Published: November 21, 2008 01:26 am      

P&Z tables apartments

Developers with Landmark Management, the company proposing to build a 3,000-unit condominium/apartment complex, ran into a stumbling block Thursday at the planning and zoning commission.

The company had requested a provisional or preliminary plat, which would allow the project on the western outskirts of Corsicana to go forward into planning stages. It never got to a vote.

The city council is the only body that can OK the next step for this project, explained City Manager Connie Standridge, who also chastised the developers’ representatives for not communicating better with city staff.

The city and the developers are at an impasse because the project’s plans include a stand-alone sewer system. Originally, the developers also resisted annexation, to avoid paying city taxes. However, at Thursday’s meeting, Alan Lauhoff with Landmark Management, said the company’s owner was willing to agree to annexation if he could go forward with the independent sewer system.

The developers are proposing creation of a public improvement district (PID) that would put a limited tax on residents in the area to pay for a stand-alone sewer system.

The city staff has been fairly adamant in wanting the development hooked onto the city’s sewer system. The developer claims that will require an expensive lift station upgrade and take too long to build.

The whole issue shouldn’t have gone to the planning and zoning commission first, Standridge said.

As a consequence, the planning and zoning commissioners asked a few questions, but then tabled the issue until after it’s been to the council.

In other business, the commissioners took the following actions:

• Approved a new 12 foot by 16 foot shed for Ernest Kauffman of 1821 Dartmouth.

• Issued demolition orders for dilapidated houses at 1018 E. Eighth Ave., 719 N. Fifth St., 311 N. Third St., and 922 S. Ninth St.

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Janet Jacobs may be reached via e-mail at jacobs@corsicanadailysun.com