Salina agrees to pick up full cost of Cedar Ridge Drive improvements after developer delays

The Salina City Commission on May 12 approved a resolution reallocating the cost of improvements to Cedar Ridge Drive to city-at-large funding after a developer argued construction delays had prevented lot sales and timely homebuilding.

The decision: The commission approved resolution 25‑8295, amending an earlier special-assessment allocation so the city will pay 100% of the perimeter-street cost for the 435-foot segment known as Cedar Ridge Drive. The motion passed 4–0.

What commissioners heard: Interim City Manager Jacob Wood summarized the history: when the Cedar Ridge development district was created in 2021, the developer agreed to a special-assessment approach that would allocate the perimeter-street improvement cost to the new-lot owners in that district. Wood said developers later requested the city assume the cost, citing delays and additional, unanticipated benefits to nearby properties outside the original assessment district.

Developers Kevin and Stephanie Cool told the commission they lost nearly a construction season because of access and utility issues and that sales momentum slowed. "We have lost an entire construction season," Kevin Cool said, adding a rough estimate of the broader economic impact from delayed lot sales and building activity: "you're looking at well over 3 and a half million dollars." The pair asked the commission to consider the city assuming Cedar Ridge Drive costs so the development could move forward.

City staff and several commissioners discussed precedent and fairness. Wood noted there is precedent for the city accepting a perimeter-street cost in other local developments (he cited a prior Marymount example in which the city accepted a majority share of perimeter costs). Commissioners also pressed staff and the developers about whether property owners outside the original district would have been included had the developer pursued them when the district formed. Some commissioners expressed concern about setting a precedent that could shift development costs from property owners to general taxpayers.

Public testimony: Residents and neighboring developers spoke to the commission in support of resolving the delay and of pressuring the contractor to complete remaining work. A few speakers urged the city to ensure contractors finish the outstanding curb and pavement segments and to maintain firm deadlines for completion.

Why it matters: The reallocation shifts what would have been special assessments for new lots onto city-at-large funds. That reduces the immediate financial burden on the subdivision's developers and early buyers but increases the share of cost covered from city revenue sources. Commissioners weighed the competing policy goals of supporting homebuilding and avoiding ad hoc deviations from established special-assessment practices.

What the vote does not do: It does not change the condition of existing streets or retroactively alter other assessment districts; commissioners said the action addresses this specific perimeter-street segment because of the particular facts of delay and the limited number of benefited lots outside the original district.

Where this goes next: Staff said the Cedar Ridge segment nearing completion should be ready in the coming weeks. Commissioners asked for assurances the contractor would finish outstanding work promptly and requested coordination to limit future multi-month work stoppages on similar projects.