Taylor council conditionally authorizes up to $750,000 for Park 79 water/wastewater oversizing

The Taylor City Council on May 8 conditionally authorized the city manager to execute a cost-sharing agreement with Park 79 Commerce Center LLC to reimburse or share the expense of oversizing water and wastewater infrastructure for a new industrial development.

Development services staff explained the agreement covers oversizing of water and wastewater lines for Park 79—described as three 100,000-square-foot industrial buildings with about 3,000 square feet of office space in each building—located adjacent to the airport. Staff asked the council for conditional approval of an agreement with a not-to-exceed amount of $750,000; they said the work will be paid from the city’s capital improvement program (CIP) balance and impact fees, not the general fund.

Staff said oversizing the lines now is more cost‑effective than up‑sizing later and would allow future development (the staff presentation named nearby planned or existing projects such as Megatel, Silicon Vistas and Turner Springs) to tie into appropriately sized infrastructure. City Manager and finance staff told the council sufficient CIP funds were available to cover the commitment.

Councilman Garcia moved the conditional approval and Mayor Pro Tem Smerek seconded; the motion passed unanimously. Council members emphasized the conditional nature of the approval while staff said final paperwork would be completed the following day.

No change to the city’s general fund was authorized; staff said impact fees and CIP balances will be used. City staff noted the contractual paperwork was still being finalized at the time of the vote.