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Council to consider gifting Rochester parcel to Habitat for Humanity after clean feasibility review
Summary
City staff reported an environmental review of the Rochester property found no significant issues and asked council to consider gifting the site to Habitat for Humanity so the nonprofit can develop buildable houses; staff will place a formal item on the Oct. 14 regular agenda.
City staff told the Odessa City Council on Sept. 23 that an environmental review of the Rochester parcel returned no major concerns and asked the council to consider transferring the property to Habitat for Humanity to support affordable housing development.
Jeff, addressing the council, said staff had run a historical and environmental review and that "basically everything came back clean," noting only a historical reference to a small salt burial that staff did not consider a development obstacle. He and executive director Joey Hopkins said they had discussed mineral-rights questions with an attorney and were comfortable that the city could move forward.
Joey Hopkins asked the council to "consider gifting it to us so that we can start moving forward with the development plans and all of the work to get it the buildable houses." Council members signaled informal support and directed staff to add a formal agenda item for the Oct. 14 regular meeting so the council can consider action.
The presentation included no formal motion or vote at the work session; staff said the next step is a council agenda item that would allow a formal motion or vote. The presenters thanked the council for allowing them to continue feasibility work and for the council's willingness to consider the property transfer.
Next steps: staff will prepare the Rochester property item for the Oct. 14 regular agenda for council consideration; no binding decision was made at the Sept. 23 work session.
