MONTESANO — A 12-lot septic tank subdivision near Moclips was approved by the county commissioners Monday. It's described as the first phase of an upscale development on 180 acres, complete with condominiums and some high-end ocean view homes.
The 12 lots will be created on 20 acres along Highway 109, right at the border of the Quinault Indian Reservation.
Blue's Land Development Co. of Ocean Shores is the developer and land owner. The company is owned by Steve Andrews, a local attorney and Hoquiam High School graduate.
The commissioners are allowing Andrews to develop each of the 1- to 2-acre lots using septic systems.
Andrews said he'd prefer to connect to the county's sewer system, but the commissioners said there isn't enough capacity to handle for his development.
Commissioner Al Carter said there are fewer than 80 sewer connections left for the unincorporated North Beach area, and more connections won't be possible until upgrades to the system are completed next year.
“The only way they can build and move forward is if they build septic tanks,” Carter said.
“What we've approved for Steve's property is consistent with the same thing we've done in East County or along the Elma-Monte Road where they have public water but no public sewer,” Carter said.
Andrews said the majority of his planned development is on a hilltop with views of the ocean and surrounding area. Another chunk of the property is along a mile or so of the Moclips River.
A stream also runs through the property, and Andrews said he's been in touch with the state Department of Fish & Wildlife and is installing culverts “for fish that aren't there but may come.”
The number of housing lots or condominiums he'll have “depends on what we can do with density.”
“If we could do condominiums on the area of the property that has the view, we'd love to get 350 to 400 units all in one spot, plus some lots, and leave the rest of the property open,” Andrews said.
Carter said he wondered how septic tanks would fare on the hilltop area, but notes that Andrews must receive permission from the state Department of Health before installing them.
Andrews said it's possible he could use septic tanks in the development of the whole property —including the condominiums, noting he'd need one septic tank for every 15 units.
Andrews, who has been working to develop the property for three years, describes it as “idyllic,” with “huge gravel bars on the river” and “lots of tall trees.” He described it as a place to “fish and hike and drive to the beach.”
“The worst case — and it's still OK — is to make a bunch of lots and sell it off,” he adds. “But that's not my preferred way. I really want to protect this property.”
Andrews told commissioners that although he doesn't plan to build many of the homes himself, he wants each house to “have a certain look.”
“We're trying to make it more of an upscale development,” he said.
Most of the lots will sell for a couple hundred thousand dollars, he said.
Steven Friederich , a Daily World writer, can be reached at (360)532-4000, ext. 134, or by e-mail at sfriederich@thedailyworld.com
