CRANDALL - The Crandall City Manager updated the Council on Monday night regarding Cartwright Ranch, including 40 permits issued for Lennar Homes and 172 for DR Horton.
CRANDALL - The Crandall City Manager updated the Council on Monday night regarding Cartwright Ranch, including 40 permits issued for Lennar Homes and 172 for DR Horton.
Crandall City Manager Jerry Dean shared with the City Council that more than 200 permits had been issued for development in Cartwright Ranch, a development within the city limits that is projected to have 3,900 single-family homes.
“We had 29 pending, [but] that number is changing daily as we fill up those applications,” said Dean.
He also told the Council that the pump station at Arbors at Eastland has been awarded and that the land grading will start soon. Phase 1 infrastructure is near completion. “We should see some building permits coming out of Arbor soon as well,” said Dean.
Dean also told the Council that after talking with the Cotton Gin owners, he expects to see a soft opening in late April and a full opening sometime in May. QuikTrip is also beginning to move dirt, Dominos is still targeting later this summer, and Dollar Tree is projected around the same time.
The Council also discussed creating a Housing Authority, which, if created, would be governed by Chapter 392 of the Texas Local Government Code. The City Attorney told the Council that the entity would get federal funding from HUD and that it would be overseen by people appointed to the Commission.
392.011(f) (1) (2) of Texas Government Code states the following as reasons a governing body may adopt a resolution declaring the need for a housing authority: “The governing body of a municipality shall adopt a resolution declaring that there is a need for a housing authority if it finds that there is: (1) unsanitary or unsafe inhabited housing in the municipality; or (2) a shortage of safe or sanitary housing in the municipality available to persons of low income at rentals that they can afford.”
The funding stream allows a landlord to receive a stream of tenants who receive vouchers (Section 8) to help pay their rent, and then, in return, the tenants get safe, sanitary, and affordable housing. The question was how a housing authority could impact the existing developments and whether the developer could participate.
“There is nothing to prevent an existing developer from changing their plan and, you know, trying to get into some sort of agreement with the housing authority,” said the City Attorney in response. “They [the housing authority] do not have authority over a private developer to impose a ‘you must do these things.”
“Landlords can choose to accept vouchers; they can choose not to accept vouchers. That’s how that works.”
A follow-up question was asked regarding what benefit there would be to a developer to enter into an agreement with the housing authority.
“They are not guaranteed, but almost guaranteed, a stream of residents that are going to pay you rent; that’s what you want, you want people to pay you rent. That’s what their benefit is,” said the City Manager.
Council Member Vaughn raised the concern of whether this was needed right now or could be tabled for later. The City Manager and his team said they haven’t been able to determine if this is a need, but they haven’t seen properties that would meet the criteria.
The City Attorney noted that this matter is like a light switch. “Right now, the switch is off, but once you turn it on, it stays on.”
The City Manager did state that, if created, all positions for the authority would be appointed by the Mayor.
The Council concluded its discussion on this item, and the City Manager will provide further updates later.
To see the full City Council meeting and all discussion, click here.