---

The giant Paxmar development, proposed in the  northwest corner of North Branch (see Press story May 24) has moved forward into the environmental assessment worksheet phase.  If all goes to plan-- construction activity could be happening by spring 2019.

The project has been named “The Meadows North.”  

Over a buildout of a few years there will be 128 single family lots, 25 villa homes, 38 twinhomes on 19 lots, two 4-story assisted living buildings and two 3-story apartment buildings.  The plan includes a convenience-gas station, car wash and a new city park.  There are seven new city streets proposed and the traffic study calls out a need for a round-about at Flink and 392nd and one at Flink and 400th.

The EAW is mandatory under state law because of the size of the area being affected-- 76 acres.  

The EAW goes to regulatory agencies and the public also gets a chance to look it over and comment until Septmber 5 on its conclusions and offer individual insight.  

EAW covers habitat, animal species that may be impacted, traffic, groundwater resources expected to be utilized by the finished project and everything in between.  The developer is aware of the Blandings turtle habitat about a mile from the site and will have plans to respond if the endangered turtle is spotted.  

For the most part the site now is cropland.  No wetlands have been identified or any special plant species.  Existing zoning is for multifamily residential and the city plan guides the location to high desnity now, the EAW states.

Paxmar wants to create a multi-style housing neighborhood west of Flink and south of 400th.  Paxmar gets sites ready for home builders, working in cooperation with the city for extending watermain and sanitary sewer.  The city council was scheduled to act on an agreement at the council meeting this week;  outlining water and sewer trunk fees and a pre-payment sum from the developer to cover city costs for engineering needed to extend a 20-inch watermain  and sewer trunk.

North Branch has capacity in its existing groundwater appropriation permit and  current water system, to bring in the entire development and also within its sewer plant, according to the EAW.   The wastewater treatment plant can handle .812 million gallons daily and there’s .542 million gallons daily capacity remaining. The Meadows North, when filled and operational, is projected to generate .116 million gallons each day.

North Branch is drawing 189 million gallons per YEAR in groundwater.  

The Meadows North would draw an additional 48 million gallons annually, well within the appropriating permit existing.

              ++++

Public comment is accepted by North Branch staff until September 5.  The full Public Notice seeking comments is also on the city website.

Send mailed comments to the city hall at 6408 Elm Street, P.O. Box 910, 55056.  

E mail to [email protected].

To read the EAW you find it on the city website, (Google Paxmar Meadows North  EAW) or see a print copy at North Branch City Hall during business hours.

---