ABOVE: A sign shows lots available at White Tail Ridge in Fairmont. The Fairmont Economic Development Authority on Monday discussed the sale of two more lots and also talked about other open lots and development opportunities.

FAIRMONT– Housing was the big discussion piece at the Fairmont Economic Development Authority (FEDA) meeting on Monday.

Fairmont’s Economic Development Coordinator, Ned Koppen, said that a strategic conversation on developing new housing was added to the agenda at the request of Board Member Jon Omvig.

“When we discussed our priorities, housing was one of the top ones,” Omvig said.

He talked about a consultant who was working on the city’s zoning ordinance who said at one of the first kick-off meetings, “You don’t have a job shortage. You’ve got a housing shortage and it’s going to be difficult to get new employers if you don’t have a workforce.”

Koppen agreed with what was said and confirmed that there are more people who drive into Fairmont to work, than drive out.

Omvig said as the FEDA board, he thought they should think about what can be done to encourage housing.

“We as a board, representing the city, should be doing what we can to help developers,” Omvig said.

He said that as the city is updating the subdivision ordinance, it will have an impact on development. He also said the city should be looking at what other cities are doing that are successful in housing and match them.

“We shouldn’t have requirements in excess of what our competitors have,” Omvig said.

The idea to give incentives, like a forgivable loan to developers, was also mentioned, which Omvig said was done in Madelia.

He also said, “Tax abatement for single family, I know the county does it. I would think we’d want to do some twists on it.”

Finally, Omvig said he’s heard many people say there’s no lots available in Fairmont or none that people want to develop. However, he provided a list of some lots he found doing a quick search on Beacon.

“My thought is, can we do a more thorough investigation and find out lots that are platted but not improved, platted and improved, private, and if private, contact the owner and see if they have any interest in selling to a developer or individual owner, and if it’s public ownership, what will it take to either sell or subdivide and sell,” Omvig said.

He and other board members spoke about some potential open lots in the city that could be developed.

It was said that it needs to be determined whether there is a lack of available lots, lack of demand, cost issues or other concerns or barriers.

“I think there would be value in looking, as you said, so how do you go about locating all of these, either platted, private or public?” asked council liaison Britney Kawecki.

Koppen said it would start with him and then he would use staff as available to use the city’s technology in order to identify the lots.

“Then we would do as Jon talked about and categorize the inventory,” Koppen said. “That will take the discussion to a different level once we have the awareness.”

“We need to do something is my thought,” Omvig said.

Kawecki said in looking at the amount of houses built in the last few years, she agreed that something needed to be done.

“I think we do need to start with figuring out what we’ve got. I’d say, yes, go ahead,” said council liaison Jay Maynard.

Moving to a different item on the same subject, the board discussed the potential of going forward with a land sale in the White Tail Ridge development.

“We have an interested party,” Koppen told the board.

The party in question, he said, was interested in two of the four lots on Belle Vue, north of the four lots that were developed with twin homes on the bottom of the slope on Red Bird Lane.

“From my point of view, any house that’s being built in the city of Fairmont is positive,” said Kawecki.

The board unanimously approved of the sale of the two lots in the amount of $45,000.

Koppen also told the board that the new housing study, conducted by Bowen National Research, has been completed and is now in the review period.

“I need to read through it a little more thoroughly,” Koppen said. “The plans then would be to present to city council two weeks from now.”

In other news:

— Monday’s meeting was the first for FEDA’s new board member, Brandon Hollingsworth.