The Town of Hamlet is looking at solidifying its housing development plans. Nearly two years after Town Council President Dave Kesvormas made his “22 by ‘22” goal for new home construction, he presented a resolution proposing specific incentives during Wednesday’s zoning board meeting.
“Ninety days/three calendar months of free city water, 90 days/three calendar months of free city sewer, three calendar months of free trash and recycling, at-cost for sewer and water connections, reduced or suspended building permit fees subject to board approval for each new permit,” he read. If approved, those incentives would apply to any new permits through the end of 2022, along with two that have already been approved.
The proposed resolution would also outline a process for building inspections, something that Hamlet’s been lacking for years. It would leave it up to the developer to hire a home inspector, who would have to be licensed with the Indiana Professional Licensing Agency.
“We have their license. We have the statement,” Kesvormas explained. “They assume all the liabilities as the inspector when they make that statement, not the town, so there’s no dispute. So somebody can’t come to us and say, ‘Well, so and so came to us and said the property line was here and it’s not,’ and we don’t have a dog in that fight anymore.”
Hamlet’s other option would be to share a building inspector with Starke County or Knox. No action was taken Wednesday on the proposed resolution.
