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Avon voters approved the formation of a Downtown Development Authority in a special election on Tuesday, Aug. 29.

According to unofficial election results, residents, landowners, and lessees within the proposed Downtown Development Authority area were in favor of new authority, with the vote tallying 51 to 13.

Eric Heil, town manager for the town of Avon, thanked residents and business owners for their participation in the election, and said this was an important step forward in tackling the housing crisis. 

“One of the main reasons Avon Town ߣÏÈÉú put this question on the ballot is because of the severe shortage of workforce housing and how it’s negatively impacting our business community,” Heil said. “The draft Downtown Development Authority plan states that at least 50 percent of the tax increment financing revenue source of the Downtown Development Authority shall be dedicated to community housing.”

The rest of the revenue has been proposed to be used for public infrastructure, facilities, and amenities in the downtown area, including parking structures, recreation center expansion, parks improvements and realigning roads associated with redevelopment projects. 

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Now that the authority has been approved by voters, the next step is for the Avon Town ߣÏÈÉú to appoint a board of directors of five to 11 members comprised of residents and property owners within the Downtown Development Authority boundary, and one member of Town ߣÏÈÉú.