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This is the location
where the Jasper Development Corporation
is building townhomes. The units are expected to be about 1,250 square feet and have two bedrooms, two bathrooms and attached garages. Photo by Kyle Kuphal
The Jasper City Council during its Nov. 18 meeting approved a conditional use permit allowing the Jasper Development Corporation (JDC) to build townhomes at 100 Sixth Street East and 102 Sixth Street East. Jasper Zoning Administrator Brian Thode said a conditional use permit is required for multi-family housing units.
Kurt Jandl, with the JDC, said the units would be about 1,250 square feet and have two bedrooms, two bathrooms and two stall garages with 18-foot doors. They will have heated floors and air conditioning, and no steps. Jandl said the JDC wants to keep the purchase price under $250,000.
“We’re trying to build them reasonable for people to afford to buy one,” he said.
He asked if the city would cover the cost to connect sewer and water from the street to the house to help the JDC with the project. Thode said he didn’t think the city had ever done that for a developer and Mayor Kim Lape said city staff could look into it.
Jandl also expressed interest in utilizing the city’s sidewalk replacement program. According to that program, the city would pay 50 percent of the sidewalk replacement cost up to $2.50 per square foot for eligible property owners who complete an application for the program. Jandl said there’s a sidewalk at the property, but it’s in poor condition.
Lape asked why the JDC started construction of the town home before the conditional use permit was approved. Jandl said the JDC wanted to try to “squeeze it in yet this year” and took a chance.
“I just couldn’t see no reason why it wouldn’t work,” he said.
This is a rendering of what the townhomes could look like. The Jasper City Council recently approved a conditional use permit for the townhomes. Photo by Kyle Kuphal
Thode said he told Jandl that the JDC didn’t have permission to begin building before obtaining a conditional use permit. Councilor Deb Plahn said she didn’t see why anyone would complain about the project because the JDC was adding something that would generate tax revenue for the city.
Zoning Commission members Butch Evink and Dave Bryan had no objections to the JDC’s request. Zoning Commissioner David Foster was not at the meeting, but Thode said he had no problem with the plans either.
In other business:
•The Jasper City Council approved with a 3-1 vote a quote of $41,126.75 from Convergint to install a camera system with cameras at the city office building, public works shop, park, Quartziter Community Center and fire hall. Councilor Zach Kounkel cast the opposing vote. Cole Campbell, with Convergint, said the cameras could be installed before Christmas.
•The Council voted to allow Aaron Hein to have a shed that was in the road right of way and didn’t meet the setback requirements in city code. They also asked him to obtain a building permit for the shed, which he said he placed on an existing concrete slab during the summer.