The Pagosa Area Water and Sanitation District (PAWSD) Board of Directors approved a mainline extension acceptance agreement and a development agreement for utility improvements with the Timberline development at its July 25 meeting.
The Timberline project is located at 116 Alpha Drive near Walmart.
PAWSD Programs Manager Renee Lewis opened discussion of the mainline extension agreement, noting that Timberline was previously known as the Trails at Pagosa Springs.
She stated that the mainline extension agreement was “new” for PAWSD and “encapsulates all the things we had done into one agreement.”
Lewis stated that PAWSD’s attorney recommended that such an agreement would best cover the intentions of both parties concerning the project and that she and the developer worked together to draft the agreement.
Travis Barber, representing project developer Generation Housing Partners, commented that the agreement matches the developer’s expectations.
PAWSD board member Glenn Walsh asked if the 950-gallons-per-minute water supply stipulated in the agreement is acceptable to the Pagosa Fire Protection District (PFPD) and the Pagosa Springs Planning Commission.
PAWSD District Engineer/Manager Justin Ramsey stated that, in his understanding, the engineer for the project was working with the PFPD on fire flow requirements for the project since the PFPD’s initial requirements were above what PAWSD could provide.
Ramsey added that a hydrant test showed that the district could provide about 1,600 gallons per minute in the area, which Lewis explained is higher than modeling in the area suggested.
Lewis stated that the PFPD provided an approval letter for the project, although she commented that the issue had been “moving around,” with details on what would be required changing.
The group discussed the issue further, with Lewis emphasizing that PAWSD would not have moved forward with the mainline extension if the PFPD did not approve the project and Walsh commenting that the district could rely on the “big, robust, very-well-funded fire department” to determine what amount of flow is needed for fires.
Lewis added that Ramsey expressed in conversations with her that the requirements in the code for fire flow were likely unnecessarily high in this case and that 1,600 gallons per minute should be “more than adequate to fight fire.”
She added that the developer would be constructing and maintaining its own lift station and high-pressure line to the manhole.
The board voted unanimously to approve the mainline extension acceptance agreement.
Next, Ramsey explained the development agreement for utility improvements related to Timberline.
He prefaced the discussion by stating that one of the major issues in the area is with inflow and infiltration (I and I) downstream from the development and that staff worked with Timberline to develop an agreement for Timberline to repair multiple issues with the PAWSD system to reduce I and I, and create capacity for the waste from the development to safely flow into the system.
In response to a question from Walsh, Ramsey explained that the repairs are “focused” downstream of the development, adding “we’re taking I and I out in areas that they’re putting effluent into to make sure that we’re not compounding the problem.”
He stated that PAWSD staff would meet with a contractor from Timberline in the next week and that repairs would begin soon afterward.
The repairs would reduce issues with I and I in the area and issues such as backflow into homes, Ramsey indicated, as well as demonstrating to the state that the district is making progress on its compliance agreement to reduce I and I.
Walsh asked if the district would have to keep requests to developers to repair I and I related issues specific to areas near their development.
Ramsey commented that the district should do this since these are the areas where the development will be adding waste.
He added that this will likely be a requirement for large developments for the foreseeable future due to the district’s difficulties with I and I.
Walsh and Ramsey clarified that the requirement to complete system improvements would only apply to projects involving significant increases to the number of equivalent units (EUs) for the project from the amount of EUs the property had when initially purchased.
Ramsey added that the development agreement covers all elements of the project, not just the system repairs.
Walsh asked Ramsey if there are any aspects of the project he is “disappointed” with.
Ramsey stated that there were not any elements of the project he objected to, particularly since the development is constructing and operating the lift station for the project.
In response to a question from PAWSD board member Gene Tautges, Ramsey and Lewis clarified that Timberline is separate from another proposed development near South Pagosa Boulevard which includes the proposed location for the new Archuleta County administration building.
The board then unanimously voted to approve the development agreement with Timberline.
Barber concluded by thanking the PAWSD staff and board members.
josh@pagosasun.com
