Amador County – The Amador Water Agency board of directors Wednesday held a workshop on its Will Serve Ordinance, hearing specific requests from county developers. The board continued the workshop to resume at 9 a.m. today (May 27th). Plymouth developer Bob Reeder of Reeder Sutherland said he did not believe refunds of conditional will-serve fees should cost the agency “one dime.” He said developers are OK with the 25 percent payments of will-serve fees (over 3 years), and the accelerated pay period. He said “we can live with it, we’re not super happy about it.” But he said a proposed 2-year expiration period of conditional will-serves was “an issue for us, especially if we’re asked to put money up front.” Reeder said if a developer pays for water capacity expansion, then the conditional will-serve expires and the developer has to “go to the end of the line,” they run a risk that “somebody else can come in and take the capacity they just paid for.” Ione developer Ciro Toma recommended tying the conditional will-serve expiration period to a tentative map, which he said usually has a 2-year term, but can be extended through the issuing land agency for up to 10 years. Toma said AWA could review the conditional will-serve if the developer seeks an extension on the tentative map. He also urged a refund option for land owners to be able to change plans and partially recoup fees paid. Ione developer Rob Aragon proposed tying the conditional will-serve’s first payment to issuance of the “final map,” saying it was closer to other regions, which don’t charge fees until occupancy of the building. Aragon asked about the 10 percent first payment, and what it funded. Director Terence Moore said it goes toward the cost to get a water main extended to a developing area, but “we don’t want to pretend that the 10 percent will get it built.” He agreed any money spent to do so should be refunded to the developer. Aragon said AWA can already get fees paid early and require a developer to build infrastructure, and then give conditional will-serves that still require capacity in the system. He said he worried about “historical policies that can’t be put forth,” and urged the board to “look at the final map stage.” The board continued the workshop to 9 a.m. today (May 27th), at the start of the regular board meeting. Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Thursday, 27 May 2010 06:03
AWA Will-Serve Workshop Gets Developer Input
Amador County – The Amador Water Agency board of directors Wednesday held a workshop on its Will Serve Ordinance, hearing specific requests from county developers. The board continued the workshop to resume at 9 a.m. today (May 27th). Plymouth developer Bob Reeder of Reeder Sutherland said he did not believe refunds of conditional will-serve fees should cost the agency “one dime.” He said developers are OK with the 25 percent payments of will-serve fees (over 3 years), and the accelerated pay period. He said “we can live with it, we’re not super happy about it.” But he said a proposed 2-year expiration period of conditional will-serves was “an issue for us, especially if we’re asked to put money up front.” Reeder said if a developer pays for water capacity expansion, then the conditional will-serve expires and the developer has to “go to the end of the line,” they run a risk that “somebody else can come in and take the capacity they just paid for.” Ione developer Ciro Toma recommended tying the conditional will-serve expiration period to a tentative map, which he said usually has a 2-year term, but can be extended through the issuing land agency for up to 10 years. Toma said AWA could review the conditional will-serve if the developer seeks an extension on the tentative map. He also urged a refund option for land owners to be able to change plans and partially recoup fees paid. Ione developer Rob Aragon proposed tying the conditional will-serve’s first payment to issuance of the “final map,” saying it was closer to other regions, which don’t charge fees until occupancy of the building. Aragon asked about the 10 percent first payment, and what it funded. Director Terence Moore said it goes toward the cost to get a water main extended to a developing area, but “we don’t want to pretend that the 10 percent will get it built.” He agreed any money spent to do so should be refunded to the developer. Aragon said AWA can already get fees paid early and require a developer to build infrastructure, and then give conditional will-serves that still require capacity in the system. He said he worried about “historical policies that can’t be put forth,” and urged the board to “look at the final map stage.” The board continued the workshop to 9 a.m. today (May 27th), at the start of the regular board meeting. Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Latest from
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