How Does a Public sewer system (or lack thereof) impact development in these towns?

I recently had an interesting conversation with a Realtor wanting to buy a home for herself in Fairview.  She told me she had been in the business for 25 years and "really knew what she was doing".  She went on to say that she had done her research and had concluded that everything in Fairview was overpriced!  Her reasoning?  Because Fairview doesn't have sewer.  She said "for these prices, I can buy a home in the park cities already hooked up to a sewer system".  Of course, her argument was nonsense (try to buy a one acre lot in Highland Park or University Park, much less one with a nice home on it), but it did strike me that that if a Realtor who has been in the business for that long didn't understand the impact of sewer on our community, a typical home buyer new to this area probably wouldn't either.  So I will try to explain why we don't want sewer in these towns until it is finally forced upon us.  Please note that I have directed this article towards Fairview, but the same holds true for Lucas and Parker. 

To put it simply, without public sewer, it is very difficult to construct any kind of high density residential developments (including apartment complexes) and large commercial centers.  Why?  Because these projects all require lots and lots of bathrooms, and lots and lots of bathrooms generally require a large public sewer system.  There is just no getting around it.

If you want to see the difference between a city with sewer and a city without sewer, drive down Stacy Road from Central Expressway (US 75).  This road divides Allen from Fairview.  On your right (south side), you will see one high density residential development after another.  Those homes are all very close to each other.  The developers can do that because Allen has a public sewer system.  Now look to your left (north side of road).  You will see that the homes on the Fairview side are all on at least one acre.  Is this a coincidence?  No, it isn't, and don't think it is just a matter of city zoning.  Even if Fairview decided to make their lots smaller it could never happen without sewer.  Sewer is the controlling factor, even over city needs.

The great majority of Fairview is not tied into a public sewer system which means that most homes require septic systems.  The minimum allowable size for most septic systems to properly work on is around one acre.  Although developers (and many large landowners) would love to see sewer come into Fairview (more homes per acre means more money for the developer and more money for the large landowners), most townspeople do not.  They want to keep the lots large and maintain the open, country feeling. 

Will sewer ever be brought into Fairview?  In fact, it is already there (Heritage Ranch on Stacy Road and along Hwy 5).  As these towns grow, their tax base is going to be stretched thin and they are going to have to look for additional and alternative tax revenues.  Where will that come from ... most likely, commercial developments like the Fairview Town Center.   But if this growth is handled responsibly, and it will be, Fairview, Lucas, and Parker should all continue with their wonderful quality of life for many, many years to come.

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