The Road To Expansion

The City Commission moved forward Tuesday, authorizing management to enter into a partnership with a group of developers for the West Morrison Road expansion.

City Manager Charlie Cabler said Wednesday that the proposed agreement continues to be fine-tuned. He said that the group of developers that includes attorney Dennis Sanchez and developer Neal Simmons first have to form a tax-exempt non-profit organization, which hasn’t happened yet.

“They need to get that resolved,” Cabler said. “We are trying to enhance the trust level.”

Cabler was not able to say Wednesday if voters would have had to approve the bonds that the city intends to apply toward the expansion. Cabler said he would review this with the city’s legal department.

Being touted as the first of its kind in Brownsville, the city’s partnership with the developers group called Morrison Owners, Inc., to extend West Morrison Road to West Alton Gloor Boulevard could cost up to $5.5 million.

The developers group consists of owners of properties that abut portions of the proposed extension that Cabler said spans about 1.75 miles.

And, although the proposal calls for a 50-50 equal share between the city and the developers’ group, the developers’ immediate cash contribution would be only $1 million.

It could be that some owners might not be willing to take part in the process or might not be able to afford their portion, and, under the proposal, the city, if it so chooses, could assess these owners their share of the cost based upon the length of frontage along the extension.

The assessments, plus interest, would be secured by a lien against the property. The assessment would have to be paid in full either when the property is sold or subdivided or seven years after the completion of the West Morrison Road extension, whichever is first.

City Attorney Mark Sossi told the commission Tuesday that the reason that the city and developers are entering into a partnership is because “people don’t want to wait for TxDOT (Texas Department of Transportation).”

According to Cabler, it could be beyond 2014 that some state funding would be available for the project.

Sossi further told the commission that the city wants to develop the area to stimulate economic growth, expand the tax base, and because landowners want to develop their area.

“It’s also a good deal for the city,” said Sossi, noting that the cost would be borne equally by the city and developers.

Commissioner Charlie Atkinson said that the agreement that the city reaches with developers should ensure accountability and that persons who work on the project should be from Brownsville, “at a time when we need to take care of our own.”

A component of the proposed agreement requires that — prior to starting the expansion of West Morrison — one of the landowners, Santander Properties, Ltd., has to provide proof that it has made the necessary commitments for the extension of Laredo Road.

Laredo Road would be extended to the intersection with West Morrison Road.

The agreement would be considered revoked if Morrison Owners fail to obtain its share of the contribution or if Santander fails to meet the requirements for the extension of Laredo Road.

Santander’s general partner is Millbrook Management, whose officers are Jorge Ibarra of Laredo and Jose Perez of Brownsville. Perez also is an officer of Hispania Development Co., public records show.