One subdivision request OKd

One plan for a new subdivision in Portland was passed to the Portland City Council for approval, and another was tabled by the Portland Planning Commission Thursday evening.

Before the commission voted, however, several Portland residents voiced their opinions on the developments.

The project that the commission unanimously recommended the council approve, was a six-lot subdivision, located at the northeast corner of Main and Charles streets. The area would be called Imel Addition Section II.

Beam LLC of Portland wants to use the approximately four acres to create four lots with entrances from West Main Street and two lots with entrances from Charles Street.

The only way the large lot could be sold is if it were divided into six small lots, said Beam LLC managing partner Barry Hudson.

Several homeowners who live on Main Street said they were for the subdivision, but had reservations about stormwater drainage.

Jack Wagner, who lives on Charles Street directly across from Jack Imel Addition Section I, said he thinks the development is a good idea because the property will look nicer. He said he was wondering where the surface water will go when there is a heavy rain.

Bonar Group vice president and engineer Darrell Post explained how drainage in the subdivision would work.

He said the side of each lot which would face the street would be raised so gravity would force the water down into a detention pond. The pond would be located east of the northern-most lot. A 36-inch pipe would then take the water from the pond out to a storm sewer.

Mike Brenner owns property southeast of the proposed detention pond. He asked if anything could be done about the standing water in the existing wetland. The area borders his land on the north, and sometimes water runs onto his property.

Jay/ Portland Building and Planning administrator Bill Milligan said changes to the wetland would have to go though the state and federal governments.

Also Thursday, the committee tabled making any decision about a proposed Hidden Cove Subdivision.

The development would be located west of Hagins Avenue and South of Floral Avenue. It would contain 30 lots, with some zoned R-4 and others zoned R-8.

The committee decided not to accept or reject the proposal or the request to rezone some of the lots as R-8.

Rural Portland resident Jason Bullard said the properties in his proposed subdivision would be single-family dwellings, with curved paved roads and sidewalks.

Post is working with Bullard on the development. He said the subdivision would require that Hagins Avenue be widened to make it a two-way street. The entrance and the exit to the addition would be at Hagins Avenue, he said.

Most area residents who spoke Thursday were concerned that the widening of the street would infringe on their property rights of way.

Greg Franklin, who owns houses east of Hagins Avenue, between Reed Street and Floral Avenue, said he was concerned his tenants would have nowhere to park, and the street would come up almost against his rental properties.

Don McGraw owns a house northwest of the proposed development. He said if the street is widened it would be right at his front porch. Also, he said traffic on Floral and Hagins avenues will be heavier and more dangerous for area children. He suggested the subdivision exit be moved.

The committee decided to table the proposal and zoning request until the next meeting, which will be Thursday, Jan. 6, at 5 p.m. Planning commission president Vicki Tague said Bonar and city officials need to meet to discuss the development and to work out the right of way issues.[[In-content Ad]]