Clearwater is planning for the future, and that means looking at how much it will cost to expand its boundaries.

 

Last week, Engineer Joseph Pelawa of Bolton & Menk reviewed the recently-completed utility master plan for the city’s annexation area.

 

The plan is a detailed study of annexation areas and it showed that running utilities will be an expensive endeavor for the city.

 

The plan identifies six different potential annexation areas: Region A - Hwy, 24 corridor south; Region B - Co. Rd. 7 southeast; Region C - Co. Rd. 75 east; Region D - Co. Rd. 75 west; Region E - Co. Rd. 145 and 200th Street corridor; Region F - Hwy. 24 north.

 

Each region has its own infrastructure requirements and its own costs. The estimated cost for expanding sanitary sewer south along Hwy. 24 is $2.49 million. Adding a trunk watermain will cost an additional $2.13 million.

 

To expand east along Co. Rd. 75 will cost an estimated $2.9 million for sanitary sewer and $1.98 million for trunk watermain improvements.

 

Expanding sewer and water west through Co. Rd 145 and 200th Street would total about $5.8 million.

 

Pelawa said it would be up to the council to decide which direction they felt was the most viable. No matter which expansion area was chosen, it would require a big investment.

 

“At this point how, does the council want to proceed with this? Does the council want to focus on one region?” he asked. “We know we’re going to have to expend some funds to provide the basic infrastructure to service these areas.”

 

Pelawa said in some cases, developers will cover some of the costs, especially right-of-way if it is advantageous to their own development area.

 

“If a developer comes in and they have a large chunk of property they’re developing, most of the time the city will require the developer to cover the cost and dedicate the easements,” he said. “But if there’s any upsizing of trunk utilities, a lot of times the city will take on those costs.”

 

Councilman Rollie Lange said he felt expanding to the south on Hwy. 24 first made the most sense.

 

“With Kwik Trip and 13 acres to be developed, there seems to be a lot of interest to the south,” he said. “I think the logical easiest place is to go south. It’s an area of least resistance.”

 

“It does seem like a nice viable route,” said Pelawa. “But it all depends on the landowners.”

 

He also said the city should consider some type of area transportation plan to deal with areas of expansion.

 

“If you have all this property to the south that is eventually becoming part of Clearwater, I’d hate to see a situation where pieces are annexed into the city  piecemeal here and there and the city doesnt really develop a nice route connection across these areas,” he said. “Maybe we can lay out some groundwork for more major streets which would help the south end of Clearwater as it goes forward.”

 

Pelawa also recommended the city keep an eye on the existing watermain from the water tower near Lions’ Park to I-94. The watermain under I-94 is 16” in diameter. But the watermain from the tower to the Interstate is only 8” in diameter.

 

“Right now it’s operating without any difficulties,” he said. “But as more development happens south, you’re going to have that much more demand. I would move it higher on the list.”

 

Members of the council reviewed the plan and agreed the document would be helpful for future planning and to set priorities when setting aside capital improvement funds.

 

Pelawa said the plan would likely change over time as development occurs.

 

“It’s going to be an evolving document over the next 10 to 20 years,” he said. “Some of it probably never will get built in the next 20 or 40 years, but at least it gives you a focus.”