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Cross Plains board approves Marchstone phase 1 construction documents and water‑system cost‑share
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Summary
Trustees approved construction documents for the Marchstone phase 1 development and adopted a $9 million water infrastructure cost‑share that assigns 43% of the funding to the village and 57% to the developer. The agreement includes developer provision of land for water facilities and waivers for certain phase‑1 fees.
The Village of Cross Plains Board of Trustees approved final construction documents for Marchstone phase 1 and adopted a separate water infrastructure agreement for an estimated $9,000,000 project on Feb. 23.
The board voted to adopt a cost‑sharing arrangement the village staff described as 43% village and 57% Marchstone; the financing structure and related fee waivers were negotiated with the developer and incorporated into the adopted agreement. Staff said the project option selected includes a ground reservoir and associated booster/tank facilities needed to improve storage and pressure for parts of the village.
Trustees spent the bulk of the discussion on how the agreement treats land used for water infrastructure. The draft agreement credits acreage supplied by the developer against future parkland/conservancy dedication requirements; several trustees called that provision a new element not discussed when the project was first approved and asked staff to clarify how an estimated 1.25 acres would convert to a fee credit. Village staff said the acreage estimate had been discussed in earlier iterations but that the exact crediting and any dollar conversion will be resolved later in the phase‑2 developer agreement.
Supporters of the agreement pointed to the village’s immediate need for additional water storage and system resilience. One trustee noted the village faces storage shortfalls relative to best‑practice guidance and that the new infrastructure would improve pressure and fire protection in higher‑elevation areas. Opponents pressed for alternatives — including siting a reservoir on village‑owned land and paying full costs — or for clearer dollar equivalencies for the land‑credit provision.
The construction documents adopted for phase 1 returned multiuse path widths to the 10‑foot section previously requested by the board. Trustees also reviewed technical site elements including hydrant siting (several hydrants are placed in medians where storm‑sewer separation rules prevent side‑of‑road placement) and borrow‑pit location; staff said the borrow pit was relocated off hillside protection areas so no additional hillside approvals are required for phase 1.
The board approved both the construction documents and the water infrastructure agreement after extended discussion and a roll‑call vote. Staff said the development agreement language was revised so the developer waivers in the water agreement govern the developer‑agreement waiver provisions.
The board referred a small number of remaining technical items to staff follow‑up and to the planned phase‑2 developer agreement, which will settle acreage, crediting methodology and other implementation details.
