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Developer urges Milledgeville to begin plan review despite unresolved parking deed to protect tax credits
Summary
Council members heard from a developer and representatives that tax-credit deadlines for the 111 North Wayne Street project put the city's parking/deed requirements on a compressed timeline; developers asked to allow plan review and permitting "at risk" while the city retains authority to withhold final certificate of occupancy until requirements are met.
During the Sept. 9 Milledgeville City Council meeting, a developer representative told the council the 111 North Wayne Street project faces an imminent tax-credit deadline and asked the city to permit plan review and begin construction "at risk" so the developer will not lose financing tied to the credits.
The representative said tax credits expire at the end of December and that the project is prepared to start construction but needs the city's plan review and permitting to be underway. He said the developer understands the city can withhold the certificate of occupancy until all contractual and code requirements are satisfied but asked for flexibility so work can proceed. "We need to get those things with you and start putting up walls as soon as possible," he said.
Mayor Mary Parham Copeland pressed for a timeframe after raising a concern that a party could lose $4,525,000 if the requirements are not met promptly. The developer representative and others cited an impact to project financing and quoted an example number later in discussion that a $525,000 shortfall would be devastating to the project; amounts and parties were discussed on record but not finalized.
City staff and legal counsel said they would review contract terms before altering code or procedure. The city manager asked for a legal ruling prior to scheduling a meeting with the developer. Council members agreed to coordinate a meeting with the city manager, legal counsel and developer representatives to determine whether plan review can proceed with conditions and to present alternatives brought forward by the developer.
No formal council action was taken Sept. 9; the transcript shows the parties agreed to continue working toward a solution and to meet again with staff and legal counsel.
