Council approves amended Brownfield plan for Carriage Circle housing development
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Summary
City Council approved Resolution 25-72 to adopt an amended Brownfield plan for a proposed 228‑unit rental development on Carriage Circle; the plan captures new tax revenue for a 16‑year reimbursement period to cover infrastructure and affordability gap costs, and includes 68 subsidized units subject to a 15‑year affordability period.
Coldwater City Council on the July 2025 agenda voted to adopt Resolution 25‑72, approving an amended Brownfield plan for the Carriage Circle site that would support a proposed rental housing development. The plan covers reimbursement of infrastructure and site‑preparation costs and financing gaps for income‑restricted units, and captures new property tax revenues generated by the project during the plan term.
The developer representative said the project would include 19 three‑story buildings with 228 rental units (two‑ and three‑bedroom plans) and 365 parking spaces, and would provide a community building, playgrounds, dog parks and landscaping. Consultant Joe Agostinelli of Michigan Growth Advisors told the council the legislature recently expanded the Brownfield program to allow use of Brownfield incentives to promote housing and described the proposal as a 16‑year Brownfield plan that captures new tax growth, not current tax revenue.
The council and developer discussed parking and traffic. Council member Jim raised concerns that nearby multifamily projects have led to overflow parking and asked whether 1.6 parking spaces per unit (the developer’s stated ratio) would be adequate. The developer said the design provides 1.6 spaces per unit and that about 40 percent of spaces would be covered; he acknowledged overflow could be an issue and suggested discussing shared parking with adjacent property owners.
Water and sewer capacity was addressed: city staff said preexisting studies factored the additional 228 units into system capacity and that no new lift station would be required. Council members also asked whether Brownfield TIF proceeds would support rent subsidies; staff confirmed the plan’s captured tax increment would be used, in part, to support subsidies for 68 of the units and that those units would be subject to a 15‑year affordability requirement described by the developer and staff.
Council members asked about subsequent steps. The city attorney clarified that adopting the Brownfield financing mechanism is separate from the development agreement, which would return to the council for approval and could include more detailed provisions (property management, internet/cable access, parking enforcement). Mayor Kramer and other council members expressed general support, with some members urging continued attention to traffic impacts.
After discussion the council took a voice vote; the mayor declared the motion carried. The approved action authorizes the Brownfield financing approach described in Resolution 25‑72 and directs staff to proceed with later contract and development‑agreement steps.
What happens next: City staff said a future development agreement and any required planning approvals will follow; staff also noted that traffic mitigation, property management responsibilities and specific project details would be addressed in those subsequent documents.