Texarkana, Texas, residents can voice their opinions on a pair of proposed low-income housing developments when the City Council conducts public hearings during its meeting Monday.
Many residents of the city's Pleasant Grove neighborhood, where the proposed apartment complexes would be built, have expressed opposition to them and are expected to take part in the hearings.
Developer MVAH Partners is seeking the council's support in an attempt to win low-income housing tax credits to help fund the complexes' construction. A state agency awards such tax credits on a competitive basis, and local support would increase MVAH's chances of receiving them. After each of the two public hearings Monday, the council will vote on a resolution stating support for MVAH's tax credit application.
MVAH may apply even without the council's support but would not proceed with the apartments without being awarded the tax credits, executive Darren Smith has said.
Opposition is based on concerns about best use of the land and needed infrastructure improvements, not on a desire to keep any kind of person out of the neighborhood, Ward 6 Council Member Josh Davis has said.
Both apartment complexes would be in Ward 6. One-hundred-seven units would be built at Clear Creek Drive and Summerhill Road, and 96 would be built at Galleria Oaks Drive and Cowhorn Creek Road.
Low-income housing tax credits do not provide tax breaks to developers. In exchange for receiving tax credits, developers agree to offer rents reduced according to a formula based on an area's median household income. Developers sell any tax credits they are awarded to investors to cover most of the cost of construction. MVAH's proposal does not include any reduction of its property taxes or any other locally assessed tax.
In other business, the council will conduct public hearings and vote on a number of items, including:
n rezoning land at 3303 New Boston Road and issuing a permit to allow an outdoor auto sales business there;
n permitting a tattoo studio at 4501 State Line Ave., tenant space 120;
n rezoning land at 4602 McKnight Road to allow a real estate office there;
n amending the city Land Development Code to include more information about certificates of occupancy;
n approving Community Development Block Grant Comprehensive Assessment Performance Evaluation Report;
n establishing a $50 per year permit for residential outdoor burning.
The council will also vote on making various changes to the city's employee handbook and authorizing a contract with Valley View Consulting for investment advisory services. Another vote concerns approving a settlement resulting from liquid aluminum sulfate antitrust litigation.
The agenda includes an open forum during which members of the public may address the council on any topic for up to five minutes each. No one may use the open forum to comment on items for which a public hearing has been held or is scheduled.
The meeting is scheduled for 6 p.m. Monday at City Hall, 220 Texas Blvd. It is the final City Council meeting of 2018.