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Altoona council approves Stonebridge plan changes after waterway reclassification
Summary
The council approved amendments to the Stonebridge PUD and an amended preliminary plat after a waterway through the subdivision was reclassified as a “Water of the U.S.,” prompting a redesign to reduce stream crossings from three to two.
The Altoona City Council on May 4 approved amendments to the Stonebridge planned unit development and an amended preliminary plat after city staff said a waterway bisecting the property was reclassified as a “Water of the U.S.”
Community Development Director John Shaw told the council the federal reclassification raised thresholds for disturbance along the stream and its adjacent areas. To minimize permit impacts and environmental disturbance, the developer revised the subdivision layout to reduce the number of stream crossings from three to two. The council voted unanimously to approve the development-plan amendment and the amended preliminary plat.
Shaw said the revised layout aligns streets and lots with the new constraints and is intended to lessen impacts to regulated waters. The council’s roll-call approvals were recorded as unanimous (5-0).
The approvals do not finalize lot-level plats or construction permits; Shaw indicated the changes are intended to comply with the federal classification and reduce potential mitigation and permitting requirements. Any future grading, stream crossings or construction that trigger federal or state permitting will require additional approvals and coordination with regulatory agencies.
The council’s action allows the developer to proceed with the amended entitlements under the new plan; the specific timing of subsequent platting and construction was not specified at the meeting.
