RIVER FALLS – The River Falls City Council approved the final plat for the Highview Meadows Sixth Addition at its Sept. 28 meeting. The addition will provide 35 more single- family lots for homes south of Meadows Drive, a newly constructed street.

Kings Highway, LLC requested the final plat approval. The development area was platted in 2004 and since then, five additions have been platted and built. Meadows Drive and Williams Avenue are currently being completed, along with additional infrastructure.

Once the plat is approved and recorded, the developers may begin selling lots.

Stormwater ordinance

The council approved an ordinance which will require “total phosphorous” to be included in the required modeling done on developments that have new stormwater facilities.

Since 2006, the city has been permitted as a municipal separate stormwater system (MS4). Because the city discharges stormwater into an impaired waterway (the Kinnickinnic River), the MS4 permit requires compliance with a maximum phosphorous amount in the discharged water. To meet these requirements, the city has to reduce the amount of phosphorous discharged to surface waters in stormwater runoff.

Adding the phosphorous modeling to developers’ stormwater requirements would save the city money and time, and add no cost to developers.

In tandem, the council approved a resolution to change the stormwater management standards. Developers will be required to submit an as-built grading survey of lot corners and major drainageways before issuing building permits. A two percent minimum slope for side and rear yard drainage swales and roadside ditches will be required for all soil types.

This change resulted from city engineering staff frequently fielding complaints from homeowners each year about drainage issues on their properties, such as standing water or wet soils.

Other business

The council approved a resolution appointing Utility Director Kevin Westhuis as a member representative to the West Central Wisconsin Biosolids Facility; Assistant City Administrator Jason Stroud will serve as alter-