Lander Housing Affordability Code Update

Lander, Wy | 2020

Lander Wyoming, like many small towns across the Western US, has experienced a rapid escalation in home prices over the past decade. Their population is increasingly young singles, small families and downsizing retirees. However, their housing stock is almost entirely single family homes on large lots - a product type that does not meet the needs of everyone in their community. CP was hired to perform a code audit on several of their commercial and residential zones to identify barriers to developing “missing middle” housing types, such as one-four unit houses, small apartments, cottage cluster and accessory dwelling units (ADUs).

CP analyzed data and conducted interviews with local builders, developers and brokers to understand the local market, such as construction costs, rents and sales prices. Using our pro forma tools, we then tested the current code standards to find barriers. For instance, in order to build a small apartment building, the effective minimum lot size is one acre, which makes small apartments physically impossible on most infill lots. CP then modeled alternative zoning standards and created info-graphics to help the city-appointed advisory board to understand the trad-offs, design and affordability implications of different policy choices. The recommendations were presented to Planning Commission, and approved unanimously in April of 2020.