OROVILLE – The Oroville City Council approved a rezone request from the developers of the Aldler Street Home Sites, redesignating the property from Heavy Industrial to Residential 1.
The developer is in the process of creating building lots off Alder Street, east of Birch Street along the Okanogan River. The R1 designation allows the building of single-family homes. The redesignation was approved at the council’s Tuesday, Aug. 4 meeting.
“They still need to apply for their short plat and there are many factors involved in whether that will be approved, including access, wetlands and the critical areas involved,” said Chris Branch, Oroville’s Economic and Community Development director.
Branch also said should neighboring property owners negotiate boundary line adjustments with the developer, those additions would be zoned the same as the adjoining property which is R2.
In addition, the council heard from several people who are living at the Lagoon RV Park. The property, located in town between Main Street and the Okanogan River, is being developed for several units of condominiums. They said that they were being asked to leave the park and were wondering what the city could do on their behalf to give them some extra time as they seek new places to live.
“I encourage you to go to the new owner if you want to buy some time,” said Branch, explaining that it was not up to the city whether they could continue to live there.
Noel, Branch and City Clerk Kathy Jones discussed the Bio-solids Project for the wastewater treatment facility. The city was hoping to use Public Works Trust Fund loan monies, but that money was used to fix the Chesaw and Eastlake Roads after the Eastlake Sewer Project went in. Now Oroville has become eligible for federal stimulus dollars to help it complete the project.
“Actually the design hasn’t changed much and the bid is moving forward,” said Noel.
“We will be advertising the bid starting next week,” said Jones.
Branch said that everything for the project is set up to happen and that the HUD (Housing and Urban Development) agency was working to make sure the bid documents comply with federal law.
“It is moving along, it looks like good news… the last report wasn’t so positive,” said Mayor Chuck Spieth.
“We were told we had the most shovel ready project in Washington State… in fact we’re ahead of them,” said Branch, referring to the agencies involved with helping the city obtain the stimulus monies.
The council also discussed the parking at the city’s Deep Bay Park on Lake Osoyoos. The council agreed the disabled parking spots need to be better designated with new signs and paint on the pavement. The city is also considering putting in a gravel parking area in the grassy area near the pond as at times the day use and boat trailer parking are filled and there is no where to park. The gravel would be a temporary measure until the city could afford to pave the new parking spots.
