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Brandon council approves sidewalk waiver for Aspen Ridge, denies fire‑station heating funding and continues one rezoning
Summary
At the meeting the council approved a developer's request to waive a sidewalk on one side of a private road in the Aspen Ridge townhome project, denied a fire department request for city funding to replace an in‑floor heating system, and continued a separate rezoning hearing to June 2.
The Brandon City Council approved a resolution waiving the sidewalk requirement on the north side of East Amy Place in the Aspen Ridge development and took a series of operational votes on parks and public safety matters.
By voice vote the council approved Resolution O825 to waive the requirement that a sidewalk be installed on both sides of the private East Amy Place; the developer, Christian Development Partners representative Russell Atkins, told the council a north‑side sidewalk would force shorter driveways and create unsafe conditions for residents. Atkins said the northern edge backs onto a future multifamily open space and that the development includes multiple 12‑foot shared‑use pathways to provide pedestrian connectivity. Engineering staff recommended keeping the northern sidewalk, but councilors discussed site geometry and driveway lengths before approving the waiver.
Other council actions taken at the meeting included approval of several routine hires and projects: a seasonal hire for the golf course, additional lifeguards and wage adjustments to staff the municipal pool (pool opening planned for Memorial Day pending weather), authorization to proceed with DGR’s grading plan and specifications for Aspen Park (proposal amount listed in staff materials), and approval of a quote to replace the pool’s original surge tank with work scheduled after the pool season.
The council approved a police intern (workers’ comp liability coverage) and granted a street‑closure permit for a block party on Copper Avenue after all affected property owners signed off on the closure.
A request from the volunteer fire department to share the cost of replacing an in‑floor heating system in the apparatus bay was denied. The fire department submitted two quotes; the packet included a higher quote from Prairie Suns for $56,004.95 and a lower quote near $26,000. Council discussion noted paragraph 6 of the lease assigns repair and replacement responsibility for building systems to the fire department as tenant. Councilors concluded the city would not fund the replacement this year and voted to deny the funding request.
A Van Buskirk Companies rezoning and replat matter (first reading of Ordinance 733) was continued at the developer’s request; Jordan Heffner of Van Buskirk Companies asked the council to continue the public hearing to the June 2 meeting and the motion to continue passed.
Votes at a glance: - Resolution O825 (Aspen Ridge sidewalk waiver): approved (voice vote). - Ordinance 733 (Van Buskirk rezone/replat): continued to June 2 (motion passed). - Fire department heating system cost‑share request: denied (motion passed). - Pool staff hires and wage adjustments: approved (voice vote). - DGR proposal for Aspen Park grading plans/specs: approved (voice vote). - Surge tank replacement quote (pool): approved (voice vote). - Police intern (workers' comp liability): approved (voice vote). - Street‑closure for Copper block party: approved (voice vote).
