The city is offering a public hearing Monday night related to the proposed apartment complex near the elementary school that aims to provide more affordable housing options for families and senior citizens.

After discussion of the apartment project at a March meeting, a public hearing was set for the regular 7 p.m. meeting time Monday at City Hall to further review information. The parcel across from the elementary school is 10 acres, and developers GW Weld and Dustin Baker are seeking federal low-income housing tax credits for the project. 

The first phase will have about 36 affordable housing units and 40 market rate apartments. Another 40 apartments are planned for Phase 2 in the future. 

The hearing is required to review the abatement requests and cost-benefit analysis for the project. The commission also will be presented with more financial analysis at the meeting.

City staff are recommending that commissioners approve issuing $27 million in industrial revenue bonds to support the apartment project, which needs to show that it has city support in order to apply for a program that supports affordable housing.

The city will also host a public hearing Monday night to discuss the tax increment financing district for the Nottingham development.

The Nottingham district was established in 2017 with the intent of utilizing tax increment financing to fund improvements. A temporary note was implemented in 2020, but a project plan has not been officially activated. 

The action would include Casey’s, Wendy’s, Scooter’s, Mid America Bank’s site and a lot currently being marketed for commercial use. The action would allow the city to permanently finance the temporary notes through general obligation bonds repayable from revenues generated within the area. 

The city will also review results of a traffic study on Church Street. The study was done to further understand thearea near the intersection of 23rd Street and the high school. It was necessary to guide growth, facilitate current needs and consider the extension of 23rd Street to the west and SouthFir Street to the north. 

The report discussed three possibilities: 

• Extend South Fir Street north to connect to West 20th Street; construct an additional driveway for Eudora High School with an access point on West 20th Street.

• Extend South Fir Street north to connect to West 20th Street; extend 23rd Street west to connect with Winchester Road/E2100 Road

• Extend South Fir Street north to connect to West 20th Street; construct an east-west road, designated as 25th Street, between Eudora High School and Eudora Middle School. This road will connect Church Street and Winchester Road/E 2100 Road.

There is no action on this item at this time. 

The commission will also vote on whether to authorize a resolution to allow alcohol in CPA Park for the Main Street Markets this year. 

There will also be a public hearing for the vacating of easements so the school district can continue its building expansions at 2203 Church St.

Three existing utility easements conflict with the expansion and contain a public water line and electric line. Staff noted in the agenda they do not have any concerns for the projectand suggested the approval of the resolution. 

Reach reporter Sara Maloney at [email protected]. 

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