Millersburg Launches Strategic Study to Expand Affordable Housing Options

The search to create affordable housing in western Holmes County moved into an active phase this month as Millersburg officials opened a strategic planning study led by Envision Group LLC of Cleveland. The study will produce a housing needs assessment intended to inform elected leaders across Millersburg and neighboring villages about realistic, financially viable housing options.

Village administrator Nate Troyer framed the effort as a response to pressing local shortages, saying, "The housing and transportation needs are obviously very great in Holmes County right now." He added that the problem has persisted, "It’s something that we’ve needed to address for some time." Troyer confirmed the project began with a kickoff meeting on December 2 and that the analysis "will be about a 16 week process."

Envision will collect demographic and economic data, identify stakeholders, and evaluate housing types that fit the local market. The assessment will also pinpoint potential sites and outline possible financial incentives to spur development while keeping costs manageable for families. Millersburg earlier sought partners to expand the study to nearby villages and unincorporated communities including Killbuck, Glenmont, Nashville, Big Prairie and Lakeville, so the final recommendations could guide regional planning and interjurisdictional cooperation.

Local officials say the study responds to two core constraints that shape policy choices. Limited land available for development and rising construction and rental costs make it difficult for modest income families and renters to find quality housing. Troyer emphasized repurposing underutilized parcels inside village borders to avoid costly expansion onto farmland and to keep infrastructure obligations lower, citing the former Terrace View Nursing Home property as an example of land that could be converted.

The assessment will have direct implications for zoning, capital budgets, and incentive programs that village councils must consider. Statistical findings can sharpen votes on rezonings, tax incentives and infrastructure investment, and they may affect future campaign debates and civic engagement as residents weigh growth against preservation. For Holmes County residents, the study offers a first concrete step toward data driven decisions on where and how to build homes that are both attractive and financially attainable.