Plymouth Board of Public Works denies request to sign agreement with residential developer

The tabled request to sign an agreement with Future Habitat before the Plymouth Board of Public Works and Safety was discussed Monday night, and the board voted not to sign the agreement with the developer.

Future Habitat is interested in developing a housing project on the property at 320 Kingston Road, which sits between Dollar General and the Plymouth American Legion.  The proposal is to demolish the existing building and recycle a vast majority of the material.  Then, they would build an affordable housing project using steel framing that can withstand hurricane winds.

Future Habitat wanted the city to sign an agreement that protects their intellectual property and assures them that the city will work with them.  The city would have no financial commitment but would be supportive of Future Habitat seeking Tax Incremental Financing (TIF) Funds and state and federal grants for the development.

Board members were concerned about signing the agreement with Future Habitat.  They commented that the city has worked with other local developers over the last few years without any such agreement.  While Future Habitat has worked with private developers in similar partnerships, this would be their first agreement with a municipality.

With only four members in attendance, Mayor Listenberger was absent, the Board split their vote 2 to 2, with Dave Morrow and Suane Culp voting against and Don Ecker and Shiloh Milner voting in favor.  With a tie vote, the request to sign an agreement died.