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Council approves full SDC waiver for 51-unit Nebraska Trail affordable apartments

3034271 · April 17, 2025

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Summary

The council approved a resolution to reimburse $313,294.22 in system development charges for a new 51-unit affordable apartment project at 1801 Nebraska Avenue, using proceeds from the city's surplus land fund (LB 6388). Vote was 6–2.

Grants Pass City Council voted April 16 to approve a full system development charge (SDC) waiver for the Nebraska Trail Apartments, a 51-unit affordable housing project proposed for 1801 Nebraska Avenue.

Amber Nick, the city’s housing and neighborhood specialist, told the council the SDC waiver program offers a 100% waiver of water, sewer, transportation, parks and stormwater SDCs for new units restricted to households at 60% or less of area median income. “This program does provide a 100% system development charge waiver for new dwelling units, which are affordable at that 60% or less of the area moderate income,” Nick said. She said the waived fees are reimbursed from the city’s surplus-land proceeds, citing LB 6388 as the revenue source and noting the fund balance was about $874,000 as of April 1.

Nick said the total SDC amount for Nebraska Trail Apartments is $313,294.22; the developer will initially pay the fees and then be reimbursed from the surplus-land fund.

Councilor Seth moved to approve the resolution awarding the SDC waiver to Nebraska Trail Apartments LLC; Councilor Rick seconded. During discussion Councilor Kathleen proposed awarding a 50% waiver instead of 100%, but she declined to press an amendment and the council voted on the staff recommendation. The roll-call vote recorded six yeses and two noes; Councilor Eric voted no and Councilor Kathleen voted no. Councilors Rick, Indra, Rob, Joel, Seth and Victoria voted yes.

Nick said the program is currently an "apply-as-you-come" process and staff plans to move to an annual application timeline in the future. She also told the council that other projects could be eligible for the fund but had not applied for this round.

What this means: The city will reimburse the developer for the stated SDC charges using the surplus land (LB 6388) fund after the developer pays the invoices. Staff said the fund balance is sufficient to cover the reimbursement without immediate additional appropriations, but the city did not adopt a separate budget amendment during the meeting.

The vote: motion by Councilor Seth, second by Councilor Rick; outcome approved, 6–2.