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Commission sets Dec. 18 hearing for Fairway Vista housing incentive district
Summary
The Ottawa City Commission voted to set a Dec. 18 public hearing on creating the Fairway Vista Reinvestment Housing Incentive District, a proposed RHID to cover seven lots for 14 duplex/townhome units and a developer reimbursement of up to $425,000 over 10 years.
The Ottawa City Commission on a voice and roll-call vote set a public hearing for Dec. 18 to consider creating the Fairway Vista Reinvestment Housing Incentive District (RHID), a step staff described as the second of three actions needed before final approval.
Tyler (bond counsel/staff) told commissioners the RHID would cover seven vacant lots on Diamond Head Road and enable construction of 14 proposed three-bedroom, two-bath townhome/duplex units. He said the tax-increment model for the district differs from many projects because the site requires little new infrastructure; the developer has agreed in principle to provide 10 years of property-tax reimbursement capped at $425,000, a figure recorded in the feasibility study that will be part of the development plan.
Bert Peterson, a representative of the developer team, attended the meeting to answer questions about the project. Tyler emphasized that the commission was not making a final decision tonight but was only setting the hearing and noting the district boundary and development plan provisions would be presented formally at the Dec. 18 meeting.
Commissioners asked for clarification on parcel boundaries and whether any nearby lots not included might be developed separately. Staff confirmed one nearby lot is under separate ownership and not part of this RHID. Commissioner questions and staff answers clarified the process (this is step two of three) and that the Secretary of Commerce has acknowledged staff’s earlier findings supporting the district.
The commission approved the resolution to set the public hearing by voice/roll call; Mayor Skidmore and Commissioners Clayton, Kaler and Crowley voted yes with Mayor Pro Tem Allen absent. The Dec. 18 packet is expected to include the development plan and the formal form of a development agreement that would spell out the incentive's mechanics.
Next steps: staff will include the development plan and feasibility study in the Dec. 18 materials, and the commission will hold the public hearing before taking any final action on creating the RHID or approving a development agreement.
