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Developers and council spar over Wall Avenue, 81st Street and $1.05M credit; action tabled
Summary
Developer asked council for a roughly $1.05 million credit and changes to special‑assessment districts tied to Lost River West and Wall Avenue. Councilors pressed for justification and fairness to existing districts and, after heated exchanges and a threatened litigation warning, agreed to table action for further staff analysis and negotiation.
Developer representatives asked the Horace City Council May 18 to consider a roughly $1.05 million credit tied to Wall Avenue improvements and to reconsider the timing or boundaries of the 81st Street improvement district to advance the Lost River West project.
Council members and staff did not accept the developer’s request without quantification. Councilors said previous public‑hearing commitments, fairness to residents already in other assessment districts and the city’s policy on segmented road assessments require more precise accounting. The developer argued that the Wall Avenue project was not constructed to the benefit of the western parcels and that the requested relief was part of a broader trade that would include completing 81st Street and other infrastructure.
During the exchange several council members raised concerns about rescinding or altering prior agreements and asked for concrete numbers showing how much benefit the landowner had received from existing construction. Staff and the city attorney advised caution in the face of threatened litigation and recommended tabling final action until the council had time to review financial scenarios and legal risk.
Council agreed to table formal action and asked staff and the developer to return with a quantified proposal and supporting calculations and, where appropriate, maps that show how credits would be allocated between Wall Avenue East and West and how 81st Street should be phased or tied to the developments.
Next steps: staff to coordinate with the developer to produce a written proposal with clear cost allocations and timing; council to revisit the matter at a future meeting after review.
