County declines pioneering agreement for Winston Park Phase 2 sewer extension

County planning staff told commissioners a developer installed a sewer extension in Winston Park Phase 2 that serves bonus-density units and that only two lots across the street are now positioned to connect to the new line. Staff recommended the county not enter a pioneering agreement to share costs because the extension primarily benefitted the developer—s project.

Chad Meyerhoffer, county planning staff, described the layout: the developer ran sewer infrastructure through Stagecoach Subdivision and stubbed lines to the subdivision boundary. He said the extension had been built to serve the developer's additional units, and that only a small number of new lots across the road would be able to tie into the line.

"If you ask for a recommendation from myself and Chad in my department, our recommendation would be probably not to do the pioneer agreement," county staff said, adding that the line was built to support the developer's bonus density.

Commissioners agreed. One commissioner said the developer had already paid for the extension through bonus-density allowances and that the county should not bear additional cost or housekeeping to support an agreement. "They paid for that with that additional density," a commissioner said. "I see no reason to burden the county, so I accept your recommendation."

No formal motion or vote was recorded; staff left the matter recommended but took no further action at the work session. Staff said they would continue to meet with the developer on minor storm-drain and connection work already underway.