The Carroll City Council voted 4-2 Monday to approve the plats for the Golfview Subdivision, setting the stage for negotiations with potential developers interested in building on the approximately 4.5 acres on the Carroll Municipal Golf Course’s western edge. The subdivision consists of nine lots, four at 26,000 square feet and five at 18,000 square feet. Public Works Director Randy Krauel says the council actually had two set of plats that needed approved.
The Carroll Planning and Zoning Commission voted 4-1 during their June 12 meeting to recommend tentative approval of the proposed plats. Carroll City Council voted 4-2 to accept the preliminary and final plats, with At-Large Councilwoman JJ Schreck and Ward 2 Councilman Jason Atherton voting no. Schreck and Atherton have previously expressed opposition to this specific housing project due to concerns over the cost of installing public infrastructure in the area. Early estimates for that work are around $2 million, but that is unlikely to be the city’s share of the cost, as a portion of that will be part of the agreement with the developer or recouped through tax increment financing. City Manager Aaron Kooiker says they are delaying the request-for-proposal (RFP) process to next month as the city hopes to qualify for additional housing tax credits from the state.
Iowa Thriving Communities is a program through the Iowa Finance Authority (IFA) that could lead to up to $13 million in federal tax credits and $1 million in state tax credits for chosen communities. Two local cities, Manning and Jefferson, were previously selected for the Thriving Communities designation. IFA will announce the 2025 Iowa Thriving Communities the week of July 15.