(ANGOLA) - Steuben County is considering purchasing about 50 acres at the former Country Meadows Golf Resort west of Fremont for a new affordable single-family housing development.
The Steuben County Council on Tuesday gave preliminary support through a straw poll for funding the approximately $1.26 million purchase, with the project expected to move forward through the Steuben County Economic Development Corporation.
County Commissioner Andy Laughlin emphasized that the property is being considered for residential development.
The county is looking at building smaller homes, potentially in the 800- to 1,100-square-foot range. Laughlin estimated that about 40 acres of the property may be suitable for building lots, though the number of homes that could ultimately be constructed has not been determined.
The three parcels are near the county's EMS station on State Road 120, east of County Road 50 West, and surround the Rolling Meadow subdivision. Existing ponds could potentially be incorporated into stormwater management for the development.
Sewer service could come from Fremont Water Pollution Control, and Fremont also may be a possible source of water service. Those details remain under discussion.
The county also is considering using a new Northeast Indiana Strategic Development Commission program aimed at helping accelerate workforce-attainable housing projects. The Housing Optimizers Preconstruction program provides early-stage development funding to organizations designated as Certified Housing Optimizers.
A final funding source for the land purchase has not been selected. County Council President Dan Caruso suggested using Major Moves money, which came from the county's share of proceeds from the 2006 lease of the Indiana Toll Road.
Laughlin described the proposal strictly as a housing project.
Councilwoman Lisa Aldrich noted that additional housing would also be needed if a casino ultimately comes to Steuben County, but Laughlin said the county already has a longstanding need for more affordable housing regardless of what happens with the casino issue.