Alex Paul
Tim Olsen’s careful work with a chainsaw carefully laid down the Douglas fir tree as his father-in-law, Dennis Gibson, used a forwarder to gather and land logs for shipment to Triple T Studs Thursday.
The work marked a major start for Foster Lake Developments, planning to construct townhouses on six acres at the intersection of Foster dam road and Hwy. 20.
All that partners Gibson and Dan McGarry of Philomath are waiting on is an easement approval from the Corps of Engineers and permitting from the City of Sweet Home to begin construction of the 12 two story units ranging from size from 1,600 to 2,900 square feet. Prices will range from approximately $300,000 to $500,000 for the units that will all feature outstanding views of the lake and the Cascade Mountains.
Thursday and Friday, some 18 trees were felled. As the project moves forward, another 12 to 18 trees will also be cut.
But, the partners point out, they will replace the downed trees with more than 400 plants and new trees.
In addition to tree removal, the men plan to install main sewer and water lines and set the electrical transformer.
“It will probably take a month to six weeks for these things,” Gibson said. “We’re trying to reschedule our sub contractors and it’s their busy time of year.”
The townhouses will feature high quality but low maintenance, McGarry said.
“We will provide all exterior home and lands maintenance,” McGarry said. “We want the owners to be able to drive over, pull into their garage and enjoy the view, not have to worry about mowing the grass or painting a wall. We want them to be able to relax.”
Aesthetically, the men plan to install 1,150 linear feet of rock wall around the project. The townhouses will also feature rock features.
All of the units will feature upstairs bedrooms and floor to ceiling glass on the lake side.
The exteriors will feature a cement based siding for ease of maintenance.
The partners have been told their easement will be in place by June 4. The plan is to reroute the current dam road that runs between the lake and their property to the back side of the property that will make the road a straighter line as well.