Milton officials question affordable housing project
The developer of a 61-unit affordable rental housing project is seeking support from Milton Town Council, but town officials have delayed any action until May.
Town council tabled its decision on the development to be built on the southeastern edge of town due to various concerns raised during a discussion with David Holden, director of development of the Ingerman Group, the property's developer. Holden said a letter of support from the council would increase his company's chances of receiving funding from the Delaware State Housing Authority.
“It's a statewide competition that includes state and federal resources,” he said. “That's all the funding that's necessary to be a one-phase, one-shot buildout and all the improvements, from streets to water and sewer to landscaping.”
Holden also asked for a five-year abatement of property taxes and for a waiver of the fees associated with the company extending the town's water line about 3,000 feet.
The request received an overwhelmingly negative reaction of those in attendance at the April 2 town council meeting. Holden said he received a quote of $30 to $60 per foot to extend the water line, or about $90,000 to $180,000 to extend the line.
The company is also asking that property taxes stay the same for five years, but property taxes on the property are currently nonexistent because it is farmland. Mayor Cliff Newlands said property taxes are not imposed until the project is completed. Holden said he would be open to a gradual increase of taxes.
A letter of support would not mean the project gets a guaranteed green light. The Ingerman Group would still have to go through the site plan approval process with the town's planning and zoning commission.
The Ingerman Group is planning to build on an 89-acre lot owned by Key Ventures. Holden said an agreement in place to purchase 12 acres of the top end of the land for this project. The land was annexed into the town and rezoned to residential in October 2006, but it has been used only as agricultural land since.
Holden said the apartments would be targeted toward working families with an income of $30,000 to $40,000 per year. The goal, he said, is to build seven buildings in a 12-month period, with 61 units composed of one-, two-, and three-bedroom townhouses and apartments.
Councilwoman Marion Jones said she's hesitant to move forward when she's unaware of what's going on with the rest of the property. Holden said he was under the impression Key Ventures is still committed to developing the land.
“This all makes me feel like I'm missing something,” she said. “[Ingerman] wants 12 acres, but we already have Key Ventures who has made a choice to do nothing with that piece of property except escape taxes.”
Councilman John Booros questioned why the town would support a project that would put more strain on the water system that town engineer Cabe Associates says is already working well over capacity.
Jones said while she supports development in town, there is also a public safety issue to consider. She is concerned for the safety of those families who would attempt to walk into town.
“That person must walk along an unimproved, two-lane road with ditches,” she said. “There are not only no sidewalks, there are no shoulders, and a lot of human traffic moves that way now.”
The issue is likely to be discussed again at council's May meeting.
About the Ingerman Group
The Ingerman Group has been in business for more than 25 years. The company has developed more than 75 communities in Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania and New Jersey. Locally, Director of Development David Holden said the group will be breaking ground on a new development on Airport Road in Milford next month. Ingerman serves as the developer, general contractor and property manager, currently managing about 5,000 units.
