Napa County supervisors on Tuesday rejected the idea of entering into contractual negotiations with developers at Napa Pipe, fearful that those negotiations would mistakenly signal preparation to approve the 2,580 homes proposed on the south county site.

Supervisors will come back to the table next week to discuss reimbursement of Napa Pipe’s costs after what was supposed to be a simple housekeeping matter turned into a philosophical debate.

County staff asked supervisors Tuesday to require Napa Pipe developers to reimburse the county for consulting fees and staff costs related to the massive Napa Pipe application. Among other things, the proposal would have required developers to pay for up to $325,000 in legal fees for the negotiation of a development agreement between the county and developers.

The agreement would outline the county and developers’ roles in the project if it is approved, Napa County Planning Director Hillary Gitelman said. It would address issues such as affordable housing, workforce housing, infrastructure and the approval process, as well as fiscal agreements, she said.

Supervisors — except for board chairman Mark Luce — bristled at the suggestion that the county even begin discussions about a development agreement on Napa Pipe, which has yet to undergo a full environmental review process.

Supervisor Diane Dillon said negotiating a development agreement now would send “a signal that we’re ready to partner with Napa Pipe.”

Gitelman told the board that the negotiations would obligate them to nothing. “None of this is a commitment to do anything,” she said. “All of this is just initiating a dialogue.”

Dodd and county counsel Robert Westmeyer suggested the board accept reimbursement from Napa Pipe developers for staff time and consultants, including lawyers, but that those lawyers not start negotiations over a development agreement.

Supervisors will continue the discussion next week.

Developer Keith Rogal said he agrees with supervisors.

“I am sympathetic to that feeling and I share that,” he said. “I don’t think anybody’s made up their minds (about Napa Pipe). That would be premature.”

Said Rogal, “We, like the board, would not want to be doing anything that implies anything anywhere other than where we are today. And where we are today is in the early stage of an extensive public process that is intended to have people share their concerns and their questions and their ideas.”

The public will have at least six more chances to share their ideas about Napa Pipe.

Supervisors gave the go-ahead Tuesday to schedule six special Napa County Planning Commission meetings to let the public weigh in on issues related to Napa Pipe.

The evening meetings, beginning this month and continuing through August, will allow the public to comment on issues such as design, traffic and water.

Slow growth advocates Ginny Simms and Eve Kahn of Get a Grip on Growth argued against the timing of the meetings Tuesday, suggesting no new information will be available until the project’s environmental impact review is released in August.

Gitelman said consultants are already at work on the review and that new data will be presented during each public meeting.

Simms, a former Napa County supervisor, said she will consider calling for a public boycott of the meetings. She may also ask members of Get A Grip on Growth to attend the meetings, sitting with their backs to the commission, she said.

Kahn said supervisors should focus on the Housing Element update, which plans for growth in Napa County, before getting bogged down in discussions about Napa Pipe.

Napa Pipe meetings

What makes a successful neighborhood?

March 18, 6 p.m.

Napa County Office of Education, 2121 Imola Ave., Napa

Character and design

April 8, 6 p.m.

Napa County Office of Education, 2121 Imola Ave., Napa

Open space and the Napa River

May 20, 6 p.m.

Napa County Office of Education, 2121 Imola Ave., Napa

Traffic

June 17, 6 p.m.

Napa Pipe, 1025 Kaiser Road

Sustainability (water)

July 15, time TBA

Napa Pipe, 1025 Kaiser Road

Draft environmental impact report

Aug. 19, time TBA

Napa Pipe, 1025 Kaiser Road