The Leander City Council had an uncharacteristically packed house at its Feb. 16 meeting. Many of the meeting's attendees came to show support for proposed affordable housing communities planned by DDC Merritt Legacy Ltd., the company behind the recently opened Leander Station Senior Village facility.

The proposed developments would be located on land the city is in the process of annexing near the Leander Public Library, at South Bagdad and Old Quarry roads. One of the proposed developments would be another project tailored specifically for seniors.

"I'm a recent widow, and I have moved into Merritt properties for seniors," said Norma Williams, a resident of Leander Station Senior Village. "There is not enough housing for seniors because we have different needs than young people."

The other development would be aimed at families. Both projects would offer both income-restricted units and units without income limits. For example, the family housing would have up to 250 units, and some of those units would be available only for families or individuals whose income is at or below 60 percent of the area median income.

Merritt representative Colby Dennison asked the council to approve a resolution for each project that would support the projects receiving low income tax credits and HOME funds—federal block grants that are part of the National Affordable Housing Act.

"We're competing with one Georgetown application and four Austin applications," Dennison said.

The council also approved a resolution that created a community revitalization plan for the property the development would occupy. The plan will waive 25 percent of the permit fees associated with developing multifamily housing in the revitalization zone.

The council approved the resolutions unanimously.