Project Description
The City of Woodbury is planning a utility replacement and roadway rehabilitation project in the Royal Oaks neighborhood in 2022 and 2023. The scope of the project is still being determined, but is tentatively planned to include pavement rehabilitation, curb replacement, trail and sidewalk rehabilitation and construction, water main replacement, water service replacement, storm sewer rehabilitation and replacement, sanitary sewer rehabilitation, and sanitary sewer service replacement. The city is also considering repaving the parking lots at Ojibway Park (main and north) and Chippewa Park.
This project will likely include significant underground utility work. The water main in this area has a history of breaks and a significant portion of the main will need to be replaced. Individual service lines will also need to be replaced to each property. This will have a substantial impact to all homeowners and properties in the area, with temporary water shut-offs and temporary roadway closures. Due to the size of the project, we anticipate construction extending into 2023.
We requested feedback from the neighborhood last spring and are looking for additional feedback to help determine the scope of the project. Please select the link at the top of the page to provide input to the project.
- Street Reconstruction
- Utilities Replacement
- Trails / Sidewalks
- Rain Gardens
- Boulevard Trees
- Assessments
- Spring 2020 Feedback from Residents
The project would include repaving all roads within the neighborhood. A significant portion of curb will also likely be replaced. If curb is replaced, the city will be required to disturb approximately 5 feet into the yards behind the curb. Any private features (irrigation, dog fence, landscaping, etc.) that will be impacted by construction are the responsibility of the homeowner to protect. The city cannot reimburse residents for any private features damaged by construction located within the city's right-of-way (approximately 12 feet behind the curb).
The City is currently reviewing the condition of water main and sanitary sewer in the neighborhood. Based on the age and history of water main breaks, the City will likely replace a significant amount of water main as a part of the project. As a part of the water main replacement, individual water services would also be replaced. In order to complete this work, temporary water would need to be supplied to all homeowners through overland pipes. Short-term water shut-offs (8 hours or less) will likely be necessary to complete this work.
Sanitary sewer is also being considered to be rehabilitated through lining or replacement. Sanitary services may also be replaced for some homeowners. This work is not anticipated to impact wastewater disposal for homeowners.
Based on city policies within the 2040 Comprehensive Plan and the Roadway Corridor Design Principles, additional trails and sidewalks along roadways within the neighborhood will be proposed with the 2022 Roadway Rehabilitation project. Proposals to reconstruct residential roadways with trails or sidewalks will consider a number of neighborhood context items such as tree impacts, right-of-way constraints, drainage, driveway grades and maintenance. These considerations will be reviewed as locations for trails or sidewalks are identified. A map indicating proposed trails locations is shown below.
The city is considering implementing rain gardens along the street to help improve water quality throughout the neighborhood. A rain garden is a depression that allows rain water to infiltrate into the ground and contains plants that are able to survive in soils with high levels of moisture.
If a resident is interested in having the city construct a rain garden in the boulevard in front of their house, they should indicate that on the neighborhood survey, or reach out to Mike Hejna directly.
Learn more about native plantings.
The city has been in the process of removing diseased ash trees in the boulevards throughout the neighborhood and will replace all trees that have been removed. If interested in the city planting a boulevard tree, please respond to the resident survey. The city will review all requests for boulevard trees in the neighborhood.
Special assessments are a charge to properties for the cost of making a local improvement, or to collect certain charges that will benefit these properties. Estimated assessments will be determined after the final project scope is determined. Please note - the addition of trails and sidewalks may increase the special assessment for the project.
In spring 2020, staff collected initial feedback from residents in the area.
- 58% of respondents have concerns about traffic speed
- 48% have concerns about pedestrian or bike safety
- 61% in favor of adding trail along Queens Drive
- 46% in favor of adding trail along Courtly Road
- 34% in favor of adding trails/sidewalks throughout the neighborhood
View the survey announcement postcard (PDF).