The city of Montgomery is considering opportunities to expand its city limits even as current projects seem undesirable to some City Council members.
At a regular meeting Oct. 9, City Engineer Chris Roznovsky showed Montgomery City Council an economic feasibility study on a proposed project from Promocon USA LLC on Old Dobbin Plantersville Road. Roznovsky said the project is for 168 single-family homes with an average value of $200,000. Because the project is outside the city limits, council would have to annex the area and then rezone it for this development. He said the development would potentially cost the city approximately $1.3 million and generate approximately $128,000 in taxes.
The construction and build-out process will take approximately three years, according to Roznovsky. However, the developer would need to take several steps to meet the standards of the city, such as variances for the lot sizes and a traffic impact study. He also said the Montgomery Planning and Zoning Committee designated the area in its future land use plan as a low-density residential area with less compact lots.
“From a logistical standpoint, there’s a lot going on with this one. … It’s outside the box; it’s different than what previously envisioned by staff,” Roznovsky said.
The biggest point of contention among council was the fact the tract would be considered a part of the city but would not use city water and instead be provided water by the Dobbin-Plantersville Water Supply Company. Council Member Rebecca Huss expressed discomfort at providing all of the citizen’s needs but not their water.
“It’s incumbent on us to actually make their homes habitable and safe, but we can’t do that because we can’t control the water,” Huss said. “I mean … you call your water supplier if you have a problem? That just doesn’t seem reasonable. You call your police department; you call your city. And we just say, ‘We can’t help you’? I just don’t see that as being at all a position we can live with.”
Roznovsky said much of the land to the south of the city is under Dobbin-Platersville’s service, and the company is not willing to part with the land. But as the city grows, dealing with split water providers will be an issue the council will have to address each time.
Council accepted the report, but the development will still need approval in the future.
Watershed, historical monuments and festivals
- Council tabled a potential study into the Town Creek watershed and potential drainage improvements until City Administrator Richard Tramm has the chance to see if there are contractors willing to take up the $50,000 project.
- Brenda Breaven of the Montgomery Historical Society gave council a presentation on the work the society does. The organization recently took stewardship of the Old Montgomery Cemetery in addition to its seven houses.
- Council approved a revised road closure for OctoBEARfest on Oct. 12 due to local business owners’ objections. College Street will be closed from Liberty Street to McCowen Street, and McCowen Street will be closed from approximately 14356 Liberty St to College Street.
Mayor Sarah Countryman, Council Member John Bickford and Council Member John Champagne were all absent from the Oct. 8 meeting. The next regular City Council meeting is planned for Oct. 22 at 6 p.m. at 101 Old Plantersville Road, Montgomery.
