By Kevin Hanson-The Courier-Herald
As work on Enumclaw's wastewater treatment plant continues, the need for a continued moratorium on new development grows less and less necessary.
But lifting the prohibition against growth isn't yet a reality, and it's anticipated that members of the Enumclaw City Council will soon extend the existing moratorium for another six months.
During their Feb. 25 meeting, council members set a public hearing for 7:30 p.m. Monday to discuss the ongoing moratorium that has limited annexation, the platting of new developments and utility connections for more than a decade.
While an extension of the moratorium is likely, a change is in sight, as workers continue the process of expanding the municipal sewer plant. It's anticipated that a new portion of the plant will be up and running this year and renovation of the existing plant will be completed in 2009.
City Administrator Mark Bauer isn't certain if the council will extend the moratorium just one more time or act again when another six months has passed.
“I can't answer that right now,” he said. “We'll have to wait and see what happens.”
There has been talk that the city could drop the moratorium before the treatment plant work is completed, essentially giving developers a head start. It's assumed there will be demand to build in Enumclaw once the moratorium is lifted.
Bauer said the annexation element will not be addressed until a current study is completed. The council approved a staff request and hired Berk and Associates to conduct a study of costs associated with taking more land into the city limits. Bauer said annexation doesn't come without a price tag and the city needs to know how much it would cost to add streets, water mains, sewer lines and other utilities. Other issues include an added need for police and fire protection, he said.
Until the city gets a handle on how much certain annexations would cost, there will be no action taken, Bauer said.
The Berk and Associates report is due to be completed this summer.
On another issue during their Feb. 25 meeting, council members accepted a preliminary plat for the Suntop II housing subdivision near the intersection of Warner Avenue and Watson Street.
A limited number of utility connections were made available recently when the city converted commercial connections to residential and the Suntop developers secured the rights to 15.
The recent action, Bauer said, paves the way for Suntop developers to pave streets and install utilities. The city will have to sign off on the project again before lots can be sold.
Bauer is assuming the process will be completed in time for building to take place during the coming construction season.
Kevin Hanson can be reached at khanson@courierherald.com.
