Pittsburg sets Aug. 12 public hearing on extending Silverback Landing RHID to 25 years

Pittsburg commissioners voted July 8 to schedule a public hearing on Aug. 12 to consider a proposed substantial change to the Silverback Landing rural housing incentive district (RHID) that would extend the district's maximum reimbursement period from 15 years to 25 years and permit a new developer to assume the development agreement.

The hearing will give residents and affected taxing entities a chance to comment on the change, city bond counsel Garth Herman told the commission. "The substantial change is going to be to extend the maximum life of that district from the original 15 years to 25 years," Herman said, explaining that a subsequent amendment to state RHID law permits the longer term.

Why it matters: Silverback Landing is a multi‑phase subdivision already partially built; the RHID captures incremental property taxes to reimburse developer costs for infrastructure such as roads, sewer and water. Residents told the commission they continue to experience unfinished work and safety and maintenance concerns they say predate the proposed change of ownership.

Public commenters described problems they say have gone unaddressed since the RHID was created in 2018. Christie Bender of 1508 Bender Court called the resolution "a bit convoluted and a flawed document" and asked whether Senate Bill 17 applied to the new ownership and how many RHIDs currently have 25‑year terms. Jan Aloy said a promised emergency gate had not been installed as described in earlier meetings: "It was promised to be a beautiful iron gate that is pleasing to everyone with the cost to be no more than $50,000." Andrea Linder said stormwater runoff from four homes built in 2023 appears to be flowing toward her property, and William Strength pressed the commission about a required 20‑foot landscape tract and a berm that he said has not been constructed.

City staff and the city's bond counsel described the process the commission is required to follow. Kim, a city staff member overseeing the matter, told commissioners that phase 1 requirements had not been met and that RHID funds have been held by the city rather than disbursed to the current developer. Herman said the resolution before the commission only calls a hearing; if adopted, the city will mail exhibits and notice to USD 250, the Crawford County Board of Commissioners and the city planning commission and publish the hearing notice in the Morning Sun.

A local community development nonprofit, Point Forward, represented by Matt Burton, said it has a purchase agreement to acquire Silverback Landing that is good until September. Burton said Point Forward is not seeking city funds, that it aims to clean up the site and accelerate building with more affordable lot prices and local builders, and that full phase‑1 buildout could take "2 to 3 years" if financing is ample or "4 or 5" years otherwise. "We just want an opportunity to contribute to that, if we can get through closing," Burton said.

Action taken: Commissioner Ron moved and Commissioner Chuck seconded a motion to approve Resolution No. 1295 calling for the public hearing. The motion passed. The resolution itself does not amend the RHID; it only schedules the statutorily required public hearing and notice process.

What remains open: Residents asked for specific answers about stormwater mitigation, ownership of homeowners association funds, the promised berm and the emergency gate, and for clarity about whether existing valuations and improvements would be treated as they were in 2018. City staff and the applicants said those topics will be part of the hearing record and subsequent development‑agreement negotiations if the substantial change proceeds.

The commission will consider the matter again after the Aug. 12 public hearing; any final amendment to the RHID or the development agreement would require additional formal action by the commission and, where required, approvals by outside agencies noted in the resolution.