Developer presents 'The Lakes' subdivision; council discusses water, sewer extensions and potential city cost-share
September 05, 2023 | Crockett, Houston County, Texas
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A developer presented a proposed residential subdivision called "The Lakes" to the Crockett City Council on Aug. 21, describing a gated community with a 5–7 acre lake, a one-acre existing pond and a mix of "classic country" and "estate" lots.
The presenter said the project could include roughly 120–180 homes depending on final lot sizing (transcript gives ranges; exact lot count was not finalized) and estimated total property value at buildout between $55 million and $70 million. Staff and the developer discussed the need to extend city water and sanitary sewer lines along Loop 304; the area currently has electricity but no continuous water/sewer loop along the corridor.
City staff summarized a preliminary engineering estimate for public improvements (water and sewer construction) and said, per local options under state tax code chapter 212, the city can support up to a 30% public-improvement cost share if council chooses and if funding is available. Staff provided an example calculation that a 30% cost share on an engineering-based plan could equal a city contribution in the low hundreds of thousands (staff cited $380,000 as a 30% share on a $1,200,000 engineering estimate for certain items and described total public-improvement construction cost as about $2.6 million in one calculation) but they emphasized these are high-level numbers and final engineering and funding decisions would be required.
Council members generally expressed support for continuing discussions and asked staff and the developer to return with more-detailed cost breakdowns, market analysis and a clear financing plan before any formal commitment. No ordinance amendments or financial commitments were made at the meeting; staff said ordinance changes and funding allocations would be required for the city to provide cost sharing or to participate in construction of public improvements.
Council members noted potential economic-development benefits, including new ad valorem tax revenue and utility revenue, but also cautioned about timing, the market and the fiscal tradeoffs of committing city funds.
The presenter said the project could include roughly 120–180 homes depending on final lot sizing (transcript gives ranges; exact lot count was not finalized) and estimated total property value at buildout between $55 million and $70 million. Staff and the developer discussed the need to extend city water and sanitary sewer lines along Loop 304; the area currently has electricity but no continuous water/sewer loop along the corridor.
City staff summarized a preliminary engineering estimate for public improvements (water and sewer construction) and said, per local options under state tax code chapter 212, the city can support up to a 30% public-improvement cost share if council chooses and if funding is available. Staff provided an example calculation that a 30% cost share on an engineering-based plan could equal a city contribution in the low hundreds of thousands (staff cited $380,000 as a 30% share on a $1,200,000 engineering estimate for certain items and described total public-improvement construction cost as about $2.6 million in one calculation) but they emphasized these are high-level numbers and final engineering and funding decisions would be required.
Council members generally expressed support for continuing discussions and asked staff and the developer to return with more-detailed cost breakdowns, market analysis and a clear financing plan before any formal commitment. No ordinance amendments or financial commitments were made at the meeting; staff said ordinance changes and funding allocations would be required for the city to provide cost sharing or to participate in construction of public improvements.
Council members noted potential economic-development benefits, including new ad valorem tax revenue and utility revenue, but also cautioned about timing, the market and the fiscal tradeoffs of committing city funds.
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