Housing authority grants one-year exception to allow county worker rentals on Lawson Hill property

San Miguel County's Housing Authority approved a one-year exception Sept. 16 allowing property owner David Whitlaw to rent his Lawson Hill residence to qualified employees during his absence.

Pam Shiffron, director for the San Miguel County Housing Authority, said the applicant complied with last year's conditions (unit rented to qualifying employees) and that proposed tenants this season again are local workers. The approved conditions require Whitlaw to execute an exception agreement within 60 days, ensure the unit is rented to qualified households for the duration of the exception, cap rent at no more than $3,000 per month, and prohibit any subleasing during the executed lease. Whitlaw, the applicant, described the arrangement as affordable for seasonal employees.

The one-year approval includes direction that the authority review broader deed-restriction and policy questions in future meetings to evaluate multi-year or programmatic changes.