After recently being designated a housing opportunity overlay district, another designation may be coming for the so-called Kretsinger tract thanks to Emporia City Commissioners.
During their recent action session, Wednesday afternoon commissioners approved a public hearing date of Mar. 16 to establish the 16-acre property as a rural housing incentive district by a vote of 4-0 with one abstention. According to Special Projects Coordinator Jim Witt, this would not only allow for smaller unit development under the HOO designation but would also open up additional financing avenues for developers.
If approved for RHID designation, the Kretsinger Tract would become the fifth district in the city of Emporia with the other four already in varying stages of development at this time. Approval of the district would not mean an approval of city financing for any projects according to Witt as he says it simply provides the opportunity to utilize the RHID financing mechanism in the future.
So far, there are no concrete plans for utilizing the property located on the eastern end of Soden’s Road and east of South Exchange, however, Ignite Emporia has expressed interest in purchasing the property for future development. Additional details on that venture are pending.
In other business, commissioners also approved the annual maintenance agreement with the Emporia Public Library. Two change orders for work at the Emporia Public Works Center as part of the department’s pavement improvement project as part of the consent agenda portion of the meeting.
The Emporia City Commission will reconvene at 10 am next Wednesday for a study session.
