Cheney, Parkside LLC reach agreement

Cheney’s City Council unanimously approved the second reading at its July 11 meeting of an ordinance rezoning a 3.6-acre parcel of land at the corner of Cedar and North Eighth streets from multifamily residential (R-3) to high-density multifamily residential (R-3H).

The difference between this and the first reading’s approval June 27 is the inclusion of a development agreement between the city and the developers of Parkside Commons LLC — Greenstone Development and Eastmark Capital Group. Both are seeking the rezone to build a 96-unit student housing complex on the property located across from the city pool and one block north of Eastern Washington University.

The only changes to the ordinance from the June meeting was an agreement between the city and the property owner, Greenstone, to reducing an easement on the property for a city water main from 60 feet to 15 feet. In exchange, Greenstone agrees to deed back to the city the portion of the Oak Street right of way on the north edge of the property that is actually owned by Greenstone.

City attorney Stanley Schwartz said the deed to half of a city street came with the property when Greenstone bought it from the U.S. Air Force several years ago.

Also added to the ordinance was a requirement that the city investigate and place traffic calming measures along North Eighth Street between Cedar and Oak streets to reduce conflicts between motorists and pedestrians as well as on-street parking issues neighborhood residents have complained about in the past.

The ordinance also references the development agreement and conditions within it. Most of these have previously been spelled out: limiting the number of units in the development, a minimum of 2.4 off-street parking spaces per unit along with other considerations.

Added to the terms is a requirement for the developer to within 10 years of signing the agreement install off-site traffic/pedestrian measures. Those include a pedestrian crossing signal on North Eighth at Oakland Street, and completion of sidewalks along both sides of Cedar Street between Erie and North 10th.

If the developer completes these improvements, an additional five years is added to the agreement, allowing them 15 years to complete the other agreements within the document to the property itself. Schwartz said it gives Parkside Commons, LLC a vesting period of 15 years.

“The developer doesn’t build within that period, it goes away, it’s gone,” Schwartz said.

“Do these conditions stay with the developer or do they go with the land,” Councilman Dan Hilton asked.

“They run with the land,” Schwartz replied.

In staff reports, Mayor Tom Trulove said the recent malfunction of one of the city’s well pumps, and the water restrictions imposed because of that, have led officials to realize they are going to have to “get serious about irrigation issues” so that such “Draconian” measures aren’t needed in the future. Most of the year, the city’s water needs can be handled with just two pumps, but during the 5–6 month-long irrigation season, the other six pumps are brought on line to handle the increased load.

The city has relied on residents and businesses adhering to water conservation measures when irrigating, particularly during very hot weather periods. City officials will now start exploring other options.

“Unfortunately, none of them are going to be free,” Trulove said. “One thing you can count on is there is going to be a rate increase.”

City officials will work on putting together a presentation of those options for an upcoming council meeting.

John McCallum can be reached at jmac@cheneyfreepress.com.