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Commissioners discuss Brownfield plan for 19 housing units and state rent-subsidy threshold concerns
Summary
Berrien County commissioners were briefed on a River Oaks South Brownfield plan to complete a partially built 19-unit housing development, a proposed increase in Brownfield fee schedule, and county concern that state rent-subsidy thresholds do not reflect local conditions.
County commissioners discussed a Brownfield redevelopment plan to finish a partially built apartment project, a prospective change to the Brownfield fee schedule, and concerns about state rent-subsidy thresholds and how they affect housing development in Berrien County.
Staff reported a River Oaks South Brownfield plan will create 19 housing units intended for a mix of rental and sale; a public hearing at the county level will be required as part of Brownfield review. Commissioners noted the county has several similar partially completed properties that could be candidates for Brownfield remediation and redevelopment funds.
Commissioners also discussed a proposed increase to the Brownfield fee schedule to better align county charges with current workloads; the measure will be presented for formal consideration. Several commissioners raised concerns about the rent-subsidy threshold used in new Brownfield housing plans, saying the state-wide standard currently in use does not reflect local rent and income conditions and may overly inflate the subsidy figure applied in developer proposals.
A staff member noted a new county housing study to be prepared by Cornerstone will divide the county into subareas; once complete it may permit use of localized housing-study data instead of a statewide HUD-based number. Commissioners said Brownfield staff and the Brownfield Redevelopment Authority will send a letter to legislators about the threshold issue and that the River Oaks South plan will return to the board with the required public hearing and fee-schedule details.
