Porter Plan Commission president Lorain Bell said he wants developers of the 190-home The Trails of Porter single-family subdivision to pay upfront a promised $350,000 to help upgrade a town lift station.

When asked later if that would be a deal-breaker, co-developer Bob Gorgei of B&R Development said, “That’s not what our original agreement was.”

Gorgei said it’s his recollection the $1,842 per lot was to be paid as each was sold.

Early last year the Town Council approved a planned unit development ordinance establishing standards for the 63-acre project located east of South Mineral Springs Road at Old Porter Road and north of Wood Street in an area known as the Iron Triangle.

Now, Gorgei and Rich Brennan are returning to the commission to have the subdivision platted. Commission members voted unanimously to conduct a public hearing on the primary plat June 17.

Although the petition was listed Wednesday as a revised preliminary plat, Gorgei said the submitted plans are identical to the PUD approved last year.

Associate town attorney Ethan Lowe said town attorney Patrick Lyp will research how the $350,000 earmarked for Porter Avenue lift station improvements was to be paid.

Said Bell, “Town officials said we’ve got a lift station there ready to go bye-bye. We could be collecting 10 years down the road. I feel if it’s in this condition, before the first shovel of dirt is turned (developers) come up for 190 lots, which comes to about $350,000. How are we going to get that money?”

Bell also questioned if the Porter Park Board has decided whether it wants a 5-acre park The Trails has offered the town, and Bell said he didn’t like that the subdivision was planned to be built in three phases.

Town planner Jim Mandon and The Trails project manager Michael Duffy of the Duneland Group both said each phase has to stand alone and be self-sufficient with adequate infrastructure to support it.

How much members of the planned homeowners association would have to pay to maintain and pay taxes on about 15 acres in retention ponds and wetlands was another concern for Bell. “I believe we’re creating a buyer-beware situation.”

Mandon said that is a private matter between purchasers of the lots and the developers. Lowe, too, said the town plays no role in creating the homeowners association.

He reminded the commission that a PUD already is in place, which generally is a contract between the town and the developers.

Commission member Brenda Brueckheimer, Porter Public Works director, asked whether B&R Development planned to make stormwater upgrades that would improve downstream drainage along Monroe and Vine streets and Mineral Springs.

Matt Keiser is the town’s new director of economic development and planning. He formerly was project manager for The Trails. Keiser said because the subdivision will have retention ponds as opposed to detention ponds that discharge downstream, stormwater flow will be reduced to offsite areas.

Commission member Jim Eriksson asked the price range of the homes to be built. Gorgei said 18 months ago when planning began approximately $200,000 homes were eyed but now their value is closer to $170,000 to $190,000.

On another matter, the commission gave final plat approval to the five-lot Krieger Street Subdivision at 23rd Street being developed by Joe Ennis. A letter of credit to serve as a maintenance bond was submitted and will be forwarded to the Town Council.

A closed executive session was set for June 17 so commission members can meet with Lyp to discuss a pending lawsuit brought by C&C Development over the commission’s rejection of its request to build eight homes at Hunters Glen subdivision.

Posted 5/21/2009