Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Developer Agreements topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Monroe council approves developer agreement with Pulte for Riverstone pump station; council votes moratorium on new agreements pending policy update
Summary
City council approved a developer agreement allowing Pulte Homes to recoup part of the cost of a new Unionville–Indian Trail pump station serving the Riverstone subdivision and adopted an ordinance amendment. Council also voted to pause further developer agreements until staff returns with updated policy.
Monroe City Council on Sept. 23 approved a developer agreement with Pulte Homes Company LLC allowing the developer to recover part of the cost of a new pump station and force main constructed to serve the Riverstone subdivision and authorized the city manager to execute related documents.
City staff said the Riverstone project required an upgrade to the city—s Unionville–Indian Trail pump station and that Pulte agreed to upsize facilities so they could serve future developments. "This is a request for city council to consider a developer agreement to provide for a means of recouping some of the expenditures for infrastructure installed that can be used for future developments," Rob Miller, general manager of energy and water, told the council.
The agreement establishes compensation to a developer based on the percentage of drainage area within the pump station tributary that a subsequent development occupies. John Floyd, representing Pulte Homes, said the company entered a tri-party agreement with two other developers in 2021, but the other developments did not proceed. "All that Pulte is looking for is just to say, okay. As additional developers come online after approval by city council ... that those other developers incur a their pro rata share of that investment," Floyd said.
Council members expressed concern that the city—s current extension and developer-agreement policies did not protect citizens sufficiently and asked staff to return with policy changes. "It needs to be to the advantage of the citizens, and not to the developer," said Councilman Dodson. Several council members said it would be unfair to retroactively change the agreement for work already completed.
After the vote to approve the Pulte agreement and an ordinance amendment (O 2025-29 amending code section 59.04, as presented to council), a separate motion to place a temporary moratorium on entering new developer agreements passed; council asked staff to return with updated policy language and clarified procedures before approving any further agreements.
City Manager Watson and staff told council the Riverstone-related agreements had been in process since 2021 and that staff will bring proposed policy changes through the Public Enterprise Committee and strategic review processes before returning to council.
The council took the actions by motion and voice vote; council members who spoke during the discussion included Councilwoman Anthony and Councilman Dodson. The record did not include a roll-call tally in the transcript.
Council directed staff to draft clearer rules on donated assets, betterments (for example when the city decides to upsize a developer-built pipe), operations and maintenance responsibilities after donation, and to present the updated policy for council consideration.
