Mayor Brandenburg clarifies affairs

Last Tuesday’s meeting of the Pine Haven Council sat to a full house due to questions regarding the two incoming subdivisions, C Bar and Knotty Pine. Mayor Karla Brandenburg addressed these concerns shortly after the meeting convened.

While acknowledging the accuracy of an article written in this paper in the December 9 issue, she expressed her concern over the public’s reception to the information, saying, “Everyone kind of joined everything together.”

Three main issues discussed by the community on social media were addressed by Brandenburg: the number of houses proposed, financial responsibility of the developers and the town and how the town’s infrastructure will handle the added load.

How big is this

One of the two intended housing properties was formerly known as the Ruby Subdivision; it is now called the C Bar Subdivision and the owners are proposing 31 lots that will be 7/8 of an acre. Knotty Pine has not reported to the town the size of their planned 19 lots of their “first phase”, according to the mayor.

She, Councilman Don Lancaster and Public Works Director Sunny Schell explained the detailed criteria the developers of these properties must follow including Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) inspection and permitting before building begins.

“There’s a pretty long list of things they have to do,” the mayor noted.

Following ordinances

Brandenburg assured the audience, “Both developers will have to abide by our subdivision ordinances, which Chris [Bingham]and her committee have worked diligently on to upgrade our subdivision [laws] and we hope to have the first reading next month.” Brandenburg said of the existing ordinances, “We just did a lot of clarification.”

“Both developers will be required to purchase an earth moving permit,” the mayor continued. “They will have to go through Sunny [Schell], making sure the drainage will not affect any one in the nearby areas or any place else in the town.”

Who pays for what

“The town will not be responsible for anything in those subdivisions,” Brandenburg stated, “excluding a waterline that belongs to the town; that is something we will have to take care of. Those [town owned] fire hydrants have not been used for a long time and we’ll have to make sure that those are all working right. All of that belongs to the town. We will have to pay for the current hydrants, [but] any new hydrants they have to put in, they will have to put in.”

This only applies to C Bar because of the existing line, however, according to the mayor, “Knotty Pine will be required to put in the number the fire marshal recommends; that will all be their responsibility.”

She was able to put the minds of residents at ease regarding the lines, saying, “We developed our water and sewer systems to handle any property inside town at the time and if it was developed.” This future development included the then-anticipated Ruby Subdivision, which planned for 70 houses, but now will only include 31.

“So in reality, we’re going to be fine. It was all designed to handle the growth in Pine Haven.”

Public comment

Mayor Brandenburg, in accordance with Pine Haven’s municipal law regarding this situation, told concerned citizens. “Once we get to the final stages of their permitting, all the neighbors within 250 feet surrounding the subdivisions will be notified of a public comment meeting at town hall, so everyone will have the chance to come in and hear what they’re going to do.”