Paradise council hears sewer project progress, residents urge alternatives to settling pond

Assistant Town Manager Mark Maddox told the Paradise Town Council the town is working through the administrative draft of an environmental impact report for the Paradise Sewer Project and expects to release the document in late April. "We are progressing nicely on schedule wise," Maddox said, adding that staff has submitted a $2,000,000 U.S. Army Corps earmark request and that the project currently has a budget and funding secured at $116,000,000 for a wastewater treatment facility.

Maddox said investigators are conducting soil studies this week at one of two candidate treatment sites and that the project remains focused on a collection system and a treatment facility sited at a location to be determined. He invited the public to review the EIR when it is released and to submit comments during the formal period.

At public comment, resident Brian Hap said one proposed site on Jaybird Lane is in his backyard and urged the town to consider alternatives to a settling pond. "If you put a settling pond almost anywhere in Paradise, I think it will affect the appeal for people to move back here," Hap said, arguing such elements could deter downtown business investment.

Jamie Hap also opposed the current design and asked the council to weigh business incentives and economic-development strategies alongside housing priorities. "So those are questions that I think need to be answered," she said, urging staff to pursue systems that support long-term downtown revitalization.

Council members thanked staff for the update and said they expect more detail when the EIR is released. The project team said public comments on the EIR will be invited after publication and that additional updates will be provided at future meetings.

The council took no final land-use action tonight. Staff reiterated next steps: complete the EIR administrative draft, release it for public review in late April, and report back to the council with responses to public comments and site information.