Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Infrastructure topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
La Porte board tables decision on sewer capacity for Shady Grove mobile-home redevelopment
Summary
Staff said prior commitments with the 39 North Conservancy District left promised sewer capacity unbuilt; the board was presented with a compromise allocation (12,000 gallons/day) but voted to table further action to allow discussions with the developer and stakeholders.
The Board of Public Works and Safety on Nov. 18 heard a lengthy update on the Shady Grove redevelopment and a related capacity dispute with the 39 North Conservancy District. Staff said the original engineering and promises made to the developer were not delivered by 39 North, leaving the developer unable to connect as previously expected.
Jerry Jackson summarized work done to upgrade a lift station and piping and reported the station capacity now measures about 45 gallons per minute. He said staff is comfortable allocating 12,000 gallons per day (about 33 gallons per minute) to allow the mobile-home park redevelopment to proceed as a compromise but warned that bringing full capacity online could cost between $200,000 and $400,000.
Board members pressed for more information, and the discussion included options such as piecemeal approvals for portions of the development (for example, a proposed dollar store parcel) or requiring annexation waivers. After members indicated they wanted to consult with the developer, county and state partners, the board agreed to table action on the connection request to allow additional stakeholder discussions.
Quotes: Jackson explained the situation as “a compromise... it’s not as much as their agreement with 39 North,” and noted “we’re trying to salvage” capacity within current constraints. A board member said tabling the item would allow the city to look at “the bigger picture.”
Context and next steps: Tabling stops any immediate authorization for the development to connect while the city pursues further conversations with the developer and other parties. Staff suggested the developer’s attorney and county engagement may be part of forthcoming discussions; no formal vote tally with member names was recorded in the transcript.
