Committee approves participation agreement for Artist Lofts sewer upsizing; council asks about affordable housing fee waivers

The committee voted 7-0 to approve a participation agreement between the Metropolitan Government and Artist Lofts LP to provide sanitary sewer service improvements for the proposed Artist Lofts development (RS20251501). The agreement allows sewer upsizing while a developer is constructing, a common participation approach.

Councilmember Allen asked whether the project includes an affordable housing component and whether fees could be waived for projects that include affordable units. Mary Peoples of Metro Water Services said she did not have that information and deferred to the administration. The administration table indicated it did not have an answer during the committee meeting. Councilmember Parker explained the scale of the needed upsizing, noting the work "extends pretty far off the property" and that the proposed cost-split appears to be 50/50 provided total cost does not exceed $3,000,000. Parker said the city does not currently have the financial resources to advance these major upsizing projects without developer contributions.

The committee approved the participation agreement without amendment. Councilmembers also urged staff to consider whether fee waivers for participation projects that include affordable housing might be feasible in future cases.