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Granite Falls extends sewer-connection moratorium while treatment plant is built
Summary
The Granite Falls City Council on March 20 adopted Ordinance No. 1050-2024 to extend a sewer connection moratorium while the new wastewater treatment plant is under construction; council said the extension will be managed in 6‑month increments with staff-defined trigger points for reopening permit acceptance.
GRANITE FALLS — The City Council voted March 20 to extend a moratorium on new sewer connections while the city completes construction of its wastewater treatment plant.
City Manager Brent Kirk told the council that the plant is currently under construction and that funding for the project is in place. Staff proposed continuing the moratorium in periodic six‑month increments, which Council discussed as amounting to a 12–18 month continuation tied to construction milestones rather than a single fixed date. No public testimony was received during the hearing.
Council opened a noticed public hearing on AB 034-2024 and associated Ordinance No. 1050-2024. Kirk reviewed the ordinance draft, including housekeeping edits and a list of current exemptions. He said staff would present scenarios and objective trigger points — such as a Notice of Completion or other milestone — that could be used to resume accepting development permit applications.
Councilmember Griggs moved to adopt Ordinance No. 1050-2024 and Councilmember FitzGerald seconded; the motion carried and the Mayor was authorized to sign the ordinance. The record shows the motion was carried but does not record a roll‑call tally of individual yes/no votes.
Council and staff emphasized the intent to establish clear, publishable criteria so developers and property owners can plan permit submissions around defined milestones. Staff indicated those trigger points and any administrative procedures for reopening permit intake will be presented to the council in advance of lifting the moratorium.
The extension affects new sewer connections and developer permitting tied to sewer availability; the ordinance text and staff packet list existing exemptions but do not change the fundamental limit on new connections until construction milestones are met. The city did not specify an exact calendar date for lifting the moratorium; staff framed the timeline as contingent on completion milestones for the wastewater treatment plant.
Next steps: the Mayor will sign Ordinance No. 1050-2024 and staff will return with proposed trigger definitions and any administrative guidance for permit applicants.
