Neighbors press for immediate Westview Drive improvements; developer proposes fee‑in‑lieu

The council heard competing views on Aug. 20 about whether to accept a fee‑in‑lieu for widening Westview Drive or require immediate buildout of frontage improvements.

Dallas Buckner of Go Civil explained the developer's proposal: rather than constructing full frontage improvements now for phases 1–5, the developer would pay a calculated fee that the city could hold for future construction when the rest of the corridor is ready. Buckner said the developer will construct a deceleration lane at his cost for the subdivision.

Several council members said they preferred the fee‑in‑lieu approach because piecemeal improvements can create short finished segments that are costly for the city to maintain and awkward for traffic. One councilmember said cash collected now would allow the city to wait and build a continuous road when multiple segments are ready.

But nearby resident Craig Thompson urged immediate action for safety, describing repeated near‑misses and heavy vehicles on a stretch of Westview Drive and arguing that “if the money’s there and the agreement was there to start with to widen that road, we need to do it now.”

Council directed staff to open the public hearing and bring the item back for action next week, but members noted the need for clarity on timing, right‑of‑way acquisition and the risk that if construction is delayed the widened segment could sit unused for years.

What’s next: Council put the development agreement on next week’s action docket and asked staff to clarify the precise uses of a fee‑in‑lieu, right‑of‑way timing and any maintenance obligations.