By Keith Knepp
InkFreeNews

During Monday’s monthly meeting of the Milford Redevelopment Commission, Tim Saylor, president of Innovative Communities, holds a drawn rendering of the planned Northeast Housing Development project in Milford. InkFreeNews photo by Keith Knepp.

MILFORD — The Milford Redevelopment Commission embarked Monday morning on what is shaping up to be a busy year. Four returning members of the commission were sworn in for the new year, including President Dan Brown, Milford Clerk-Treasurer Tricia Gall, Chuck Bird and Doug Ruch. One seat on the commission remains vacant following the resignation of Charlotte Siegfried last fall.

Monday’s hourlong meeting was dominated by a presentation from Gregg Fitzloff of Kosciusko Economic Development Corporation on the planned Northeast Housing Development project.

Also in attendance to discuss the project with commission members were Brad Plett and Titus Troyer, representing Miller Brothers Builders, which will serve as the developer of the 50-house subdivision; and Tim Saylor, president of Innovative Communities, a local housing development consultant company.

One of the primary concerns discussed was the opting of adding a second ingress/egress road into the proposed housing development. Approximate costs, as well as the pros and cons of the additional roadway, were discussed. It was agreed the second entrance would not substantially increase the cost of the project and would benefit residents of the new community.

Creating a new residential TIF district for the project was also discussed, with the 2023 approval requirements laid out by Andy Boxberger, attorney for the commission. As had been discussed at previous meetings, several steps of approval with various agencies at various levels of local government would have to be obtained in the next several months.

It was agreed upon that Boxberger would provide language for Fitzloff to present to the Wawasee Community School board during this Tuesday’s meeting. The school board’s approval is the first of several before the commission can move forward with the TIF district.

The commission also agreed to its 2023 meeting schedule, which designates 10 a.m. the second Monday of each month, with the exception of October, at the Milford Community Building. The public is always invited to attend the meetings, the next of which is scheduled for Feb. 14.