Hilltop Ranch, the largest neighborhood on the city's growth list, waits on a rewritten development agreement

A residential project planned for about 470 acres along State Highway 5 is moving toward a revised agreement with the City of Howe, putting what city staff list as the largest neighborhood in the pipeline back in front of the council.

KTEN reported Friday that the development, called Hilltop Ranch, has plans for about 1,000 homes. A city administration report in the council's Oct. 20 meeting packet lists the builder as Qualico and puts the count at 1,376 homes. The difference was not explained in either source, and the final number would depend on the agreement the council approves.

Where the paperwork stands

According to the staff report from City Administrator Monte Walker, Qualico has already completed its property sale agreement and planned development zoning for Hilltop Ranch. The project is still governed by an earlier development agreement, which the city is working to amend. The report said the amended agreement should come to the council "hopefully next month," meaning November.

No agenda for a November council meeting had been posted as of Friday evening.

The report describes Hilltop Ranch as an in-city municipal utility district, or MUD. A MUD is a special district that can borrow money for water, sewer and drainage work and repay it through a property tax charged to homes inside the district, on top of city and school taxes.

Other projects on the same list

The October report tracks several other subdivisions in various stages:

Noble Ridge Phase 1A and 1B (Rockhill Investments): 348 homes, of which 284 were finished or under construction.
Noble Ridge Tracts 2 and 3 (Centurion American Development Group): 536 homes, still in talks on a new development agreement.
Astra Companies, south of Howe High School and connecting to Lane Drive: 365 lots, with a signed agreement and plans for an in-city MUD.
Talbott Estates (Altura Homes): 65 half-acre lots, under way.
Grace Meadows Phase I: 51 half-acre lots, now sold to Astoria Homes, with construction expected to begin soon.

The same report said Sutton Flats, a 300-unit apartment project by NRP Group, has begun leasing.

Sources

KTEN

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