(KNZA)--The Hiawatha City Commission Monday night heard an update on the Villas of Beautiful Maples housing project.

Developers Dave Anderson and Mike Webb joined the meeting by Zoom. The update follows the Commission's August 18 decision to rescind an ordinance establishing a reinvestment housing incentive district, or RHID, after opposition from the Hiawatha School Board and Brown County Commission.

The move allows a new development plan to be negotiated. Anderson says the developers will focus on trying to reduce the originally proposed 25-year RHID term to between 10 and 15 years. The 25-year term was a major point of opposition to the project.

Anderson says City Commissioner Brian Shefferd, school board member Ian Schuetz and County Commissioner Richard Tesoriero have agreed to work with the developers on possible solutions to get the project across the line. The City Commission also wants City Administrator Brad Scott involved in those discussions.

Commissioner Laura Tollefson says there has been misinformation about the project and hopes a plan can be developed that works for the city, school district and county.

Commissioner Dave Middendorf says the lack of housing is a definite problem for some of Hiawatha's larger businesses trying to recruit employees.

Webb says he looks forward to finding a solution to make the housing project a reality, adding it will take a mix of multiple resources.

Anderson says it's a serious uphill climb if the group can't come up with another plan, and the project would be a dead deal.