Committee approves sewer reservation for Cellcat Title Holdings with conditions including reverter clause

The Wilson County Sewer Access Committee approved a reservation of sewer capacity for Cellcat Title Holdings’ proposed project, granting 5 SFUs of capacity and accepting staff’s recommendation subject to conditions intended to limit future residential conversions.

Why it matters: The committee tied the approval to conditions meant to protect county capacity from future unintended residential development: owners must sign an approval letter acknowledging that if the site reverts to noncommercial or residential use, the sewer access will be revoked. Staff also warned that the site will require a privately owned pump station to tie into the city force main, and applicants were urged to confirm the cost before paying the reservation fee.

Key facts and conditions - Applicant and parcel: Jamie Gillespie identified himself as representing Cellcat Title Holdings (also referenced earlier in the meeting as Seal Cat Title Holdings). The property was described in staff materials as Map 122, Parcel 1.08, containing about 39.41 acres and listed in the committee packet as 299 Brewery Road (the transcript also variably referred to McQueen/McCray Place). - Reservation request and fees: Staff reported a request for 5 SFUs of sewage flow; staff said the total fee for full build-out would be $150,000, with a 10% reservation fee of $15,000 due within 30 days of committee approval. The reservation was described as nonrefundable if capacity is not utilized within two years; the committee discussed a standard policy of a two-year reservation with one possible two-year extension tied to site-plan approval. - Zoning and permitted use: Staff said the parcel is in a residential zoning district (R-2, about 39.5 acres) but that the Board of Zoning Appeals had approved a use on appeal to allow operation as a school. Committee members pressed for limiting language so that if the property later converted to residential use, the sewer capacity would revert to the county. - Access and infrastructure: Staff and the applicant discussed a city utility map that showed no gravity sewer on the property; access would require a private wastewater pump station sized to connect to an existing force main. The applicant said he had spoken with the city’s engineers and believed a tie-in to the force main was feasible, but multiple committee members urged the applicant to confirm pump-station costs before paying the reservation fee to avoid future refund requests.

Committee action and documentation - The committee approved the reservation with the following conditions: owners must sign an approval letter acknowledging the terms (including the reverter clause); staff will include any stipulations beyond the typical approval letter in the document; applicants should verify cost and feasibility of the required pump station before paying the reservation fee. - The motion carried on a voice vote; the transcript records committee members saying “aye” but does not list a numerical roll-call tally.

Ending: Staff said it will prepare an approval letter containing the conditions and a signature block for the property owners; the applicant confirmed he would have his owners review and sign the document.