Following a housing needs assessment presentation given this October, the Panora City Council discussed setting goals at their recent meeting.

Region XII Council of Governments completed the assessment, which mentioned that while there is no one-size-fits-all solution to rural housing, the City would have to build 3-8 new homes annually to meet population growth. Council member Ryan Ketelsen commented that the Council seems to be in agreement in wanting to solve housing needs. The Council discussed different methods, such as rental housing inspection with a permit system, annexation, and forming a broad coalition for new housing developments involving entities like the Panorama School District and economic development organizations.

Council member Stan Landon summed up some of the Council’s ideas, “I think what we’re doing at the moment is we’re looking at possibilities of what our part can be, what a contractor’s part can be, what Region XII’s can be and go from there. It might be some of the landowners that have vacant lots that they want to do something, but what are they willing to put up? So, if we don’t explore it we’re just going to be like we were last year.”

City Administrator Lisa Grossman voiced her interest in creating an incentives package for those developing vacant lots, which Mayor Pat Parker said there are between 8-12 of them in the City. The Council directed Grossman to start addressing the empty lots, and Landon and Council member Curtis Thornberry volunteered to join a committee to explore it further.