[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6269449,"mediaKeyId","3042897-47fbe3dd95249e3cad6ffd6d45b23116","parentId",3042897,"title","Council approves use of Sebring right-of-way for county-backed broadband project funded with $4.5 million in ARPA dollars","audioSeconds",1214,"startMs",769000,"endMs",1983000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3042897-47fbe3dd95249e3cad6ffd6d45b23116&start=769&end=1983","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3042897-47fbe3dd95249e3cad6ffd6d45b23116/thumbnail_769000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6269449/Sebring/Highlands-County/Florida/Council-approves-use-of-Sebring-right-of-way-for-county-backed-broadband-project-funded-with-45-million-in-ARPA-dollars","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6269449-80796e81c270cfaae184b667aeb25999/orig.mp4?Expires=1775474080&Signature=nnHkvpElkJB0W5W31MCR5B3n4Oy-Hh5oMbABh7yj5oFdXFBT14CJA~Vmjn5EMsjqoz0V2Y-9lMwbcn5bfL18z41VQuB6d37ym70xL5DcZaL5TACiox-9RzLKmtXkqGF45FwLKt7to27aeAoOsKc4rA7uixyZaxhCPwslScrjTEqWk~lt86~WpTHiCBJUNx4Y6EXp0IK9KskvIqZiwLBeoZvhvpvVRelEZi88-0t6xfDjp4u-7hTxv~FKERqRsGme6yXPw3WXTt8EGFRFO~NBinyhTqnDdzfbXUbDfuu~k-XEWgviOVWMtZ8fCtsR23fDlnLChE5mJCjueJ4FMUuplw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of Sebring, FL","date","2025-04-17T21:54:52.46Z","article","The City of Sebring City Council on April 15 approved a request to use city right-of-way for a Highlands County broadband project funded with $4.5 million in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) dollars. County staff and contractors told council the project will connect two county buildings to dark fiber and extend service to nearby downtown residences and businesses.

Sarah Beth Murphy, executive manager of business and economic development for the Highlands County Board of County Commissioners, told council the county allocated $4.5 million in ARPA funds for broadband in Highlands County and that IBT Group USA won the county contract and has subcontracted construction to PCS Fiber. The project footprint includes downtown Sebring as part of a county-wide feasibility study completed in 2021.

Contractors described the installation methods: buried fiber in conduit using directional boring for long runs, minimal open trenching in non-paved areas, and microtrenching in the most congested portions of downtown (the Wall Street area and the outer edge of the downtown circle). Presenters said microtrenching typically uses a narrow slot — roughly three-quarters of an inch — cut into pavement, with conduit placed and the slot filled and sealed; project staff said they prefer conduit placed about 12 inches deep and no deeper than 18 inches where feasible.

Rick Arnold of PCS Fiber and Brooke Swint (project lead) said microtrenching limits disruption in areas with tight utility congestion and that crews use vacuum collection of spoils and rolling work patterns to avoid long blockages. The project team estimated typical microtrench/directional-bore production in unconstrained environments at up to 2,500 feet per day but said downtown Sebring would be slower.

A resident, Mercedes Munoz, asked whether the work would interfere with access to apartments and alley parking behind downtown properties. Project staff said crews plan a rolling work pattern that they described as minimally disruptive and that they would notify adjacent property owners in advance of when crews would be working in a given alley slice.

Murphy said the county has a deadline to spend the ARPA dollars by the end of 2026. Presenters said IBT Group USA (the county’s awarded provider) will offer residential and business service plans after activation; specific commercial rates were not finalized at the council meeting.

Council voted to approve the use-of-right-of-way request as presented. Staff said the permit application process will proceed and the county and contractors plan to coordinate restoration and scheduling with the city and property owners.

