Golden Hills receives plat extension

Cheney planning commissioners agreed enough progress had been made on an undeveloped portion of the Golden Hills subdivision, and that there was enough hope construction might begin soon that they granted a fourth, two-year extension to the owner of a sizeable portion of the parcel.

Michael Erkmann, owner of an 8.15-acre portion of Golden Hills Fourth Addition, submitted a request to the commission to grant him another extension of the parcel. The city’s municipal code allows for approval of plat extensions of up to two years so long as the commission determines “the applicant is making substantial progress towards the development of the project.”

The Golden Hills development has occurred in stages since originally platted in October 2004, following the ups and downs of the housing market. The Fourth Addition received its first two-year extension in September 2009, just after the recession of 2007-2008 forced a significant downturn in the economy.

“The project just hasn’t had a chance to move forward,” Cheney planner Brett Lucas said.

Erkmann purchased the 8.15-acre portion, referred to as Fourth Addition Phase Two, in November 2012. He has been in negotiations with the owner of the other 11-acre portion of the parcel, John Raby, at first as an attempt to coordinate development of both parcels, which Erkmann said was needed because of the topography and the location of utilities.

The entire parcel is bordered by Washington Street on the west, Mike McKeehan Way on the north, Crunks Sports Complex on the east and a hill to the south. The topography presents a challenge to controlling stormwater drainage on the parcel.

Erkmann said he has not been successful in his negotiations with Raby, who has fallen into financial difficulties resulting in a default of his land contract and owing of over $14,000 in back taxes. He added that he has been in discussions with the land’s original owner, and who has the first deed of trust, John Montague, whose family homesteaded on the land.

In a letter to the commission, Erkmann said Montague is in the process of offering a deed on the land to Raby in lieu of foreclosure, and that Raby is in agreement with this transaction. Erkmann and Montague are “working on an arrangement for purchase and would anticipate that this would be finalized by the end of the year.”

Erkmann told the commission he has talked to developers on ways to successfully handle the utilities and stormwater issues. In his letter he stated he has a verbal commitment from a local developer familiar with Cheney to help him get construction underway within the next two years.

“We’re ready to roll,” Erkmann said. “We just need to get through this foreclosure process.”

Public Works Director Todd Ableman told the commission that when the parcel was originally platted in 2004, stormwater control was a concern. Since then, the additions of Mike McKeehan Way and Crunks have created some options.

“There has been development around this area that allows us to now speak to that (stormwater),” Ableman said.

Commissioners questioned staff on a variety of issues including application of impact fees, pedestrian access to the Crunks complex and if they could grant an extension shorter than two years.

“The issue is two gentlemen are trying to get these property issues resolved,” Commissioner Curt Critchlow said. “Once they do that, I think we will see some dirt up and moving.”

Commissioner Vara Lyn Conrath added she’d hate to penalize the landowners with too much additional requirements that might hamper development.

“They’re doing all they can to get this to move forward,” she said.

In approving the two-year extension, the commission did add a stipulation requiring some sort of pedestrian access from the parcel to Crunks.

John McCallum can be reached at [email protected].