Can South Heart grow?

Talk about it

South Heart has snagged the attention of another developer, city leaders said Monday. However, they question what the city infrastructure can handle.

City Councilman Chuck Andrus said James Perdaems of South Heart informed the council in early February that a developer offered to purchase a 78-acre tract of his land, east of St. Mary’s Catholic Church. Andrus believes the unknown developer might be interested in building housing, which he said is now a “big field.”

Andrus added that Perdaems wants to learn more about city infrastructure requirements before moving forward.

“(Perdaems) has, I believe, sold land to a developer, and they want it annexed into the city,” Andrus said Monday.

Calls placed by The Press to Perdaems on Monday and Tuesday went unreturned.

South Heart Mayor Floyd Hurt said he is unsure what Perdaems’ next move will be, adding that plans to build are not yet in the works.

Earlier this month, William Matson, a representative of Waterfront Homes LLC, proposed building 25 12-unit apartment complexes on an 18-acre tract of land east of Adamski Park.

With so much interest to build in South Heart, the city may have to make major changes to grow.

“If anything further happens, we would have to look at the lagoons,” Andrus said. “I’m sure the construction of a new lagoon would have to be developed.”

Councilman Jayme Lefor agrees.

“We’re waiting to find out … the maximum capacity for what the lagoon is for the city,” Lefor said.

Representatives of Kadrmas, Lee and Jackson told Hurt the town’s wastewater facility can serve about 725 people, according to the Feb. 6 City Council minutes. Hurt is looking at options the city has for expanding its lagoons, and Lefor said it may be a while before anyone knows if the lagoons could support more housing.

“As a city, we’re kind of on hold,” Lefor said.

Council members are unsure if Perdaems will present more information at the next meeting, set for Monday.

Tags: south heart, news, infrastructure, development, housing