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Opposition to the project centered on the firm's plan to "target income-qualifying residents with income at or below 60 percent of the area median income" along with renting market rate units.
The Missouri Housing Development Commission, which awards tax credits to qualifying developers, requires letters of endorsement from the mayor, state representative and state senator in the area where a project is proposed.
Mayor Dick Stratman and state Sen. John Griesheimer have written unqualified letters of endorsement, however Rep. Scott Dieckhaus has made a "qualified" endorsement indicating that he supports it if three-fourths of the council indicate they are behind it.
Officials said that city council members were preparing to vote this coming Monday night, Nov. 16, in opposition to the project.
Some officials said that Mark Gardner was planning to attend the meeting and make a presentation about the project, but Stratman said he told the developer that would be an "exercise in futility," given the council's stated opposition to subsidized housing.
"They (developer) don't want to be someplace where they're not wanted," Stratman told The Missourian.
Stratman said Gardner was preparing a letter that he plans to share with the council.
Some residents of Stone Crest subdivision met last Saturday with Ward 2 Councilman John Rhodes and state Rep. Brian Nieves regarding the proposed complex which would border the subdivision on the north side.
Over the last couple of months, the city council approved rezoning the property from single-family residential to R-4, planned residential, and later approved the development plan which calls for 48 residential apartment units, a swimming pool, playground area, on-site management office and recreation room.
