Commission asks council to fund engineering study of Dunbar Road sewer capacity after Passon proposal

The Planning Commission recommended that city council authorize hiring an engineering firm to study sewer capacity in the Dunbar Road area after a developer (the Passons) requested a mainline sewer extension to serve a phased duplex development.

Staff explained the Passons proposed 24 duplexes (48 units) south of Brown Elementary and had earlier sought a mainline sewer extension that planning commission previously denied because staff estimated a lack of capacity on the existing sewer line. The developer now proposed phasing the project, starting with six buildings, but staff warned piecemeal connections would not address the underlying capacity constraint.

Staff recommended the city commission ask council to fund an engineering analysis (staff estimated the study at roughly $20,000 based on prior projects) to determine existing capacity, identify required upgrades and present tiered options (for example: pump station versus upsized mains) and associated costs. Staff said any improvements needed to serve properties outside the city would likely be funded by those seeking to tie in, subject to council policy decisions about how much service the city wants to extend beyond its urban growth boundary.

Commissioners discussed prior tie‑ons, annexation constraints, the urban growth boundary, and how allowance of outside‑city sewer can create perceived inconsistency. Staff noted a seven‑mile line in the area and identified a section of 3‑inch pipe on school property that may require upsizing. The commission voted to recommend council authorize the study; one commissioner recused earlier from a separate item tied to a church but the Dunbar motion carried with a voice vote and recorded ayes.