Developers have held rights for years
By Kevin Hanson
The Courier-Herald
Dozens of new homes could soon be popping up on Enumclaw's east side.
That's a rare occurrence, as construction has been limited to occasional homes here and there, due to a years-old moratorium on full-fledged housing developments. But the Enumclaw City Council recently gave final approval to the first phase of the Elk Meadows development, which calls for 42 homes on 18.65 acres, and could approve the Suntop development as early as next week. Suntop would add another 24 homes.
The adjoining developments sit east of Watson Street, just north of Warner Avenue.
They are being allowed because developers have had plans in the works for years and had secured some of the final utility allocations before the city enacted its moratorium on platting and development. The moratorium stems from the city's wastewater treatment plant, which does not meet current standards for discharge into the White River.
Construction has continually been delayed and costs have steadily climbed for the plant upgrade. Plans now call for construction to begin in the spring of next year and the budget has ballooned to about $26 million.
Elk Meadows, formerly known as Feris Estates, first went to the city in October 1999 and received preliminary approval from both the Planning Commission and City Council in 2002.
Action was placed on hold until recently, when developers added all the necessary infrastructure - streets and utilities - to make the lots ready for sale.
The development is being marketed by Cambria Homes, which is advertising a handful of home styles. The two-story designs range from 2,509 to 2,843 square feet with costs beginning in the mid-$300,000 range.
Cambria also is currently marketing its Rock Creek development in Maple Valley and its Outlook Ridge development in Mill Creek.
City Administrator Mark Bauer said phase two of the Elk Meadows project in anticipated to be much larger, but is on hold until completion of the treatment plant upgrade.
Kevin Hanson can be reached at khanson@courierherald.com.
