When the Liberty Consolidated Planning Commission meets Tuesday it will consider a zoning petition that is part of an annexation/bond issue/water-sewer plan put forward by the city of Midway.
Midway and Deep Water Holdings want to annex the entire 372 acres of the proposed development at the junction of Highway 84 and I-95, while authorizing $16 million in revenue Ωbonds to finance improvements and expansion of the water and sewer system.
The rezoning will apply Midway city zoning designations to the development that is now almost entirely in the unincorporated area of Liberty County. The change will make the Glebe-Martin property a Planned Unit Development under Midway’s zoning.
It is now zoned PUD as part of the county and the pre-annexation portion has Midway’s unique interstate commercial corridor zoning.
The LCPC will make a recommendation on the zoning petition and the Midway City Council will consider their advice at its regular meeting Oct. 9.

Midway Mayor Don Emmons has called the plan “a win-win deal for the city of Midway.”
The agreement provides for Midway to issue up to $16 million in tax-exempt municipal revenue bonds to finance the water and sewer work, but other financing options are left open.
Deepwater may decide to use its own funding sources to pay for water and sewer improvements for the development and then sell the infrastructure to Midway.
Specifics of the plan include Deepwater granting the city an acre of land for construction of a new deep well and 250,000-gallon storage tank that is expected to bring the capacity up to 500,000 gallons per day. A lift station will be provided to serve the development.
“Purple pipe,” a water reclamation system that allows reuse, is provided under the 15-page agreement between Midway and Deepwater.
Midway will waive tap fees from Deepwater, while allowing the business to charge third parties who buy into the development. These fees will be used to pay for infrastructure or related costs, such as bonds.
Specifics of the plan include Deepwater granting the city an acre of land for construction of a new deep well and 250,000-gallon storage tank that is expected to bring the capacity up to 500,000 gallons per day. A lift station will be provided to serve the development.

About the development
The development — originally named Liberty Gateway at Martin Plantation — is to consist of single-family and multi-family dwellings, townhomes, and retail and commercial space.
Chris Herrell, a manager at Midway Holdings, said residential areas will have a private entrance off Highway 84. Two other access points would allow the public to enter the retail and commercial areas, as well as some of the common areas.
The single-family residential area is to be constructed in phases and would feature a traditional neighborhood design with Coastal Craftsman-style homes.
Herrell described them as “not luxury,” but “high quality” and noted, “We’re building a community, not a country club.”
He said a retail village with internal access would be located on 61 acres. Eleven other parcels are designated for restaurants, hotels and other establishments.
Emmons said he would like to see a full service hotel built early and is also interested in a first-class restaurant.