West side development plan approved, 200 homes expected

By Barbara Brown
The North Branch City Council approved a preliminary plat at its Feb. 25 meeting for a 160-acre development on the west side of the city.
Developer Steve Vanden Heuvel asked the council for permission to build a 267-unit neighborhood called Wildridge on CR68 near 382nd Street.
The development would include 200 single family homes on lots between 1/4 acre and 1 acre and 67 townhouses.
Before the council discussed the requested approval, Mayor Gloria Karsky abstained from discussion and voting on the subject because she is an adjacent property owner.
Vanden Heuvel had proposed building the development in four phases. A timeline is not required by the city, but Vanden Heuvel said he would break up the construction to 56 homes by 2003, and 48 homes each by 2006, 2009 and 2012.
He told the council he has been investigating whether the townhouse section of the neighborhood would be designated as seniors (50 and older) housing. He said he has run into problems with aesthetics and housing costs, however.
In order to keep costs down, Vanden Heuvel told the council, he may be able to offer a less attractive home with fewer amenities for about $135,000.
However, he said most of the models he had been researching so far would price the townhouses between $150,000 and $175,000.
Vanden Heuvel said he also would want to make sure the senior housing market would be stable enough to age-restrict the sale of the townhouses.
Council members asked some clarifying questions about the 18 requirements set on the single-family house part of the development.
Some of those requirements include specifics about roads and a requirement to place a sign at the end of a temporary cul-de-sac warning that the street may be extended in the future.
The developer also must comply with all city and county requirements regarding wetland mitigation, drainage, setbacks and other engineering needs.
The park dedication for the development would equal about 32 acres, twice what the city is regularly allowed to take, said Al Cottingham, city planner.
He said Vanden Heuvel, who attended Mondayís meeting, offered the extra acreage to the city as a dedication.
Included on some of that land are drainage ponds that would be used for overflow from storms.
Council member Kathy Blomquist questioned whether the city should take possession of the storm water ponds because of potential liability concerns.
City Attorney Tom Miller said he would like to examine the cityís liability in a situation like that and said the council could still approve the preliminary plat and decide ownership of the storm ponds before the final plat.
The council approved the preliminary plat with a vote of 4-0.

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