The Planning Commission approved the division of a 27.52-acre lot into multiple lots situated behind Wiley Creek Manor during its Nov. 21 meeting.
The lot, located at 4901 Hwy. 20, is approximately 1,198,771 square feet. Plans submitted in the application indicate the land owner, Sweet Home Residential LLC, wants to divide the parcel into five lots for development and a larger sixth lot for possible development at a later time.
The lot sizes on the first five parcels would range in size between about 10,000 and 26,806 square feet, and the sixth lot would be about 1,216,112 square feet to be reserved for future land division and development. The land owner intends to prepare the lots for future housing development in line with the allowed densities within the zone.
Wiley Creek borders the east side of the property. Wiley Creek Manor and the Spring Terrace subdivision (Mimosa Circle and Maple Drive) border the west side of the property. Mountain Fir Street, running east-west and dividing Wiley Creek Manor from Spring Terrace, dead-ends at the property line, but Mountain Fir Street would extend into the new development and connect with a future street.
Planning & Building Manager Angela Clegg’s report indicates the property has an active wetland delineation on it, to expire in 2028, and the overall project may at some point require a permit application for wetland removal-fill.
Britany Randall, of BRAND Land Use, representing Sweet Home Residential LLc, said they plan to build four-plex dwellings.
Associated with the new Wiley Creek Memory Care facility, Sweet Home Residential LLC will use the homes for assisted living.
Nearby resident Hank Blomberg submitted a letter expressing concern about spawning fish in Wiley Creek. He wrote: “This subdivision is on the border to Wiley Creek which is a spawning location for salmon, steelhead and trout. This property has a large spring and ground water runoff into Wiley Creek. I do not see any catch basins, nor remediation of nitrites which will be introduced to Wiley Creek from this development. I feel this could negatively impact the salmon and steelhead and trout. I ask the City of Sweet Home Planning and Building Department to review this project and determine if this will negatively affect Wiley Creek watershed and take action to protect this natural resource.”
Addressing this letter, Randall stated they are “sensitive to the environmental features” and their design is in line with the city’s Safe Harbor guidelines, which provides 50-feet setbacks to the riparian areas.