Parkside development moves forward

CHENEY – The City Council concurred with a recommendation from the Planning Commission and unanimously approved a preliminary plat for a 46-unit residential development at their Sept. 22 meeting that could bring higher-end homes to the city.

Parkside 2nd Addition would plat 31 single-family lots and 15 duplexes on 16.98 acres of property near the corner of Simpson Parkway and North 6th Street. The property, owned by Gordon Finch Homes, is currently zoned for R-1 (single family) and R-2 (two-family) development.

The duplexes to be built along the new Bethany Street are associated with the Cheney Care Center’s senior living plans with nearby Blackstone development, with most of the units already sold. The eastern portion of the development would create two new cul de sacs where two-story, three-car-garage single-family residences ranging from 2,600 – 3,000 square feet would be custom constructed based on a model home.

Developer Gordon Finch told the commission at its Sept. 14 meeting he estimated the price range for the new homes to be around $500,000.

Council questions centered on issues of water drainage and access. Councilman Paul Schmidt said looking at the preliminary plans indicated surface waters would drain to the northeast corner of the development, noting the groundwater in that area of the city was “horrendous” and close to the surface, asking if it would then “spill out” into existing system eventually crossed State Route 904 into the Minnie Creek system.

“That would be correct, that’s exactly where it would go,” Public Works Director Todd Ableman said. “It would go into the wetland area so we’re going to have make sure that it is properly treated before it hits that area.”

Ableman added the nature of the groundwater in the area, being close to the surface, precluded installing dry wells and percolation ponds to provide abatement.

Councilman John Taves questioned if the streets are the proper width to allow for snow removal. He also asked if sidewalks would abut directly with the curb — which would allow plowed snow to be deposited on the walkways — or if there would be some green space separating them.

“These are publicly designed streets, they’re not private streets,” Ableman said in noting they would be of sufficient width for plows. He added it was still early in construction and sidewalk location would be addressed as that progressed.

Council also passed two other resolutions last Tuesday. The first was a resolution accepting additional funding from the federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, picking up an additional $186,150.

The city has received a total of $558,450 of funding to help individuals and local businesses with costs associated with meeting COVID-19 pandemic measures. Schmidt said the Finance Committee is discussing ways to make the funds available.

“We’re thinking it will be the last we’ll get in the near future,” he added.

Finance Director Cindy Niemeier added that the deadline to use the funding had been extended from Oct. 31 to Nov. 30.

“Which is good,” Mayor Chris Grover said. “It gives us another month to get this money out to businesses.”

Finally, council approved a resolution declaring the city’s wastewater collection camera van surplus and allowing city staff to sell it. Staff purchased a 2018 demo camera van — included in the 2020 budget — with low miles and fairly new to replace the 1994 GMC TV Van 606, which as surplus now carries a minimum bid of $5,000.

“This is long overdue,” Ableman said. “I don’t know in the world if VHS sounds familiar. That’s how we tape our sewer lines currently and those machines are hard to come by.”

Ableman added the 2018 demo’s existing camera was replaced with a new system.

John McCallum can be reached at [email protected].