Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Economic Development topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Norton council adopts TIFs for Brookside Greens and Van Heining Glen after debate over resident sewer costs
Summary
Council adopted multiple tax-increment financing measures Nov. 17, including Brookside Greens and Van Heining Glen TIFs and an economic development plan. Council members debated protections for residents who could face sewer tap-in costs from the proposed Van Heining Glen development; some members registered 'no' votes on the economic plan.
Norton — The Norton City Council on Nov. 17 adopted several tax-increment financing (TIF) measures, including ordinances creating the Brookside Greens Incentive District and the Van Heining Glen Incentive District, and also approved the corresponding economic development plan for Van Heining Glen after extended debate.
The TIF ordinances (including ordinance 91-20-25 for Brookside Greens and ordinance 120-25 for Van Heining Glen) were presented and adopted during the meeting. The council also considered ordinance 101-20-25, the economic development plan for the Van Heining Glen Incentive District, which prompted sustained discussion about whether residents on State Route 261 would be protected from potentially high sewer tap-in costs if a developer’s sewer extension required homeowner connections.
“Until I know the residents on 261 are going to be protected, there’s no way I could support them running sewers through there,” said Mister Towsley during the debate, expressing concern that homeowners could face disproportionate costs to connect to new sewer infrastructure. Council members explored options including development agreements, setting a cap on tap-in charges and considering protections during subdivision plat approval.
Staff and members noted that exact tap-in costs cannot be set until a sewer project design and cost estimate are complete; one council member said tie-in costs are established after project completion. Members also referenced prior local examples (Nash Heights) where long-term assessments and financing outcomes created heavy payments for homeowners.
Despite concerns and recorded dissent on the economic development plan vote, the council adopted the necessary ordinances to create and plan the TIF districts. The council discussed next steps for protecting residents, including potential development-agreement language or conditions attached at future plat or project approvals.
The council’s adoption of the TIFs clears the path for potential development in the identified districts but left open the question of concrete protections or cost-sharing mechanisms for existing residents; council members said such protections could be added in subsequent actions should project details dictate.
