Sean C. Morgan
Of The New Era
Dan Desler’s former associates raised objections to his proposed Western States Land Reliance Trust project at a Sweet Home Planning Commission hearing Monday night, Aug. 1.
But they say they may withdraw their opposition depending on whether their questions are answered satisfactorily.
Desler is the managing trustee for WSLRT, which has proposed a subdivision in connection with the master plan for the Santiam Commons and Santiam River Club developments.
Troy Cummins is the managing partner in Santiam River Partners, which is developing the Santiam River Club project. Partner Phil Ordway represented Santiam River Partners at the Aug. 1 public hearing.
Al Grove, a neighbor of the Santiam River Club project also raised objections to WSLRT’s proposal during the hearing.
The Planning Commission continued the hearing to its regular meeting on Sept. 12 to allow Desler time to provide additional information, including completion of a new traffic impact study in relation to the proposal.
The subdivison proposes 432 residential lots just to the west of Clark Mill Road straddling the line between former the Morse Bros. and Willamette Industries properties. Desler likened the layout of the project’s network of trails and private roads to Eagle Crest and Sunriver.
Cummins objected to a proposal to exceed maximum allowed densities within the specific parcels included in the subdivision. The master plan allows only a maximum of 199 units in the area.
Santiam River Partners representatives said they were concerned that the shifting density might decrease the units they can develop on their 311 acres east of Clark Mill Road. The master plan allows a total of 1,575 units. WSLRT is allocated upward of 1,000 of those units, but the exact number was unclear at the hearing.
The master plan does not allow for densities to be shifted from one parcel to another within the plan, Ordway said. He wrote the explanation for the master plan, and the numbers allocated for each parcel were deliberately set higher than anyone expected to need to allow room for flexibility in development.
Desler told the Planning Commission that the densities, streams, paths and other details were subject to change based on a note on the master plan map.
While disagreeing on that point, Ordway said Santiam River Partners would support the shift in densities from one parcel to another, a change predicated on the addition of a larger amphitheater to the Santiam Commons project, as long as it did not decrease the number of units allowed to Santiam River Partners. The amphitheater will displace between 200 and 300 units in the master plan.
Grove, a resident of Green River Drive, did not oppose the master plan or the previous golf course applications when they were before the Planning Commission, but he did oppose this one.
Increasing the number of units and decreasing lot sizes is a significant change to the master plan, Grove said. If they can double the number of units on one side of the project, Santiam River Partners could double the number of units on his side of Clark Mill Road where he lives.
The project, based on the information they had at the time, appeared to only use Clark Mill Road for access, Cummins said.
The subdivision will eventually be accessed through a connection to 18th Avenue through the Santiam Commons, the commercial portion of the development, Desler said, and the area already has emergency access from 18th Avenue.
Police Chief Bob Burford submitted written concerns about the layout of the project before the hearing and WSLRT representatives said they redesigned the layout of the subdivision to add access points within the development to address Burford’s concerns.
Desler is seeking a new traffic impact study to determine how much Clark Mill may need to be improved to handle additional traffic.
Cummins raised a concern about development of housing within open space and “wildlife corridors.” A pair of eagles on the property add to the value of both properties and the quality of life in Sweet Home.
Desler said additional agencies have gotten involved in the wildlife issues on the property, including a pair of bald eagles that will require a 15-year protection plan. Desler is working on a new plan for the wildlife corridors that will need to meet the approval of state and federal agencies.
Cummins’ final point was that the WSLRT should comply with its commitments to the city and fire district with an on-street parking prohibition in exchange for narrow private streets within the development.
The subdivision will include narrow streets, approximately 20 feet wide, but it will incorporate parking areas off the main road but within an expanded easement of 50 feet at points along the roadway.
“My opposition to the application is likely to change in the next 30 days if a number of issues are dealt with,” Ordway said. He also asked that Desler’s traffic study take into account the addition of units on Santiam River Club property later.
“We were sold on ‘environmentally sensitive’ clusters,” Grove said. These units will not allow clustered homes.
Chairman Dick Meyers also asked Desler about how these properties could be clustered. Meyers said the subdivision looks like rows of houses along a street.
“Just because there’s a lot line here doesn’t mean creativity within those lots can’t occur,” Desler said. That type of thing will happen.
“You can call that clusters,” Grove said. “I don’t call that clusters.”
Along with other changes from the master plan is the trail system, Grove said. He also raised concerns about the number of children the project would add to the school system.
“I’m not opposed to what was approved in the master plan,” Grove said. “What’s to keep them from doing that in front of me. It was agreed upon that there would be 199 units in that area. It’s fluid.”
The subdivision is in compliance with the master plan, Desler said. Walking paths separate from the streets are safer, and what WSLRT is doing makes economic sense.
The former Morse Bros. property has a permit to allow it to be completely excavated and filled, Desler said. The reclamation plan for the permit is “not very pretty to look at.”
The concern about children and the school district is that it does not get many new students overnight, Desler said. Oregon funds schools based on enrollment, so more children means the district will get more money, but what growth there is in the development will take place between five and seven years.
“I’m having a hard time with the density movement,” planning commissioner Mike Adams said.
“This is not absolute,” Desler said. “Plans change. Setting aside 15 years for a bald eagle is a stretch for me, but it’s something we committed to do.”
Given all the considerations WSLRT has had to take into account, this is the best way to develop the subdivision and make it pencil out, Desler said. The sites as shown on the master plan will not work.
“We’ve been up front about how the plan can change, and it will change some more,” Desler said.
The land is owned by a nonprofit that must give 85 percent of its proceeds to charities, Desler said. He said his salary is $60,000 per year in any case. “We’re here to live up to a commitment. We need to do this.”
WSLRT is committed to turning the economy around in Sweet Home, Desler said. It has maintained its integrity and followed the guiding principles it developed and presented years ago to the community.
If a buyer came along and wanted to buy all of the subdivision, Desler said, yes, WSLRT might sell it as long as the developer lived up to the commitments of the plan, which would go along with the property.
“You have the authority to make mandates,” Desler said. “We can buy into that, or we can go away. It’s the market that’s going to determine if we’re right or wrong. If we’re wrong, what’s the city lost?”
Planning commissioner Rich Rowley asked Desler and Ordway about the relationship between WSLRT and Santiam River Partners, which is a for-profit organization.
“I’m getting the feeling of disjointedness,” a lack of communication and miscommunication, Rowley said. He asked Ordway to explain what was going on between the two companies.
Both have been busy in recent months, Ordway said, but questions were being answered at the meeting.
“I think Mr. Desler would agree we need to communicate more frequently,” Ordway said.
Desler agreed. Even though the two companies have their offices in the same building, they must keep an arm’s length to avoid conflicts of interest. ???????