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Board members ask city staff to brief EDPB on water and wastewater capacity, discuss funding options
Summary
Board members, chamber representatives and developers raised recurring concerns about water and wastewater capacity in parts of Denton and urged a coordinated briefing from city departments. Speakers suggested assessing capacity against growth priorities and exploring use of catalyst funds or bonds to extend infrastructure in targeted areas.
A sustained discussion late in the Feb. 2 meeting focused on water and wastewater capacity in areas the board hopes to promote for development.
A chamber representative who identified himself as the chamber delegate to the board described recurring reports from prospective developers that water or wastewater capacity is constrained in West Park and northwest Denton. He urged the city to overlay utility-capacity data with the city’s growth priorities and to produce an ROI analysis showing tax revenue, job creation and other fiscal benefits of extending utilities into targeted corridors.
The chamber representative argued the city and private sector should consider options beyond requiring each developer to pay to extend mains. “If we want Britney to be successful in bringing new businesses to the area, I think we need to probably consider changing our approach ... use the catalyst fund to go ahead and put pipe where it needs to be so that we can do that,” he said. The speaker asked the city to identify areas with minimal excess capacity, explain funding options and provide a timeline for addressing constraints.
Developers and board members described examples where recent predevelopment meetings and easements created expectations about tapping an existing line only to face subsequent constraints or different technical requirements (for example, pressure planes and the need to pull a different main). Board members said that those issues can surface after substantial time and expense by a developer and that earlier cross-departmental communication would reduce costly surprises.
Board members and a development-sector participant praised city staff, including Scott McDonald and the development team, for proactive work on major sewer and water projects, but said the board should schedule a joint briefing. The chair proposed asking water, wastewater and planning/engineering staff to present a consolidated briefing that identifies capacity, funding options (including bonds and use of catalyst funds) and timelines; several members agreed that the briefing should come after staff can marshal engineering data and master-plan work rather than on a rushed schedule.
Ending: Board members asked staff to work with city departments to schedule a future briefing that provides engineering-level capacity information, funding options and an ROI framework tied to priority growth areas; no formal vote was taken on the request.
