County mulls five more subdivisions
By GWEN ALBERS Western News Reporter
Ray O'Neal feels fairly confident that if he can offer roads, electrical services and all that's needed to build homes on vacant land, it will sell.
The Troy general contractor isn't alone.
Several residential subdivisions are proposed for the Troy and Libby areas. Among them are three that Lincoln County Commissioners will vote on at its Wednesday, April 26, meeting. Two more are in the works. The five have a total of 39 lots ranging from 5 to 10 acres.
According to information filed with the county department of county planning, commissioners will act on:
* A 63-acre subdivision off Lake Creek Road. Canyon Creek Developers Inc. of Troy is considering establishing seven, 8.3- to 10.6-acre lots.
* Camp Creek Subdivision off Highway 56. Developer Stewart Briskin of Troy has proposed four lots on 21.82 acres; average size of lots is 5.5 acres.
* O'Neal's proposal for dividing 29 acres into five, 6-acre lots off Highway 56 in the Bull Lake area will be known as Hibiscus Estates.
"I'm getting ready," said O'Neal, who moved here from Hawaii four years ago. "We have a lot of surveying (to do) and have the road cut. We need to start hauling in rock."
"We've gotten a lot of inquiries," he said.
In addition, a group known as BWM has asked the county to divide 70-acres on Farm to Market Road into 16 lots averaging 5 acres. The land is near Libby Airport.
George Wood, agent/owner of Beaglewood Realtors-Coldwell Realtors, is involved with the project.
"We've got people looking to buy 4 to 20 acres in the Libby area. There isn't anything to be sold," Wood said. "That's becoming a big problem."
None of the 16 parcels have been sold because the subdivision remains under consideration, he said.
"I've got buyers out there through our company," Wood said. "We can't seem to find any lots to build on."
Mary Klinkam, a planner with the county department of environmental planning in Libby, said the BWM application was submitted March 31. Her office received only one comment with no opposition by the April 14 deadline.
"It was from the Forest Service. They were notified not only as an agency, but because there is 150 feet of frontage adjacent to it," Klinkam said. "Basically, they had no comment but thanked us for the opportunity."
Finally, someone is considering a seven-lot subdivision at Mt. Snowy, 8 miles south of Libby along Libby Creek.
"It looks like they (lots) go from 4 to 12 acres," Klinkam said.
She says there's more subdivisions in the works and believes Libby and Troy will see continued growth.
"We have a beautiful area," said Klinkam. "I believe we will see more residential (developments)."
Commissioners recently appointed the county's first-ever planning board to get a growth policy in place.
"They seem like an excellent planning board," Klinkam said. "They are very thoughtful."
Libby and Troy aren't alone.
On a much larger scale, county commissioners during their April 19 meeting approved a 360-acre development two miles north of Eureka bordered by U.S. 93 on the west and Burma Road on the north.
Dave Rogers of Fernie, British Columbia, and Neil Longhurst of Florida, who have formed Rogers-Long Development Co., proposed building over 10 years what will be known as Indian Springs. The subdivision includes a public golf course and 343 lots ranging from 3,920 square feet to 9.2 acres. Included are 199 single-family, three condominium, seven commercial and 134 townhomes and/or motorcoach lots.
About 100 acres will be set aside for walking trails and 87 acres for the golf course.
Commissioners earlier this year approved The Wilderness Club, a 545-acre development planned north of Eureka near the Canadian border. It will include 272 home sites, 47 luxury cabins, a clubhouse and spa, lake club and Camp Wilderness, offering swimming pools, tennis and other recreational activities. The development includes an 18-hole private golf course designed by renowned British golfer Nick Faldo.
Groundbreaking is set for May 5.