The vote authorizes the county-contracted team to apply for utility permits and to use city right-of-way under the conditions described in the presentation.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Council Meeting 4/15/2025","oneSentenceSummary","The City of Sebring City Council on April 15 approved a request from Highlands County to use city right-of-way for a county-funded broadband build that uses $4.5 million in ARPA funds.","taxTitle","Sebring, Highlands County, Florida","taxId",3821,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6269444,"Council conditions water and sewer for 4007 Sparta Road to allow developer’s 40-home proposal to advance",564,2008000,2572000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3042897-47fbe3dd95249e3cad6ffd6d45b23116&start=2008&end=2572","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3042897-47fbe3dd95249e3cad6ffd6d45b23116/thumbnail_2008000.jpg","/articles/6269444/Sebring/Highlands-County/Florida/Council-conditions-water-and-sewer-for-4007-Sparta-Road-to-allow-developers-40-home-proposal-to-advance","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6269444-73175cbf176f05308ad670bb713fa332/orig.mp4?Expires=1775474080&Signature=FGOiuHFy15jhSFJVmX7-vgoF2Cwnw4trYVqzdKv4cSReAoJLcvYWKJmXWRXVO-aNyHH9Cv0TPn4V8M~j67O18DUZsB0S68abtU6oR3nO-EI4TAUZr9J0C-yqTe8YwJIss4BjwdBgbvzmbYYjUGjYxXxeHJm~SsQWVo5-apyFRGSCAFGh2IzY1sqMk2GOS6q2hq6hCSyOgVFHMrtln6tFbeBjcw1u3xLW5WVQfbTTb2wf96FGaaNdHcTgw9cVYJO7wIjX0LwF-Kv3qs03PISt4aqmVjxOQlVIRH3Ox1RDldr80vS5OfKfoTAgB-q8BCJWHyyRDBpTT~22Ym~Gaf6izg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The City of Sebring City Council on April 15 voted to approve a utility services agreement, conditioned on execution by the property owner, that would allow the provision of city water and sewer to a proposed 40-single-family-home development at 4007 Sparta Road.

Dana Riddell, a consultant with Stonehenge Lane Development Consultants, spoke for Green Group Development LLC, which is working to purchase the property currently owned by Sparta Properties LLC. Riddell said water and sewer run past the property and that the applicant is requesting service for 40 single-family homes. She said existing zoning and a deed restriction currently limit development to 28 homes, though the parcel’s underlying future land use would allow up to 43 units.

Riddell said the developer is seeking a flexible unit development (FUD) plan that asks for slight deviations from some zoning standards — notably smaller lot sizes than a straight single-family residential zoning district would normally require. She said the applicant proposes minimum lots of about 6,250 square feet, with standard setbacks of 25 feet front and rear and seven and a half feet on the sides; no reductions to setbacks were requested.

Council members asked questions about density and traffic. Riddell referenced a prior traffic study for a different, larger proposal on the opposite side of Sparta Road that passed county review and said the developer of that other project supports the current application. A member of the public, Gary Brown of Sparta Road, and others asked procedural questions about whether county approval is contingent on the city providing capacity. Riddell replied that Highlands County code contains language that permits county action to proceed even if the city refuses capacity, so the county could allow development without city utilities if necessary.

Council made approval conditional: the motion approved the utility services agreement subject to execution by the owner. During the roll call for that motion, one council member recorded a “no” vote; the motion passed by majority.

Riddell offered background on how flexible unit developments differ from standard zoning: FUDs provide flexibility so a developer can meet the intent of the future land-use designation while seeking modest adjustments to lot sizes. She said the developer previously finished construction on a subdivision in the city (Las Villas) and argued the applicant has a local track record.

The council’s conditional approval allows the developer to proceed with obtaining a county letter of water and wastewater capacity and to pursue county approvals; the developer still must submit required plats, permits and any county-level approvals. If the city ultimately refuses capacity for reasons not specified at this meeting, Highlands County’s code provides an avenue for the county to allow the development to proceed without city utilities, according to Riddell.

