Nature View Estates and Barrette Street estates and water/drainage problems were questioned at the Crookston Planning Commission meeting on Tuesday evening.
The Northwest Housing Cooperative and Bob Herkenhoff’s plan for the Nature View Estates cul-de-sacs off Barrette Street should address the current drainage issue behind the homes on the east side of Barrette Street. “Our plan is summer 2019 we’re going to put in those cul-de-sacs and put in some storm sewer beehives [drains] on the end to catch some of that water,” said Herkenhoff. “Rich Clausen from Widseth-Smith-Nolting and I have sat down and gone over some of the issues. I think we’re going to get rid of the water or the majority of it, can’t say all of it because you never know but we should get rid of most of it.”
The Barrette Street Estates created an issue with the natural flow of water and some ditching may be required in the new plan to get the water flowing to the beehive drains. Currently, the plans are to have beehive drains located on the south side of Spruce Lane and on the North and South of Fir Lane. “Where these beehives are, we may have to do a little ditching to get the water to flow to them,” said Herkenhoff. “After sewer and water went in it never really drained that well. It’s very flat back there too. We’ll get rid of the majority of water and a little bit of ditching should help quite a bit.”
Herkenhoff understands the struggles with the drainage on Barrette Street. “I’m on board with them, I went back there last summer or two summers ago,” said Herkenhoff. “I had a buddy who was doing some work back here on some drainage issues and we took the laser on his tractor and tried to do the best we could with the drainage. I understand their struggles and they’ve got a reason to be concerned. We’ve been trying to help them, but I think this is going to help a lot.”
The plans also include a trail easement behind the Barrette Street Estates and between the cul-de-sacs out to the natural ponds Herkenhoff has created. “I wanted to be sure there was a trail easement on it still because that’s kind of important to me,” said Herkenhoff. “I want to eventually have a nice natural park back here with the ponds, wild prairie grass, wildflowers and hopefully a gravel trail going around it and work a deal on something here with the City.”
Herkenhoff will own the plat until it’s finished and then hand it over to the Northwest Housing Cooperative in a trade for a twin home. “What I’m doing is a deal with Northwest Housing Co-op,” said Herkenhoff. “They are going to build me a twin home and I’ll trade them some lots. I’m going to own this plat until it’s all completely done and setup. Then I’ll hand it off to those guys. I think as far as the trail that’s something probably the City, Northwest Housing and myself would try to figure out something together.”
Polk County has a plan to re-do Fisher Avenue in 2020 with turn lanes which Herkenhoff plans to work on the City to create the park area. “In 2020 they are redoing the highway out here and changing some turn lanes,” said Herkenoff. “About a year from now possibly I’ll go to the City about maybe doing a park back here if we can work something out.”
There will be a mix in lot sizes from a beginning starter size of about a half-acre with some bigger lots of up to an acre and a half. “I know there will be some big lots,” said Herkenhoff. “There will some lots at about a half-acre and maybe about six lots that are an acre to an acre and a half. With a nice future park, they should have some desirable lots. I think you’ll see some higher-end houses going back there and the way it sounds there are a few people already picking lots. There will be six real big ones and six kind of beginner starting homes so we’re mixing it up.”
