At a Sept. 25 public hearing, the Medical Lake Planning Commission recommended forwarding a proposal with conditions for the Silver West II subdivision to the City Council.
According to the proposal, Mike Hume, of PTH LLC is requesting to subdivide 12.7 acres of land into 49 single-family lots as a continuation of the Silver Hills West Subdivision off of Jim Darby Drive. The project will be located east of Lefevre Street, off of State Route 902, and will connect with Jim Darby Drive. Lots will range from 6,000 - 12,806 square feet. The subdivision will be built in four phases.
Glenn Scholten, planning consultant for the city, gave a presentation on the proposed subdivision. Scholten explained that he had looked over the proposal to make sure it complied with the city’s codes. He assured residents that the subdivision will not affect the level of services Medical Lake currently receives.
Scholten also went over wetland biologist Larry Dawes’s buffer mitigation plan, as well as a State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA) review for the project. He explained that there are two category 3 wetland buffer zones adjacent to the proposed subdivision.
“These wetlands serve a purpose like flood control and wildlife habitat,” Scholten said. “You can go in, manipulate and use the buffer areas but you have to make up for it.”
Scholten said the development would affect approximately 8,932.7 square feet of the buffer zone. The buffer zone to the northwest will become part of the road that will extend to Lefevre Street. Engineers will split the southwest buffer zone into two locations, both of which will become storm water features. Scholten added that the proponent of the proposal has to provide the city with more wetland area than they are using.
“Under the city’s ordinance, you can use the wetland area as long as you provide the city additional land in another place,” Scholten said. “At a ratio of 1.5 to 1, we are going to get back 12,909 square feet of extra buffer area. We will go to the south of the lots and designate that into a buffer area.”
Engineer Mark Krigbaum of Whipple Consulting Engineers, explained that the storm drainage will enhance the area and most of the buffer zone will be enhanced with trees and shrubs.
City staff listed 43 conditions the engineer has to follow in order to put in the new subdivision. These conditions include comments from Fire Chief Jason Mayfield in regards to adequate road width for fire truck access and hydrants painted in accordance with National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) standards. Engineers also have to submit an application to the Washington Department of Transportation to approve the proposed intersection of Jim Darby Drive and Lefevre Street.
During public testimony, citizens expressed concern about potential traffic hazards and drivers speeding through Jim Darby Drive, specifically residents who would want to use the street as a shortcut to get to the city’s recycling center. Ross said he would ask Spokane County Sheriff’s Office deputies to conduct emphasis patrols in the area.
Krigbaum said engineers would install traffic calming measures in the subdivision. Todd Whipple, of Whipple Consulting Engineering said residents might see a few more people using it to take their children to school in the morning, but the intent is to keep people on the city streets.
Ross explained that once the City Council approves the proposal, the engineers will do the work on the roads, storm drains and sewer lines.
“All of that has to be put in before one lot is ever sold,” Ross said. “That’s not the case everywhere. Some places once they get preliminary approval, they can start selling lots. Here in Medical Lake we feel that everything should be in before the developer gets a chance to sell the lots.”
Al Stover can be reached at [email protected].
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