City council approves Harvest Creek development despite concerned residents
ST. CLOUD — Roughly 55 acres of farmland will soon be transformed into a St. Cloud subdivision after the city council approved rezoning it to create 65 single-family lots.
These lots at the eastern portion of 1928 73rd Ave. N. will collectively create St. Cloud’s newest housing development — Harvest Creek. According to a city memo, only 36 lots will be implemented in the development’s first phase.
St. Cloud’s 2015 comprehensive plan suggests the 55 acres be used for mixed residential uses, which consists of both single-family homes and low-density multi-family homes. It was zoned for agricultural use prior to Monday’s rezoning.
Residents voiced concerns about how the development might impact local traffic. Resident Mary Martini, who lives at the corner of Northwood Lane and 68th Avenue, told the council that many drivers ignore the intersection’s stop signs and jeopardize neighborhood safety.
“There’s always been a four-way stop on my corner and over the years I’ve witnessed drivers ignore the signs,” Martini said.
Other residents raised concerns about how the development could impact traffic a few blocks away on 322nd Street, which comes off of County Road 4, and how it might inconvenience drivers’ morning and afternoon commutes.
“This will exacerbate an already poor situation on 322nd Street, which I hope the city — in (collaboration) with Stearns County, LeSauk Township and St. Wendel Township — will tackle much sooner than later. It’s already an extremely unsafe commuter route,” said resident Tim Wright.
Sartell-based developer Arc Land LLC — owned by Craig Hiltner — is behind the Harvest Creek project. Hiltner was not present at the meeting.
— Corey Schmidt is a freelance reporter for the St. Cloud Times.
This article originally appeared on St. Cloud Times: City council approves Harvest Creek development
