MOUNT VERNON – All property owners in a proposed 109-unit subdivision planned off Upper Gilchrist Road would pay both a stormwater fee and a special assessment to manage the development’s stormwater, Mount Vernon City Council was told this week.
Council heard from Chad VanSickle of Diversified Engineering about the plans for the application by Schlabach Builders of Millersburg during a Planning and Zoning committee meeting. Diversified Engineering serves as the design engineer and contractor for Gilchrist Estates, which will sit on 73 acres of land.
VanSickle outlined plans for Phase 1 of the project, which includes 22 lots. More single-family detached residences and a condo development are planned for future phases.
The applicant and Diversified have been working with City Engineer Brian Ball and the Utilities Commission on stormwater requirements.
“My understanding was there was going to be an additional fee that is distributed through the subdivision so everybody within that subdivision will pay an additional fee to maintain those controls,” VanSickle said.
Ball said the developer does not want to create a homeowners association.
“There would be no permanent entity to upgrade and maintain the stormwater,” he said.
City ordinances enable developers to give stormwater systems to the city, which in this case would serve as the de facto homeowner's association, but only as far as stormwater management is concerned.
“Each of these lots would pay their $5 a month for the City utility fee that goes to public infrastructure,” Ball said.
Auditor Terry Scott would be asked to set up a separate account to manage that stormwater system’s maintenance.
Law Director Rob Broeren said current legislation established the framework for the City to manage stormwater systems. Restrictive covenants on deeds will transfer every time a property is sold, making the new owner responsible for the surcharge payment to the City.
Councilmember Mike Hillier, chair of the Planning and Zoning committee, asked Council President Bruce Hawkins for a 20-minute meeting at the next council meeting on June 14 to give time for more public input before council makes its decision on the resolution.
