County employees who make less than 80 percent of the county median income.

Phase 2 is only proposed for anyone with a job in Summit County.

“What we’re aiming for in terms of revenue levels is something over 80 percent and something under 150 percent,” Tyler said.

Limiting housing to workers in a certain geographic area is not new, but other developments in Summit County are coupling them with income limits. Slopeside’s Phase 2 wouldn’t do that.

Columbus Pacific Development

And the units in phase 2 will be larger than phase 1. Instead of dormitories, there will be 149 one-bedroom and two-bedroom studios, for 324 people. Includes 149 parking spaces, 12 of them with EV chargers.

The Planning Commission is willing to try the development plan. Commissioners voted unanimously to recommend her to County Manager Shayne Scott.

He told KPCW he hasn’t reviewed the draft yet, but it should reach his office soon. A public hearing is tentatively scheduled for Nov. 12, where Scott can make the appeal.

Columbus Pacific Development

Each of the 169 Phase 1 units, which first opened in November 2022, can accommodate an average of seven people.

According to Tyler, there is currently enough room for 1,190 people. It has 90% capacity with residents from 23 countries.

That means there’s no waiting list — Slopeside is perhaps the only limited-income development in Summit County without one.

He said the top two reasons people don’t sign leases are that they want a more private residence or that they earn more than 80 percent of the area median income.

This is the phase 2 demographic it is aimed at.

There is room for Phase 3, but Tyler said the lot is small and oddly shaped and works better as open space for now.

So there are no more staff quarters on deck. But Tyler told commissioners he has heard plans for retail or commercial on the Cabriolet land.

Most of the parking lot is slated for a parking garage, and retail can fit between the garage and the golf course, which adjoins State Route 224. Construction of the parking garage was approved but postponed indefinitely.

Tyler hopes to begin his project by the end of this year. He said Slopeside’s buildings take 20 months to complete and he wants to open by the 2026-27 ski season.