LaPorte developers look at forming new sewer district

By Cherry Sokoloski
North Forty News

Two frustrated developers are hoping to create a new sewer district for the LaPorte area, after losing patience with Fort Collins.

Charlie Meserlian and Chris Kaul have been working for more than two years to develop land east of Kintzley Plaza, but the lack of sewer service to the area has been a continual sticking point. Now, they hope to create a new district that would serve not only their property but many others as well.

"We've gotten nowhere with the city of Fort Collins," said Meserlian. "We've beat our heads against the wall with these people."

He and Kaul, owners of LaPorte Properties LLC, hope to organize a sewer district that would encompass 6.2 square miles in an area east of LaPorte that is currently not served by any sewer district. Its boundaries would be Kintzley Plaza on the west, Terry Lake on the east, the Poudre River on the south and U.S. Highway 287 on the north.

"I think it will really be a huge benefit for the whole area," said Jeff Couch of Team Engineering, who is working with the developers. He and the partners cited numerous failing septic systems in the LaPorte area due to high groundwater and small lots. "There's a need for about 3,000 taps out there," Couch said, including both existing and proposed developments.

In February, Meserlian and Kaul asked Fort Collins to supply sewer service to their proposed development, called The Grove at LaPorte, but they have not received a reply. A city/county committee has been studying the question of whether Fort Collins should run sewer lines outside its urban growth area, and action on the issue is not expected until at least October.

"We can't wait around for them to make a decision," Couch said. "We need to take the bull by the horn and create our own district."

A sewer district is a taxing entity, and property owners must vote to establish such a district and authorize the sale of bonds. The developers hope to hold an election sometime this fall.

As the first step in creating a new district, Meserlian and Kaul met July 22 with the Northern Front Range Water Quality Planning Association, a consortium that coordinates wastewater treatment with the goal of protecting water quality.

Dave Dubois, manager of the association, said his group thinks a new sewer district in the LaPorte area is a good idea as a long-term solution to LaPorte's needs. He noted that, once a district is formed, the entity could either build its own sewage disposal plant or contract with another supplier, such as Fort Collins or the Boxelder Sanitation District. A district would afford a comprehensive approach, he said, instead of the current piecemeal solutions to sewage treatment in the LaPorte area.

The Grove development proposed by Meserlian and Kaul includes 260 homes on 69 acres, including 160 single-family homes and 100 condominiums. It is tailored to the requirements of the LaPorte Area Plan, Couch said.