Council approves moving forward with easement concept to protect future water hookups for solar site

The Town Council voted to authorize staff to use an easement concept in approvals for a subdivision involving Citizen Solar, a measure councilors said would obligate the commercial parcel and successors to complete water and sewer hookups if on-site private systems fail.

John Maguire summarized the issue for the council, saying the council had previously directed the developer to ensure hookups "done now" but that the tenant and prospective buyer resisted. Maguire said the council'directed language would be attached to the final plat so the obligation "runs with the land," ensuring future owners would bear the responsibility.

Maguire described negotiations with the solar company and the prospective tenant and said the easement would allow the town to require the solar parcel owner (or successor) to pay for installation if private wells or septic systems become inadequate. "We either want it in a 100% done, paid for, or we don't want building anything," Maguire told the council, summarizing the town's preference for a clear, enforceable obligation.

Councilor Brett moved to proceed with the concept document and incorporate it as part of the approval process; the motion was seconded and passed on a voice vote. Town staff said the easement language would be drafted to match final plat notes and could include mechanisms to obligate future owners to complete hookups if needed.

The council did not take a separate vote on an exact easement text at the meeting; members approved moving forward with the concept and asked staff and counsel to draft the document for future action.

The next procedural step is for staff to prepare the easement language and incorporate the obligation into final-plat materials, then return the document to the council for formal approval as part of the subdivision record.