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Le Mars outlines industrial, commercial and housing gains; $49 million school bond passed
Summary
City staff presented a one-year community development recap: industrial park expansions, new TIF district and multiple housing projects were highlighted; transcript records a $49 million school bond passage and an EPA grant application pending decision in May.
A city staff member presented Le Mars— one-year community development recap, reporting land and lot sales, industrial-park expansions, creation of a tax-increment financing (TIF) district and progress on multiple housing projects.
The presentation said the city expanded industrial parks by 58 acres, including a 30-acre addition to Le Mars Industrial Park Fourth Edition (creating seven lots) and a Southview Industrial Park expansion that created 19 lots, three of which were sold. The presentation said GCC is building a new facility on one of the sold lots. Staff said rail capacity improvements and a planned summer extension of track into the industrial park will support Burlington Junction—s transload operations and future development of an additional 230 acres the city owns.
On commercial development the presenter said LBIC partnered with the city to buy 4.25 acres near Walmart and divided the parcel; one lot sold to T-Mobile and another to Scaling Construction, which is constructing a 10,000-square-foot building that will house Floyd Valley Urgent Care, a home-health provider and Avera Home Medical Equipment. The presenter said other downtown investments by private owners led to new businesses opening, including Wildflowers and Chick—s and Waffles, and that Jordan's Meat Market has a planned grand opening this year.
City staff said the council and LBIC applied a new TIF district along Business 75 from the north end of town to the airport to support commercial infrastructure investment. Staff also reported an EPA cleanup or assessment grant application the city submitted; staff said the council will learn whether the city receives the grant in May.
On housing, staff said LBIC and the city developed a roughly 5-acre Erdmanville property for the Overlook apartments. The presenter said the developer accelerated Phase 2 after strong local demand and that footings and piers for multiple buildings and townhouses were in place. Other private projects cited included additional townhouses, duplexes and several eight-plex apartment buildings.
Staff said the school district undertook a facilities study, found elementary capacity and building-condition concerns, and advanced a $49,000,000 bond issue that passed. The presenter said the bond will support a new elementary school and upgrades at the middle and high schools; design work is underway.
Staff also noted LBIC acquired roughly 30 acres north of Parkview Place (a mobile-home court) for future entry-level housing and additional ground on the east side of town under engineering review. A nonprofit 501(c)(3) purchased a daycare building, raised $3,000,000 to finance the purchase and partnered with the Crittenton Center to expand childcare capacity, staff said.
The presentation included a hotel-market study that, according to staff, recommended a hotel of roughly 75——80 rooms (as presented) and identified candidate locations. Staff said the city will use the study to market hospitality opportunities.
The transcript records the $49 million school bond as having "passed," but does not provide referendum vote totals or the bond resolution number in the provided segment.
