Lebanon City Officials Approve Sewer Access Fees for Core 5 Development Project

The Wilson County Sanitary Sewer Access Committee convened on February 4, 2025, to discuss critical sewer access proposals and related fees. The meeting began with a review of a property currently owned by Robert Lanham, which is under consideration for sewer access. Staff reported ongoing communication with officials from the City of Lebanon regarding the proposal, which has undergone a fee calculation review.

The committee outlined that all sewer access fees must be paid to the county before final approval of any site plan. A 10% reservation fee is required within 30 days of approval, which is nonrefundable if the capacity is not utilized within two years. The committee previously established a standard timeline policy for sewer access reservations, allowing for a two-year approval period with a possible two-year extension upon review of site plans.

The current proposal involves 23 Single Family Units (SFUs) from a total of 95.43 SFUs available. If approved, the remaining capacity would be 72.43 SFUs, leaving 15.43 SFUs at the Couchman Interchange. The total payment due to the county for the proposed 23 units amounts to $690,000, with the initial reservation fee set at $69,000.

Staff expressed confidence that the property qualifies for connection permissions, noting that the request encompasses the entire site. However, it was highlighted that a previous approval for the same number of SFUs had expired due to the applicant's failure to pay the reservation fee in August 2024, prior to a rate increase.

A motion was made to approve the current request, which was seconded and opened for discussion. Concerns were raised regarding the ownership and future tenants of the property, with committee members seeking clarification on the status of the developer, Core 5. Joe Haddix from ESDG confirmed that the developer is nearing closure on the property and has received preliminary approvals for off-site sewer and road plans.

The committee emphasized that the approval would remain with the property, regardless of ownership changes. Further discussions included inquiries about potential residential proposals on the same property, indicating ongoing interest in development.

The meeting concluded with a consensus on the need for clarity regarding the closing process and the commitment from the developer to finalize the necessary payments and approvals. The committee will continue to monitor the situation as developments progress.