Valencia County amends affordable-housing ordinance to widen eligibility to 150% of AMI

Valencia County commissioners voted to amend the county’s affordable-housing ordinance, widening eligibility in some programs from 120% to 150% of area median income (AMI), setting defined affordability periods and tightening application-evaluation requirements.

A county presenter summarized the amendment as aligning the county ordinance with updated state guidance and broader best practices for rural housing programs, expanding eligibility, establishing affordability periods for resale (including five-year periods tied to certain price points) and clarifying scoring and application procedures.

Local developer Sean Gabaldon (Harvest Developments) spoke in support during public comment, arguing that construction and material-cost increases after the COVID-19 pandemic have left wide segments of the workforce priced out of housing and that raising the program threshold helps reach a broader spectrum of essential workers. “Valencia County… is the second largest growing county in the state… All of this workforce needs affordable housing,” Gabaldon said, urging approval of the ordinance change.

Commissioners moved to approve the amended ordinance; the motion passed unanimously and the ordinance was recorded as 2026‑2. The amendments, as described in the presentation, broaden program eligibility, set affordability periods by price tier and strengthen application-evaluation procedures. Specific funding sources and dollar amounts for program implementation were not provided during the hearing.