Marshall County Council supports tax abatement for Garden Court Development on Olive Trail

A unanimous vote of support for a residential housing project at the intersection of State Road 17, Glenn Overmyer Drive, and Olive Trail was given to developer Kevin Berger from Easterday Construction. 

This would be a Garden Court project.

On Monday, Marshall County Council members were informed about the proposed 32 to 40 low-income units that would be located just outside the city limits, with an entrance across from Olive Trail on Overmyer Drive.

Executive Director of the Marshall County Economic Development Corporation Greg Hildebrand and Berger were at the meeting seeking the council’s support of a tax abatement for the project.  The grant opportunity is very competitive and based on points to qualify.  You need local government support, which is dollars in some fashion.  Berger said, “What’s been easiest for us on the past two projects, instead of coming and asking you to do a road improvement, provide sidewalks, or something like that, we ask for a tax abatement because then we can show that as dollars that are coming into the project that we would have to spend otherwise.”    

Burger said he has an option on the property, and if the project isn’t awarded in the 2025 or 2026 round of grants, the county would have no obligation for the tax abatement.

Berger informed the council that the project would not be government-subsidized housing but would provide homes for working individuals and low-income families. He stated that the state would determine rents as a percentage of the median income in Marshall County. Berger also mentioned that after 15 years, tenants who could afford it would have an option to purchase their apartment through a rent-to-own option. 

The residential development would be served by utilities from the City of Plymouth, which is already in the area. The Plymouth Board of Zoning Appeals has also granted a variance to permit a multi-family development on the property. Berger said he expects the development will eventually be annexed into the City of Plymouth. 

In considering the request, Council President Tim Marmon checked the current property taxes for the nearly 6-acre parcel and commented that it pays $81 annually.

Councilman Steve Gorski noted there may be an environmental issue with the property that could create an issue.  Berger said the property owner has put fill dirt on the property and extended some pipes through the property that are not up to code.  Berger said these are things they will have to address.  Twenty-two soil borings are being completed so they don’t find any surprises during construction. A Brownfield clean-up site in the northeast of the property was finished, but it doesn’t meet the standards for residential development.  They won’t be building on that property.

Council President Tim Harmon motioned to support the request for a county tax abatement for Garden Court Inc. for the property of Olive Trail if the project moves forward.  Harman said, “It's quite an investment to take something on like this.  Sometimes tax abatements are politically negative, but it’s $81 a year.  We are not giving up anything; we can only gain in the future if the project goes forward.  I think it’s a win in the long term for the county.  Those residents will be paying county income tax.” 

The development received a unanimous vote of support from the council.