Council approves series of Harvest Place infrastructure resolutions and design agreement

The Valley Center City Council approved multiple resolutions to authorize drainage, paving, sewer and water improvements for the next phase of the Harvest Place development and authorized a professional design agreement with SEH to finish the phase 2 plans.

SEH engineer Jake Boscho presented petitions and maps for the remainder of the Harvest Place development, describing a system of hydraulically connected wet detention ponds and explaining how ponds convey water from the northwest to the south side of the site. He said the design keeps the development above the 100-year flood elevation, with one small area of floodplain in the southeast corner.

Councilors asked technical questions about conveyance, the connection to existing drainage near the school and coordination with Sedgwick County for grading of property west of Meridian; staff said the county contributed about $1.2 million to the drainage portion of the project to offset costs. Council approved Resolution 774-25 (drainage authority), Resolution 775-25 (paving authority), Resolution 776-25 (sewer authority) and Resolution 777-25 (water authority). The council then approved a professional services agreement with SEH for design of the phase 2 improvements.

Council discussion included confirmation that the county contribution applied only to drainage and grading costs and would not pay for paving, water or sewer special assessments; staff also noted the special-assessment percentages and that the developer's petition would create the districts and accompanying assessment process. The design agreement and the resolutions were approved by council vote.