Red Oak council sets hearing on downtown urban renewal amendment, advances Fountain Square development review

The Red Oak City Council on Oct. 21 approved a resolution setting a public hearing on an amendment to the Red Oak Downtown Urban Renewal Plan and separately approved a resolution to schedule a meeting at which the council will consider a development agreement with Fountain Square LLC for 503 N. 3rd Street.

The actions were recorded as Resolution 2024-61 (setting the public-hearing date) and Resolution 2024-60 (setting a meeting to consider the Fountain Square development agreement, including annual appropriation tax-increment payments). Councilmember John Haidsiak moved to set the hearing date for the urban renewal amendment; Sharon Bradley seconded. Councilmember Tim Fridolph moved to set the meeting to consider the Fountain Square agreement; Bradley seconded. Roll-call votes were recorded as all ayes on both motions.

The resolutions do not themselves approve the development agreement or modify the urban renewal plan; they set the procedural steps required for public notice and subsequent council consideration. Council documents indicate the Fountain Square proposal concerns 503 N. 3rd Street and would include tax-increment financing payments under an annual appropriation structure. No detailed terms of the proposed development agreement were read into the record at the Oct. 21 meeting.

City staff also noted upcoming Downtown Assessment meetings scheduled Nov. 6–8. The scheduled public hearing will give residents the opportunity to comment before the council votes on any urban renewal amendment or a finalized development agreement.