Horace, ND – Cub Creek Development

CHALLENGE

The Cub Creek Development in Horace faces significant challenges as the City continues to grow and expand its infrastructure. Located next to a newly constructed high school and middle school, the development relies on a temporary sewer outfall, necessitating a permanent solution. County Legal Drain 27 bisects the property, with floodplain areas complicating flood mitigation, access, stormwater drainage, and sanitary sewer servicing. Additionally, the property spans two water service areas, managed by the City of Horace and Cass Rural Water District (CRW), requiring coordination to address both systems’ needs. The surrounding roadway network supports regional traffic, including areas of Fargo, adding complexity to funding improvements amidst inflation and rising construction costs.

SOLUTION

To address the challenges of rapid growth, collaboration was essential among the Developer, City, School District, adjacent developments, Southeast Cass Water Resource District (SE Cass), FEMA, CRW, Park District, and the City of Fargo. Adaptive Master Plans were created to balance stakeholder needs while optimizing land use. A new collector roadway crossing was designed with SE Cass and the City to span the County Legal Drain, enhancing connectivity and usability while serving as an aesthetic focal point for the neighborhood. This roadway provides access to newly dedicated park properties and incorporates on-street diagonal parking to maximize park and amenity use.

Low-lying floodplain areas were elevated through the LOMR process, using fill sourced from expanded retention ponds. This increased retention capacity supported a gravity-fed drainage system, eliminating the need for a storm sewer lift station, reducing long-term maintenance, and enhancing reliability. The added retention also allowed the DBR to stock the ponds with fish, creating a valued recreational amenity. Construction was phased over several years to address project complexities and provide buildable areas on schedule.

OUTCOME

The project expanded the City’s developable area, removing it from the floodplain and creating a vibrant new residential neighborhood. It includes a concrete collector roadway with shared-use paths linking parks and ponds, local asphalt streets, a sanitary sewer lift station, and robust underground infrastructure. Designed to meet the needs of the growing community, the development provides housing and amenities for families attending the new schools nearby.