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By Rose Hooper
Fix your ailing system before expanding and give the little guy
a break, rather than big developers, Cullowhee residents told
members of the Tuckaseigee Water and Sewer Authority board Tuesday
(Sept. 16).
A handful of Speedwell Road residents voiced their concern about
Catamount Peak, a 500-bedroom complex planned by Bostic-Kenney
Construction Co.
"This is our community and we are worried about the development
being in our front yard," said Maxie Parris. "The company
is representing themselves as building family units, but we both
know it will be student housing and just one big party city.
"You've got an aging system now," Parris said, referring
to infrastructure more than 70 years old. "This development
will be a big strain on your system."
Stephen Kenney, representing the development company, requested
and received 60,000 gallons per day wastewater capacity in July.
"What detailed information do you have on the impact of this
project?" Speedwell Road resident Kelly Freeman asked the
board. He also asked if an impact study had been done on "such
a large development going in a small area."
In the absence of countywide zoning, the size of the proposed
development is a moot issue, replied TWSA Director Hugh Montgomery.
John Frady, who lives directly across from the proposed development,
cautioned the board: "You need to know who you are dealing
with. Kenney-Bostic wanted right of way across my property to
extend water and sewer, but the fine print read ‘right of
way to other remaining properties.' They wanted it all! They are
snakes, I tell you."
At the request of developers like Kenney, the board held a public
hearing at the beginning of the evening to consider reimbursing
developers for their costs to expand lines that will eventually
become TWSA property.
Allocation cost for the 60,000 gallons per day wastewater capacity
would be $352,200, while the cost of extending water lines ($75,000)
and sewer lines ($125,000) would be an additional $200,000, Kenney
told the board last month.
"Our up-front costs simply to bring water and sewer to the
site total $552,200," Kenney said. "This is separate
and apart from the construction of the water and sewer within
the site itself. These initial costs will, in fact, put a severe
strain on the project."
Kenney requested that the board allow his company to reduce its
allocation fees by the extension cost incurred.
Only one person, Robert Henline, spoke at the hearing. He said
he was in favor of the reimbursement but at a greater scale than
the 60-40 percentage the board had proposed following its work
session last Tuesday.
The board did approve the 60-40 percent reimbursement but for
acreage fees only, not impact fees. Acreage fees are calculated
on water distribution and wastewater collection lines for the
amount of area used by a particular project.
On the 60-40 scale, TWSA will reimburse the percentage of costs
developers incur when installing lines that will become TWSA property
– but only if those lines can be used for potential growth.
By the October meeting, TWSA attorney Raymond Large is to define
"potential growth," which will be added to the budget
amendment.
"The reimbursement will come only after completion of the
project and acceptance by TWSA and the state," said Montgomery.
Parris said she could not believe that the board would give a
break to a developer like Kenney, "who obviously has a lot
of money or he wouldn't be doing this project. He stands to gain
a great deal of money as soon as the students move in. Why don't
you give a break to the little guy instead of big developers?"
The board also approved a change in the budget that previously
required customers to hook on to water and sewer if both were
available. Now customers can access only one service if they chose,
but they must pay an impact fee of 150 percent.
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