The dispute between Lancaster County and the Sun City Carolina Lakes’ developer over who is responsible for the community’s roads has been resolved with both sides compromising.
The county council passed a unanimous resolution Monday night, its final meeting of 2016, to settle the years-long dispute.
Atlanta-based Pulte Group agreed to repair a handful of roads with storm-water drainage problems, and it provided a $2 million guarantee to cover any repair costs related to storm-water problems for another three years. With those stipulations, the county, which had asked for $3 million and a five-year guarantee, agreed to accept the rest of Sun City’s roads into the county system.
Pulte also agreed to repair and repave the major access route to the development, Del Webb Boulevard, even though the county had not requested that.
Under the 2005 development agreement, Pulte was required to construct the roads to meet county standards, after which the county was required to adopt them into its system. But the county had long contended that some of the roads’ storm-water infrastructure had not been built up to standards.
An emphatic motion to approve the resolution was made by outgoing Councilman Larry McCullough, whose district includes the much-debated roads. Another Panhandle councilman, Brian Carnes, quickly seconded the motion.
County Attorney John Weaver said he and Councilman Larry Honeycutt have been negotiating with the developer the last few weeks and reached an agreement just hours before Monday night’s council meeting.
“John and I met with Pulte, and a good understanding came out of that meeting,” Honeycutt said. “We have a good deal for the county and a good deal for Pulte.”
The county has agreed to accept the roads and underlying storm-water infrastructure throughout the public roadways in Sun City Carolina Lakes. The responsibility for fixing any damaged roads not caused by failures in storm-water infrastructure will remain with the county. Pulte has extended the warranties on both the roads and storm-water infrastructure and has provided two $1 million letters of credit to make needed repairs and to provide a warranty expiring Dec. 31, 2019.
The debate over the roads started not long after construction began in 2005. As the 3,200-home development nears completion, county officials and Sun City residents want assurance that they won’t be left with unsatisfactory roads without funds to repair them.
Pulte sent an e-mail Monday to Weaver stating that it would repair the following areas, which have dips near the drains indicating poor storm-water infrastructure: 10564 Bethpage Drive, 3021 Azalea Drive, intersection of Riverbend Road and Yosemite, 2152 Hartwell Lane, 26456 Sandpiper Court, 55396 Derringer, and 52104 Longspur.
“Pulte has voluntarily agreed to do a rather substantial job at the Highway 521 entry into Sun City just beyond the guardhouse on Del Webb Boulevard,” Weaver said. “This was a concession on their part and not a requirement.”
Pulte will repair and repave the inbound lanes of Del Webb Boulevard, the entry into Sun City from Highway 521.
In a moment of levity following the decade-long debate over the roads, McCullough said, “Mr. Graham who will be taking over that district on Jan. 1, is particularly happy.”
Councilman-elect Terry Graham, seated in the audience, raised both arms high in victory and shouted “Thank you.”
McCullough echoed with “hallelujah.”
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| Councilmen-elect Terry Graham, left, and Billy Mosteller enjoy their last opportunity to sit on the citizen side of the county council meeting. They take office Jan. 3. |
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| Brian Carnes, left, presented out-going council members Larry McCullough and Bob Bundy with plaques commemorating their service to Lancaster County. Bundy served as chair for the council during his single term of service. McCullough served two terms. |
The council cleared all pending business for the year and bid goodbye to outgoing council members Bob Bundy and McCullough.
Bundy served as chair for the council during his single term of service. McCullough served two terms. Neither sought reelection.
McCullough thanked the council, the audience and his wife, who he said has tolerated the many interruptions that allowed him to serve the county.
Vicechair Brian Carnes presented a plaque of appreciation to both men.
"Serving on a council such as this in a community such as ours is truly special," Bundy said.
"You hear stories about councils that don't get a long and I can't imagine that because we have such a good group here to work with. Every day wasn't perfect, or easy and there were hard times."
Bundy thanked the council and members of the audience for bringing things in their heart to council and for working together to make the county better. Bundy acknowledged the members of Lancaster Area Shelter Supporters who were in attendance.
McCullough offered a brief summary on service.
First, one becomes aware and then informed. After that, a period of involvement and service.
McCullough also said he favors term limits which keep politicians from becoming part of the problem.
"It takes a while to learn the routine, but if you stay in the routine too long, it becomes a rut," he said.
"When that happens, you become a part of the problem rather than the solution."Follow Reporter Mandy Catoe on Twitter @MandyCatoeTLN or contact her at (803) 283-1152.
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