Agenda - Council - 08/23/2005 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home

I:urther discussion: Mayor Gamec asked if this property will be hooked up to City services. Corem unity Development Director Trudgeon responded in the affirmative. Motion carried. Voting Yes: Mayor Gamec, Councilmembers Elvig, Cook, Jeffrey, Olson, I~em;son, and Strommen. Voting No: None. Case #6: Adopt Amendment to Ordinance for Sewer and Water Trunk Charge Hook- Up Rate for Ramsey Town Center 2"a Addition City Administrator Norman revieWed that Ramsey Town Center (RTC) entered into an option agreement approximately two years ago with D.R. Horton, a major housing developer, to construct approximately 60 acres of the residential development, amounting to approximately 900 dwelling units, in the Town Center. Recently, negotiations have been underway to create an amendment to the option agreement that would reduce the role ofD.R. Horton to a 12-acre parcel irt the Town Center, also known as Ramsey Town Center 2nd Addition. Limiting the role of D.R. I-torton would allow for more housing development variety and allow more building projects to happen concurrently rather than on a consecutive basis as proposed by D.R. Horton. City Administrator Norman explained the allocation agreement for the RTC 2nd Addition allows' the developer to pay fbr the sewer and water trunk hook-up charges at the time of the building permits rather than the usual method of paying them at the time of final plat. In order for the option agreement between RTC and D.R. Horton to be completed, D.R. Horton has requested that the 103 residential units in RTC 2nd Addition be able to use 2004 sewer and water trunk hook-up Ices. Staff believes that allowing 2004 sanitary sewer and water trunk hook-up fees is a small price to pay for a/better residential development in the Town Center and recommended Council authorize the rates to complete the option agreement at the Council meeting of January I 1, 2005. Staff further recommended that future allocation agreements do not allow for sewer and water trunk hook-up fees to be deferred at time of final plat. Since sewer and water hook-up l~:es are adopted during the annual rates, fees and charges ordinance, the City Attorney advised that thc action required amendment to the annual rates, fees and charges ordinance. The ordinance was introduced at the January 11th meeting and is now ready for Council adoption consideration. Councihnember Olson questioned if D.R. Horton has signed the agreement to back out of the remaining residential units. City Administrator Norman responded in the affirmative. City Attorney Goodrich advised the expiration date on the fees is December 31, 2005. Councilmcmber Strommen stated it was at D.R. Horton's request that they not pay these charges tmtil thc time of building permit, which was at their risk. She is not in agreement with this. Councilmember Elvig concurred. City Council/January 25, 2005 Page 18 of 24