Seeking to attract more commercial development to Chelsea, city officials have proposed spending at least $2.5 million on building water lines down U.S. Highway 280, along with a pump station and a 750,000 gallon water tank on land nearby.

The city is set to make the proposal to Westover Water Authority which currently provides water for much of Shelby County.

Chelsea Mayor Earl Niven said the city would buy the water from Westover Water who, in turn, would benefit from new customers along the major highway.

&uot;Right now, there are no main water lines down (Highway) 280,&uot; Niven said. &uot;We plan to finance the implementation of water lines.

&uot;Westover will own the water lines and the city of Chelsea will get a percentage of the tap on fees to recoup our investment.&uot;

That investment, Niven said, would be financed either by a bank loan or the sale of bonds. He said sales taxes collected from new businesses would help as well.

&uot;I see this as an opportunity for Chelsea to show confidence in the area and to encourage developers. I hope developers realize the financial success in developing (Highway) 280,&uot; he said.

Current businesses and residents will benefit, too, Niven said.

&uot;Chelsea Antiques has been asking me for years, ‘When are you going to run water down (Highway) 280?’&uot; he said of the local business.

The proposed water line would run from Chesser Crane Road to about Shelby County Highway 51, according to city officials.

Niven said the city has no plans to enter into the sewer business, however.

He said Double Oak Sewer has told him they have the capacity to &uot;take care of the city for many more years.&uot;

Several large developments are currently under way along Highway 280 including The Foothills of Chelsea, a several hundred acre commercial and residential development, and Chesser Plantation, a more-than-300-home subdivision with commercial frontage and land for a proposed county school.

Two other developments, formerly referred to as Little Creek and Chelsea Park subdivisions, have been given approval by the Chelsea Planning Commission as well.

The developers, Doug Eddleman and Bill Thornton, are planning to construct some 2,000 homes on land near Shelby County Highway 51.

The development would also have commercial frontage, a park and land for a proposed county school