The council’s action at this meeting was limited to granting the conditional utility agreement; zoning, final plat approval and any county approvals remain separate processes.","The City of Sebring City Council on April 15 approved a utility services agreement conditioned on execution by the owner to provide water and sewer service to a proposed 40-home development at 4007 Sparta Road.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6269454,"Sebring council approves ordinance limiting outside-city utility hookups and adopts a standard utility services agreement",328,279000,607000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3042897-47fbe3dd95249e3cad6ffd6d45b23116&start=279&end=607","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3042897-47fbe3dd95249e3cad6ffd6d45b23116/thumbnail_279000.jpg","/articles/6269454/Sebring/Highlands-County/Florida/Sebring-council-approves-ordinance-limiting-outside-city-utility-hookups-and-adopts-a-standard-utility-services-agreement","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6269454-97e4492d04777cd633781d6ef84c5935/orig.mp4?Expires=1775474080&Signature=GgMW7v8OA3TgxowX2LUGKskXIAgFB8iOcg0q6QRom5jPSJw5H0gMdOeA8wHSElYR~3yLEEFYSRth713mdLFwsN2aSJMGsQ7RPOg0nA7eVZCjKqzsAC1JC26Lt~byGxJMAiR7holJldTJXBHi3tX68Z-gAuULtjyd6RlH5PqXX6C6juIa19DZryTy-ptoLEVqpylvGZP4Qlli0AofjD3UfFR-USMdmfJShpbsn1x7R72~kmtfLXxW4EPnFfuFo1cVFsRXkMPiC5lX6jI5XTk~a~sm05H5RnDCkmij-vA9y4du3RHkIQe9xoGZIJ8xWAwmlxED8wgcnrK-tSnySQ70Hw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The City of Sebring City Council on April 15 approved Ordinance 15-38, which amends chapter 23 of the city code to require City Council approval before properties located outside the city limits may connect to a Sebring utility system. Council also approved a proposed utility services agreement that the city said creates an enforceable record of what capacity and service were promised when outside users request hookups.

City staff said the ordinance and the agreement are intended to give the city clear, written terms when it offers water or sewer service to properties outside the corporate limits, reducing later disputes about whether the city promised service. City attorney or staff (Mr. Swain) explained the template agreement requires the property owner — not just a developer — to describe the proposed development so council approves service based on that specific proposal.

The nut of the measure, staff said, is to protect the city following litigation over outside users: if the city has no signed agreement, it may be construed as having promised capacity. The agreement includes a declaration by the owner describing the development and the applicant’s service needs.

At the meeting, consultant Dana Riddell of Stonehenge Lane Development Consultants urged council to delay the ordinance and consider alternatives. Riddell said the ordinance’s standards are broad and give council “a lot of latitude” that makes it hard to advise clients and could chill development. She suggested the city revisit past tools such as a select area plan or coordinate with the Central Florida Regional Planning Council to adopt clearer, objective standards rather than the current language that she said reads as discretionary.

After the votes, attorney MacGregor Love said he had submitted a letter (provided to council earlier that day) warning the council that case law requires objective criteria when a municipality exerts planning-level discretion over property outside its boundary. Love said the ordinance, as written, risks giving too much subjective discretion and asked the council to note that legal concern.

Council approved Ordinance 15-38 on the council motion and later approved the proposed utility services agreement as presented. The recorded roll calls showed council members present voting to adopt both measures.

The ordinance is described on the agenda as \"an ordinance amending chapter 23 of the Code of Ordinances of the City Of Sebring by requiring City Council approval for property located outside the City limits to connect to a City utility system and providing for an effective date.\" The utility agreement was introduced as a standard form the city will use when outside properties request capacity.

The council did not provide detailed objective standards at the meeting for how it will decide outside-utility requests; multiple speakers asked for clearer, objective criteria and for the city to explore other planning mechanisms. Staff said the agreement helps limit future liability by tying city approval to a specific, owner-signed description of the development.

Council action on the ordinance and the adoption of the template agreement conclude the item for this meeting. Any future service approvals will be considered under the new ordinance and will use the approved form of utility services agreement.","The City of Sebring approved Ordinance 15-38 requiring City Council approval before properties outside city limits can connect to Sebring utilities and adopted a template utility services agreement intended to limit later claims of promised capacity. Developers and an attorney raised concerns about broad discretion and legal risk.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Council approves use of Sebring right-of-way for county-backed broadband project funded with $4.5 million in ARPA dollars

Council conditions water and sewer for 4007 Sparta Road to allow developer’s 40-home proposal to advance

Sebring council approves ordinance limiting outside-city utility hookups and adopts a standard utility services agreement