Council approves first reading to create Meadowlark TIF district for 111-home subdivision

Brookville City Council on Tuesday accepted the first reading of Ordinance 2025-08 to create the Meadowlark Incentive District and authorize a tax increment financing (TIF) arrangement to reimburse infrastructure work for the Meadowlark subdivision.

The proposal covers a 111-unit paired-patio home development to be built by Grama Communities, LLC and Fisher Homes, and would reimburse 75% of taxes on the improved value for 10 years to cover the developer’s documented infrastructure costs. Director Ron Runstead told council the engineered estimate for public infrastructure is $3,761,404 and that reimbursable work includes public roads, sewer and water lines, stormwater systems and streetlight poles.

A TIF, Runstead said, preserves the existing tax base for current taxing authorities and applies only to new tax revenue generated by the development’s increased assessed value. He told council the city has no obligation to make payments unless the increment fund is actually generated by the project’s tax receipts.

The measure advanced on a unanimous first-reading vote after a staff presentation. Council members raised the procedural question of whether to dispense with multiple readings; several members said they preferred to keep the standard three-reading schedule to allow more public review.

Two residents who addressed council during public comment urged caution. Bruce Garber of 434 Sycamore said he opposed the TIF and argued developers “should have been rolled into [the] thinking of revenue anyway.” Mike Hughes of 278 Johnsville Road said the local market previously has drawn developers without incentives and called the TIF “not agreeable to me.”

City staff and the law director said the proposed costs and reimbursement schedule would be set out in the developer’s agreement and reviewed before any reimbursement is paid. The law director also noted that the infrastructure items listed are permitted reimbursements under the Ohio Revised Code.

Next steps: the ordinance remains at first reading. Council did not approve dispensing with the second and third readings at this meeting; if the council follows the usual schedule the measure will return for additional readings and possible final passage at a later meeting.

Votes and formal action on the item are recorded in the official minutes; the first-reading motion for Ordinance 2025-08 passed on a unanimous vote.