HOISINGTON — The Hoisington Free Land Program will give an approximately 12,000 square foot lots to 12-15 families on a first come first serve basis to build a home at the location of the old mobile home park, the City Land Bank committee decided Monday. A $500 earnest fee is required which will be refunded upon completion of the home.
 “This is an exciting development. We’ve had a lot of interest,” said Jonathan Mitchell, city manager. “There will be more opportunity for housing to help grow our schools,  population, utility consumption and increase the property valuation.”
There is a total of 4.1 acres of land located west of Susank Rd. that is out of the flood plain. A couple of acres is located in the flood plain, and the city is considering what process needs to be done to remove the property from the flood plain.
Mitchell is hoping to have an application ready for the property on Monday.
The Land Bank committee has minimum building requirements. They are:
•The house must be 1500 square feet on the main living floor.
•It must have a basement.
•It must have a concrete driveway and no less than a two-car garage.
A draft of the timeline for the homeowner is secure financing within 30 days of application, hire a contractor within in 60 days of application and have construction significantly completely within 18 months of application.
The city will only take 12 applications. If the applicant defaults, the $500 earnest money will be retained by the city.
The city is working with City Planner John Riggs for the layout of the subdivision, called McKenna Meadows.
The street access in the development will be gravel unless the homeowners decide to pay for concrete. There will be no specials.
When the city land bank accepted the land, it was agreed that they could not sell the lots.
This is a dream come true for the land locked community which has long wished for more housing.