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Steve Myers
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The city has missed a Friday court deadline to fund utilities at a stalled subdivision on the city's northeast side.
Under a court order issued last month, the city was to pay at least $81,000 for water, sewer, gas, electric and cable for the first phase of Sugar Maple Farms. The improvements, mandated to be completed by July 30, also included utilities for the unfinished homes of three families who sued in 2003 after the developers went bankrupt and they were unable to move into the homes.
Joe Conroy, the city's governmental operations director, said Friday while the city didn't pay the money, it is working hard to resolve the case and pursuing legal options to get more time. He said Mayor Don Williamson understands the plight of the families, whose houses have been vandalized.
"We're trying to have a comprehensive settlement," Conroy said. "There's been some cooperation, but it's not been total."
But one homeowner, Renee Greer, said if the city really wanted to fix things, officials would comply with the judge's order and not tie the issue to settling the entire case.
"The fact that they don't want to do what the court has ordered is ridiculous," Greer said. "It doesn't surprise me."
In addition to wanting utilities installed, the three families have submitted bills that total more than $780,000 for costs incurred since they haven't been able to move in - a figure Conroy called "a little bit of a stretch."
The $20-million development was slated to consist of 100 homes on 33 acres almost surrounded by Genesee Township near Kearsley Lake Golf Course. But disagreements over who would provide utilities and subsequent financing problems stopped it.
Last month, Genesee Circuit Judge Geoffrey Neithercut ruled the city, which originally owned the land and also sunk $550,000 in loans and grants into the development, had to provide the utilities after issuing building permits for the three homes that are now uninhabitable.
Under the order, the money also would be paid back to the city once the development proceeds.
Fourth Ward Councilman Joshua Freeman, who represents the area, said if were up to him, he would pay. He noted how the city has subsidized infrastructure for other developments, such as millions of dollars for University Park Estates, a development that's in the tax-free Renaissance Zone.
"It's a development in this city that going to add to the tax base now," he said.
Full Story:
http://www.mlive.com/news/fljournal/index.ssf?/base/news-29/1118071486279740.xml |
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Tue Jun 07, 2005 10:35 pm |
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