City mulls River View Ridge plan
PRIEST RIVER — Crews are starting work on River View Ridge Estates this week and, if all goes as scheduled, utilities and landscape improvements will be completed by July.
Bryan Quayle, the city's Planning and Zoning administrator, went over a proposed agreement between the city and developer during Monday's City Council meeting. With several changes to the agreement by Quayle, council held off voting on it until a final version is presented.
"In talking with the mayor, what we decided was that we were going to allow them to proceed forward as long as they had something ready for you, for tonight's meeting, to review and discuss," Quayle told council members.
According to the proposed agreement, the intent of the document is to ensure the property is developed in a manner consistent with city ordinances.
Council approved developer Fred LeClair’s request for a conditional use permit, his planned unit development, and his preliminary plats in March 2017. The proposed 11-acre development is bordered to the north by Evergreen Cemetery, to the west by the cemetery and Third Street, to the south by vacant forested land, and to the east by Larch Street and existing homes.
According to the proposed agreement, the project will include 20 single-family home lots, five duplex lots and a 2.24-acre multi-family lot with 32 apartments.
One point in the proposed agreement was construction time, allowing crews to work between the hours of 7 a.m. and 6 p.m., Monday through Saturday. Quayle said residents previously complained about the tree removal on the property in the early morning hours, as it is located in a residential neighborhood.
As per the 7 a.m. agreement, crews will not be allowed to start up any equipment before that time.
Points in the proposed agreement under "Final Design Review" surrounded water, sewer, streets, landscape, utilities and fire.
The developer will be required to hook up to the city's water and sewer upon development of the property. As construction is set to begin before the agreement is signed, Quayle said the developer could construct the water and sewer lines on the private land, but could not hook into the city's infrastructure until the new system is complete.
Under landscaping, the developer indicates a 10-foot-wide privacy screen will be constructed along the property's boundary with the cemetery. Quayle said this was one point that needed clarification, as he would request the developer to identify what the privacy screening would be, such as 12-inch bushes or 32-inch trees.
"They have to propose something that, within a reasonable growth period, will provide an effective screen," Quayle said.
Quayle also identified the need for clarification regarding a nature trail on the lower side of the property. Quayle said he would like to see the developer use a "Forest Service type of approach" to the existing trail by putting in some treads at the switchback, as well as some drainage improvements. In the proposed agreement, the developer wrote that the trail would be seasonal from April 1 through Sept. 30, with signs stating, "use at your own risk," and "pedestrian only, no motorized vehicles."
The development will also include construction of a new trail system along the north side of Lookout Drive — the proposed road through the property. The agreement as written would require the developer to maintain both trails for two years or until 50 percent of the single-family lots are occupied. The lower trail is located on "Tract B" on the east side of the property, which will be dedicated to the city of Priest River, Quayle said.
According to the developer's schedule, crews begin stripping topsoil today, start installation of the sanitary sewer on June 15 and water on June 27, finish subgrade by July 5, rock and pave on July 12, with final cleanup beginning July 18.
Mary Malone can be reached by email at mmalone@bonnercountydailybee.com and follow her on Twitter @MaryDailyBee.