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Meadows Ridge, a housing development of over 300  homes proposed on the north edge of Meadows North, a finished sister neighborhood, was not exactly welcomed with open arms at last week’s North Branch City Council hearing. Over an hour was devoted to taking comment on an Environmental Assessment Worksheet.  It  was made clear in open comment that North Branch is at the point of pushback on “growth at any cost.”

The size of this proposed project triggers a legally required hearing  to present the worksheet statistics and analysis.  North Branch City Council will compile the comments and questions that are relevant to the EAW and review them again November 26.  As the local governing unit North Branch Council either accepts the EAW or can call for a more in depth Environmental Impact Statement.

No decisions were made during last weeks’ informational forum.

About a dozen citizens spoke about concerns they see with the density of the plan proposed. Surrounding existing larger lots are not being fenced-off and the value of existing properties will deteriorate due to this project, some argued. 

No storage is accommodated on the small lots proposed and open spaces are for stormwater management.   

The builder was a target too.  Property owners in the neighborhood directly south of the proposal, with homes by this same developer, described concerns saying “tight controls and monitoring’ is advised.  The head of the Homeowners’ Association alleged the HOA manager (which was the company until a certain plat occupancy had been realized)  failed to pay the city water bill, impacting the ability to run sprinklers on the new sod. 

Others pointed out site grading and erosion issues with lots.  

One citizen argued Flink Avenue is insufficient to handle projected traffic. 

Others felt the school district is not positioned for the influx of students.  

The entire city will be hit with expenses for more police, more public works staff and equipment, and one resident asked if it is cost effective as far as what can be expected in tax revenue (home valuations) versus what will need to be spent.  

The proposal is just “too much too quick,” said another resident.

It was an evening for citizen involvement as taxpayers hung around after the EAW hearing;  to voice opposition to another agenda item on requesting information for contracting with the sheriff for law enforcement hours.  

Council member Peter Schaps had placed the item on the agenda.   He explained he was thinking “outside the box” on how to address city police staffing needs.  Schaps stressed he has no desire to replace the North Branch P.D.  He said he had contacted the sheriff who reportedly stated he’d come talk with the council only if there was consensus for him to do so.

Police Chief Dan Meyer said he is in the process of hiring a 14th officer and he could use three sergeants for covering the needed supervisory tasks, who would be promoted presumably.  A 15th officer is in the upcoming proposed budget which gets finalized in December.

Council member Robert Canada remarked that if there is a need for immediate staffing-up, he felt the council should have seen a direct request from the chief to council.  He was disappointed the sheriff had been brought into this without council reviewing the matter.   

Chief Meyer additionally cited contracting hurdles;  such as incident reports and data tracking codes used by the county and the city, being on different systems.  

Chief Meyer said all things considered he’d rather keep personnel in-house at least at this time.

Council stressed there are no problems with existing mutual aid through the county during critical incidents, and any hesitancy to hire county contract patrols has nothing to do with the caliber of service.  

The staff was directed to not schedule the sheriff for discussions and not investigate contracting at this time.

In a discussion item about a growing problem with abuse of the compost site in Public Works action was laid over for a firmer plan.

Availability of Renewable Energy Grants in prior years had helped keep the North Branch city compost site in decent shape, According to Public Works Director Shawn Williams the compost site is now out of control. Costs to grind the organic debris, move around piles and process-out the prohibited junk have tripled in recent years.   The St Paul Energy District at one time collected the compost site’s more unwieldy burnable wood products using the renewable grant funds,  and this helped keep the compost site manageable.  Lately, though, unauthorized dumping of giant logs and stumps, commercial sized loads,   and even waste appliances— has become a “free for all.”  Williams added.  

He advised council there’s a need to fence and gate the compost site, to restrict access and schedule some staff to be on hand to supervise.

Council asked Williams to develop a proposal and bring the budget implications to be evaluated at a later meeting.

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