Rincon City Council members have approved submitting a utilities letter to the state Department of Community Affairs on behalf of a firm backing the building of a seniors housing project.

Council members approved sending one letter each for water and sewer service on behalf of Affordable Equity Partners. Affordable Equity Partners assists developers and investors put state and federal tax credits to use for low-income housing and historic rehabilitation projects.

On the books is a 48-unit development for senior citizens in the Silverwood Court area. The estimated cost of the development is $7 million.

“I think it’s a great idea,” said council member Ann Daniel.

In order for the development to proceed, they need access to water and sewer, and AEP representatives asked the city to provide letters stating the proposed project had access to adequate water and sewer.

Long-term ownership is in place, AEP representatives told city council, and AEP would own the development for 15 years. The area is expected to be annexed into the city.

The homes will be one-story with breezeways.

“These are becoming more and more popular,” Mayor Ken Lee said.

Council members also approved a $7,000 partial payment to Agape Landscaping for the plants to be installed in the Highway 21 median as part of the GATEway project. The city is waiting for the state Department of Transportation to approve a special encroachment permit to allow the plants to be placed in the median.

“We cannot proceed until then,” city planner LaMeisha Hunter said.

The $7,000 is a partial payment for Agape, which has had the plants on hand since the start of June. The city and the Effingham County Chamber of Commerce were awarded a $27,800 GATEway project grant from the state DOT.