Council commits to infrastructure for Interstate Drive extension, contingent on sales tax financing

CROSSVILLE — At a special called meeting, the Crossville City Council voted to commit the city to providing roads, water and sewer for a lot tied to the planned Interstate Drive extension, but the obligation is expressly contingent on approval of a sales tax increment financing application and a required improvements statement.

Staff told the council that a plat for the property is scheduled to go before the planning commission at noon and that, as submitted, the plat would leave a lot without roads, water and sewer, which the staff said would run afoul of the planning commission’s subdivision regulations. "There is a plat going before the planning commission at noon today, regarding the Commercial Development District," the staff member said, adding that the plat "will leave a lot without roads, water, and sewer."

To address that, the staff recommended guaranteeing that road, water and sewer would be supplied to that lot and making any city commitment contingent on approval of the sales tax increment financing application because the site is within the recently approved Commercial Development District.

A council member moved that the city commit to providing the infrastructure at a later time, "subject to the sales tax incremental financing and the improvements statement," and the Chair seconded the motion. After brief clarifying discussion — staff confirmed there is verbiage in the variance and the planning commission regulations that will protect the city — the council approved the motion by voice vote. The Chair announced, "Motion carries."

Next steps noted in the meeting: the planning commission will consider the plat at its noon meeting, and any future city action to construct infrastructure will be contingent on the financing application and required improvement documentation being approved.