LCDA Approves Reservation Agreement for Existing and Future Water and Sewer Capacity

Hinesville, GA - The Liberty County Development Authority (LCDA) provided additional context regarding its service delivery area and the proposed water reclamation facility at the March 23 board meeting.

LCDA's designated water and sewer service area encompasses a range of uses crucial to future economic development.  While the Authority's principal focus is industrial recruitment and site development, its infrastructure responsibilities extend not only to existing and future industrial parks but to all appropriately zoned and permitted development interests within its service delivery area, including industrial and commercial projects as well as residential and mixed-use developments. This diversified customer base provides the greatest financial and operational efficiencies and enables LCDA to ensure water and sewer capacity for vital industrial development while mitigating impacts on existing customers and the community.

However, as LCDA has previously shared, the ability of the existing utility system to serve projected demand is limited. Meaningful future economic prosperity for the community is only possible through the strategic expansion of this infrastructure.

With an estimated cost of approximately $32.5 million, the proposed water reclamation facility being considered by LCDA represents an environmentally responsible and effective solution to this need and requires careful financial planning. In addition to other funding options, the capital costs of this project are expected to be paid by industry and developers seeking to connect to LCDA's utility system.  

To appropriately manage its water and sewer resources and ensure a fiscally sustainable utility system, LCDA, like many other jurisdictions, will utilize capacity reservation agreements, which allocate capacity to developments in return for scheduled payments intended to subsidize utility expansion costs. These agreements are an important planning and financing mechanism and will be offered by LCDA to interested industry and developers within its service delivery area.  

The Liberty County Development Authority is pleased to announce the first such agreement with Laurel View Properties, LLC, which is pursuing a mixed-use development that includes much-needed multi-family, single-family, and executive housing, as well as public spaces, a marina, and desirable retail, hospitality, and other commercial opportunities.  Approved Monday, this agreement represents a milestone in our community's goal of achieving controlled, smart growth that prioritizes our environment.   

"Our company has been invested in Liberty County for close to 30 years. Throughout that time, we have envisioned a thoughtfully designed mixed-use community shaped by-and in turn enhancing-the natural landscape, coastal character, and heritage of this region. Having grown up coming here-camping, fishing, and exploring these woods-this place has profoundly shaped who I am, and that personal connection informs our commitment to doing something truly special and enduring. Rooted in the Lowcountry environment, our goal is to create a community that blends residential, hospitality, and lifestyle experiences in a way that feels authentic to coastal Georgia while elevating its long-term potential. With the economic growth of the region, the time is now and we are excited to bring our plans to reality," said Travis Stringer, CEO of Foram Group, Inc., developer of Laurel View Properties, LLC.

LCDA emphasizes that it is not providing incentives or discounts related to this public infrastructure.  Though Laurel View is the first to request future capacity, the rates it pays will be comparable to those paid by other developers and industries.   

Leveraging system connection fees across its service delivery area funds the cost of the Water Reclamation Facility, allowing LCDA to advance its core mission: to support economic development, attract new industry, and expand the local tax base. These investments strengthen the infrastructure necessary to sustain long-term growth and environmental protections that improve the quality of life for Liberty County residents.  

The Authority remains committed to transparent, strategic planning that balances industrial expansion with the natural environment and community needs.  

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