One of the key areas the Pella City Council will focus on in 2018 is increasing housing development in the community.

City Administrator Mike Nardini tells KNIA/KRLS News they’ve already started to bring in potential developers with tax increment financing incentives at Bos Landen in partnership with Marion County and the Pella School District, and will look to continue to incentive development in the coming year.

Mayor Jim Mueller says growing housing opportunities in the community is a major priority for council in the coming year due to increasing need.

“A study came out from Marion County that said the community of Pella needs over 900 homes to be built before 2025, which doesn’t give us a lot of room and it needs to be started right away,” he says.

Both Nardini and Mueller anticipate the council will have more agenda items relating to housing development in the coming months.