The ramifications would have been a moratorium on new development, all new development, residential and commercial; heavy fines from the federal government through the federal courts; and possibly the takeover of the city's water system,

That's how they became city centers. Both of them can accommodate new commercial and residential development without acquiring more land and spreading out.

We're prepared to continue to collect waste from both our residential and commercial customers.

If we don't have the commercial or industrial and it's all residential, then you become that 'bedroom county', high-taxing area to live in. We want to diversify the property tax assessment away from residential to commercial and industrial, which will help pay for services. Then, growth is good.

To consider high-density development, it would be appropriate that we have a moratorium until such time as we can enact an ordinance that is properly debated.

Virtually every new development and even existing project owners are looking at a residential component.