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Belgrade has been experiencing a boom of new construction as Ryen Glenn neighborhood has taken off and Meadowlark Ranch and Las Campanas continue to infill.

‘Right Now We’re Booming’
Belgrade on track to break record for building permits
by Freddy Monares, Belgrade News staff writer Jul 13, 2017

Belgrade city planners say they are on track this year to break the record for single-family dwelling permits issued in the city. Last year the city of Belgrade issued 124 single-family unit permits and set the record for the most permits granted for the city, according to Clinton Holman, permit technician for the planning and building department. He said that this time last year the city had issued about 77 single-family permits. On Tuesday, Holman said 75 permits had been issued, not including a couple more he had not yet process.

“We’re well on schedule to surpass last year’s single-family permits issued,” Holman said. City planner Jason Karp said the growth could be attributed to subdivisions in the area that continue to build. Ryan Glenn, Meadowlark and Las Campanas, he said, are all contributing to the amount of permits issued by the city.

“We’re on pace to break our records, but it depends on the builders and if they keep building,” Karp said. “It doesn’t appear to be showing signs of letting up right now, but these things go up and down.”

Karp said that the city is getting a bit stronger in the commercial sector as well. He said that numerous businesses and offices have sprung up in the area in the past year. At this point, Karp said there are two factors that would stop the growth in the city – water and sewer capacity. He said those two issues have been monitored by the city as it continues to grow. “If we’re out of water – or out of sewer capacity – we just can’t build anymore,” Karp said. “So far, we’re doing our best to stay out in front of that.”

Karp said the city is using up its water capacity, and has to expand its ability to pump water, and is doing so by adding a new well. Belgrade is also reaching a milestone with its population nearing the 10,000 mark. Once the city exceeds that number, according to state law, it would be designated as a first-class city – which has implications.

If the city reaches that mark by the 2020 census, it would be required to have its own fire department. City officials estimate the population of Belgrade to be between 8,500 residents to 8,800 residents. City Manager Ted Barkley said the city would open dialogue with a first-of-its-kind interim legislative committee on local government on Friday. He said the goal is to try and change the law to prevent having a separate fully-paid fire department. “We will bring all the resources we have to bear to help change the minds of the legislators,” Barkely said.

A new fire department in Belgrade would cost about three times what the city is currently paying with the contracted services through Central Valley Fire District, he said. In addition to requiring its own fire department, Barkley said the population growth could also activate the Clean Water Act.

“These are not bad things, but they are expensive things,” he said. Those are two examples of immediate impacts, Barkley said. Piercing that 10,000 mark, he added, would be a big deal for the city. Karp said the planning department did not anticipate the city hitting that population by 2020, but is unsure with they way things are currently going.

“Past experience is these things ramp up really quickly and then slow down,” Karp said. “It’s definitely a boom and bust kind of thing – right now we’re booming.”

Source: ‘Right Now We’re Booming’ | Municipal | belgrade-news.com