(Spirit Lake)– The Spirit Lake city council Tuesday evening voted to expand an urban renewal district in the area of the Pointe of Pines subdivision near the new water tower on the city’s south side.
City Administrator Mark Stevens told the council the expanded district would allow for the subdivision to expand to the north and west with an additional 17 lots for single-family homes. Stevens added the expanded subdivision will eventually include 52 lots, but the development is going forward in stages, at the city’s request.
Stevens said the city will work with the developer, West Okoboji Harbor, on plans to install infrastructure to that area, per an agreement that’s been in place since 2004.
The council voted to expand the urban renewal district following a public hearing that drew comment from Pam Jordan, a Spirit Lake resident and a Dickinson County Supervisor. She referred to a housing study several years ago that identified a shortage of rental units for low-to-moderate income individuals and families in the community. Stevens says the city is very much aware of that situation and that there have been some talks with developers along that line, but no commitments have been made toward any such projects.
In other business, the council approved engineering services for a sanitary sewer rehabilitation project. Plans call for an additional 2,700 feet of sanitary sewer in the city to be re-lined.
