By: Donovan W. Mann – [email protected]
Humboldt, IA – the City of Humboldt is considering building eight duplexes in partnership with local land owners.
City Administrator Travis Goedken says that the city is considering a new urban renewal plan in partnership with Jeff and Karen Berte on the land they currently own on 15 Street North. During the city council meeting on March 2 the city agreed to the date and time of two public hearings to start the process.
The city council scheduled Monday, April 6 to have the two hearings. The first hearing is for the consideration of adopting an urban renewal plan. The second hearing is for the development agreement between the city and Berte’s. These are two separate actions; the city cannot approve the development agreement without first approving the urban renewal plan.
The proposed development agreement is that eight duplexes will be built. The city is at zero risk as part of the agreement according to Goedken. “In this development agreement it requires the Berte’s to put the infrastructure in the ground and the city will rebate them back based on the eligible property taxes that they generate” he says. To clarify he says that the cost of infrastructure is at the cost of the Berte’s and the city will not pay anything without the homes first being built.
The public hearings for the urban renewal plan and development agreement between the city and the Berte’s on April 6 will be part of the regularly scheduled city council meeting. The meeting will start at 5:30 pm at the Humboldt City Hall.