City approves subdivision, final plat plan
PRIEST RIVER — City Council members made quick work of approving “Parkers Addition,” as there was no testimony during the June 17 public hearing on the proposal for the two-lot subdivision.
With council’s approval, Randy and Linda Parker have the green light to divide their 20,292 square-foot parcel on Warren Avenue, near the airport, into two 10,166 square-foot parcels.
“That’s basically what we want to do, is build a houses there for ourselves, and probably use the front house as a rental,” Randy Parker said.
Brian Quayle, city planning and zoning director, said the couple is in compliance with city ordinances, and the only condition of the request was that the final plat be completed within two years.
“Having discussion with the owners prior to tonight’s hearing, they were thinking more in terms of days rather than years,” Quayle said.
Council members subsequently approved the request, moving on to approval of the River View Ridge final plat, which required a bit more discussion than the Parkers’ request.
The River View Ridge development was approved by council members a year ago, and construction of the site was recently completed. The 11-acre development includes 20 single-family home lots, five duplex lots and a 2.24-acre multi-family lot for a proposed 32 apartments. The development includes improvements to fencing along the property’s border with the cemetery, as well as trail system that is open to the public. The developer is required under agreement with the city to maintain the trails for two years or 50-percent buildout of the 20 residential lots. With approval by council, buildout and sale of homes on the lots in nearly ready to commence.
Quayle said while the developer, Fred LeClair with Priest River Investments, LLC, has complied with the majority of the conditions per the agreement with the city, there were two issues that needed addressed as of June 17. First, he said, the required signage, such as street signs, had not been installed. The other issue is a lien on the property, he said, adding that a lien holder certificate for consent to plat is forthcoming, he said. Both issues were expected to be resolved last week, so council members approved the final plat, pending the completion of the signs and receipt of the lien holder certificate. As of Monday, city clerk and treasurer Laurel Thomas said the lien holder certificate had not been received and the mylars had not been signed. While some of the signage had been put up, she said, staff had not confirmed installation as of Monday.
The city’s downtown revitalization project was also back on the agenda after available funding made it possible to include one of the add alternates that was not approved during the initial bidding process.
The base bid covers High Street from just east of Wisconsin to Cedar, and Main Street from just south of Highway 2 – there is a small area at the north end of Main not included in the base bid – to just south of the dentist’s office. Council members approved adding waterline replacement under the two sections to the north and south in April, but did not think there would be enough funding for the roadwork to go with it, so the idea was to patch over the new water lines until more funding came through at a later date.
Construction started in May and is on time and budget, leaving $282,907 in available funds. The first add alternate, the small section at the north end of Main, would cost $97,687 to complete. Council decided to forgo that section for the time being, and approved the second add alternate for $243,835 to complete improvements at the south end of Main.
Mary Malone can be reached by email at mmalone@bonnercountydailybee.com and follow her on Twitter @MaryDailyBee.