More homes coming to Cheney

CHENEY – Public comment is being taken on a 46-lot housing development proposed on 16.98 acres of land north/northeast of Cheney High School

Parkside 2nd Addition would plat 31 single-family lots an d 15 duplexes on property east of North 6th Street, west of Boulders Apartments, north of the Cheney Care Center/Plum Tree Court and south of Simpson Parkway. Access to the development would mainly be from Simpson Parkway via new extensions of two existing streets — Bethany and Annie Place.

Annie Place would connect to its southern portion east of the Care Center’s Sessions Village near Plum Tree Court and would be open to thru traffic. Bethany’s southern connection will make a westward curve through the Cheney Care Center’s Blackstone development to connect with North 6th Street.

“It’s not really for thru traffic,” Cheney senior planner Brett Lucas said of Bethany. “It’s basically to allow for emergency vehicle access.”

The property, owned by Gordon Finch Homes, is currently zoned for R-1 (single family) and R-2 (two-family) development. The 15 duplexes are to be built along the new Bethany Street and are actually part of an earlier approved plat proposed by the Care Center to increase its senior living housing opportunities.

“He’ll (Gordon Finch) be doing some for the Care Center under contract,” Lucas said.

The single-family lots all straddle the new Annie Place and to the east via new cul de Sacs – Peach Tree Court and Apple Tree Court. The site would be developed with all associated water, sewer and stormwater infrastructure.

According to information submitted to the city by applicant H2 Surveying and Engineering — on behalf of Gordon Finch Homes — the new development is expected to increase vehicle traffic in the air by 39 trips, mainly in the afternoon and evenings.

The site is mostly flat and covered by native grasses and plants, with the exception of the eastern portion which has some areas of rise ranging from 3 – 15 percent and is covered with stands of pine trees. Lucas said they will contact the Department of Natural Resources to ascertain whether an urban logging permit will be required for removing the trees. DNR did require such a permit for development several years ago of the Salnave Glen complex on West 1st Street.

“We may put that in as a condition (of approval), in terms of DNR logging permitting,” Lucas said.

No wetlands currently exist on the Parkside 2nd Addition site. A year-round wetland does exist northeast of the site across Simpson Parkway that was expanded as part of mitigation measures when construction of Al Ogdon Way and nearby apartment complexes required removal of other existing wetlands.

Information on Parkside 2nd Addition is available through the city’s Community Development Department. The comment period closes at 5 p.m. on Sept. 14.

A public hearing on the application is scheduled for the Sept. 14 meeting of the Planning Commission. The meeting will be held virtually via Zoon, beginning at 6 p.m.

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