HOBART | The newly amended residential tax abatement policy will get its first test at the next City Council meeting when the Liberty Heights subdivision developer presents his plan to the group.

The council voted 6-0 to approve proposed amendments to the policy, which the group reinstated earlier this year after a yearlong moratorium.

Jason Cooke, the Liberty Heights subdivision developer, cleared the first hurdle for securing residential tax abatement Tuesday night when the Economic Development Commission approved his petition for tax abatement. The plan also must pass through the Plan Commission, which is set to meet April 12, before the council gets a chance to vote.

The new residential tax abatement plan requires developers to answer a series of eight questions about what benefits their development will bring to Hobart.

The questions include describing the unique benefits of the development, lifestyle amenities, diversity in housing styles and environmental considerations the development offers.

"We should expect a distinct answer to each of the eight points," said Councilman Tom Ehrhardt, R-1st.

Council members said the Liberty Heights subdivision would be compared to the Cressmoor Estates subdivision, which made an informal presentation to the council several months ago but has not yet officially requested tax abatement.

"Cressmoor set the bar as high as possible," said Councilman Carl Lindsey, R-2nd, who also sits on the Plan Commission. "(Liberty Heights) has a real difficult road to go forward on."