HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The Board of County Commissioners will have a discussion about housing policy at their meeting on Wednesday.
According to agenda documents, the City of Hutchinson, similar to other cities in Reno County, has lacked housing developments in the last couple of decades. The city discussed this at their last city council meeting and mentioned they are averaging a loss of 11 residential units annually between 2010 and 2021. The negative number is the difference between new residential builds and demolitions.
The City of Hutchinson is the largest population center in Reno County and their loss of residential homes is detrimental to the future growth of our county. At the city’s meeting, the council authorized staff to actively pursue a strategic opportunity for residential growth by investing in land and then put out a Request for Proposal (RFP) to developers to create a small residential development on the west side of Hutchinson. City staff has reached out to the county about being a partner in their city-led development.
County staff has prepared a resolution for a residential development policy. This is a means for the county to partner with Hutchinson on this pilot program to jump start residential development.
According to county staff, Hutchinson’s data is likely comparable to other cities in the county. It is staff's hope that Reno County can partner with Hutchinson on their new development and with other cities in Reno County that might want to follow Hutchinson’s lead on city-led development.
The proposed agreement allows for the county to give any city in Reno County a grant for residential development that allows for a range of uses that will allow a city to be prepared to work with private developers on building new residential facilities. There are reporting requirements, and the county would receive a portion of any pay backs that a city may receive from their developer as a result of the projects. The benefit for Reno County is growth of residential units that will add to the tax base and allow for our workforce to live in the county.
The City of Hutchinson has sent a memo to Reno County for a request to participate and to receive the first grant from Reno County for residential development, if the Resolution is passed by the county commission. The City's request would be considered in a separate motion from the recommended Resolution.
The Board of County Commissioners meets Wednesday at 9 a.m. in the Veterans Room of the Reno County Courthouse.