Lecompton — Developer J. Stewart told the Lecompton City Council on Monday night that an upgrade to the town's water plant was necessary regardless of whether he developed land south of town.
But he hopes his planned 300- and 700-acre developments would increase the tax base to make the water plant upgrade easier to swallow for the town of 750.
No action was taken at the meeting, which was attended by about 15 residents.
Stewart, who owns Terravest Development Corp., and Ron Hochreiter of George Butler Associates, a Lenexa engineering firm, presented plans to get water to a proposed 300-acre development that could have as many as 80 homes.
Hochreiter said that Lecompton had enough water supply for the 300-acre development, but he said the city needed to upgrade its plant to meet new federal water standards.
Stewart said the city needed to plan for the water plant upgrade.
"It's an amount of time, but it's coming," he said. "Your own engineer is saying that."
Tying in the proposed development with the need for a plant upgrade, Stewart and Hochreiter presented a possible two-phase plan to the city:
l Phase one would add a new 10-inch water line, pumping station and tower to supply water to the 300-acre development Stewart has proposed along County Road 1029 between Lecompton and the Kansas Turnpike. The development sits higher than the city of Lecompton, which is why a pumping station is required. Stewart committed to paying the estimated $774,000 for developments required to get water to his property.
l Phase two would involve increasing the capacity of the current water treatment facility to create enough water for an additional 700 acres that Stewart plans to develop.
Although federal and state grants could pay for part of the $1.2 million upgrade to the water plant, Stewart committed to paying half of the city's cost for the upgrade. He also committed to paying for an extension of the water line and another water tower for the 700-acre development, which is south of the 300-acre site.
Stewart and Hochreiter said phase one was necessary to allow development to begin. Then, they said, Lecompton would have a larger tax base to help pay for phase two.
While the council considers the water plan, Stewart is taking his site plans to the Lecompton Zoning Board for review.
After the meeting, he expressed optimism for the development, which he said he has been working on for more than 10 years. Stewart said a recent survey showed that most Lecompton residents supported development.
"They said this town was dying and without some influx of growth, the town could die," Stewart said.
Mayor Ed Smith said he didn't think anyone on the council was against the development, but they weren't rushing into anything.
"We just want to make sure everything is in order first," he said.
l The council also is putting together a grant application for a city pool. Smith said a 3-acre site was being considered but the application was not due until November.
l The Lawrence/Douglas County Economic Development Board will meet with Lecompton residents at 7 p.m. Feb. 25 at City Hall for input on revisions to an economic development plan last updated in 1994.
Staff writer Matt Merkel-Hess can be reached at 832-7187.
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