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Commission approves upsizing of water and sewer infrastructure for Voyager Heights apartments
Summary
Brainerd's utilities commission approved requests to oversize and extend water mains and sanitary sewer infrastructure for the proposed Voyager Heights Apartments, recommending use of development trunk/system fees to cover oversizing costs estimated at roughly $150,000 (water) and $115,000 (sewer).
The Brainerd Public Utilities Commission on Jan. 27 approved staff recommendations to upsize water main and sanitary sewer infrastructure tied to the proposed Voyager Heights Apartments, a multi‑building housing project south of Woodland Hills Lane.
Utility staff told commissioners the developer’s plan initially called for a 10‑inch water main to serve the site, but city modeling showed benefits in upsizing to a 12‑inch water main through Greenwood Street and the development to provide capacity and redundancy for future nearby growth. Staff also requested developer stubs to the east and west to allow future looping and to serve parcels near Teen Challenge and Woodland Hills.
On sanitary sewer, staff recommended upsizing the developer’s proposed RC509 lift station to an RC611 and enlarging the force main from 4 inches to 6 inches to accommodate potential future development west, east and south of the site. Staff said the city’s sanitary model and water model support the upsizing and that the city has collaborated with Westwood Professional Services and the developer’s engineer.
Funding for the oversizing was proposed from development impact fees (referred to in the meeting as 'sack and whack' and system development charges). Staff estimated roughly $150,000 for water main oversizing and about $115,000 for sanitary sewer upsizing; the sanitary‑related request to use trunk funds will go to city council while the commission approved use of water‑related funds in this meeting.
Commissioners praised the long‑range planning, noting upsizing now will reduce future costs and support housing growth. Staff emphasized that the commission’s approval is limited to the oversizing and that the city council will consider related sanitary sewer funding decisions at its next meeting on Feb. 2.
