No trail plans, thus no permits

INDIANOLA — The work taking place on the White Horse golf course and housing project is only the first phase of the 450-acre development, which, overall, has been in the works for more than a decade. But in order to make it to the second phase, the developer has a few more key hurdles to jump.

INDIANOLA — The work taking place on the White Horse golf course and housing project is only the first phase of the 450-acre development, which, overall, has been in the works for more than a decade.

But in order to make it to the second phase, the developer has a few more key hurdles to jump.

Interested residents received this update Sept. 13 at a meeting called by concerned neighbors, including members of the Kingston Parks Trails and Open Space Committee. The evening’s discussion revolved around a public trail that is supposed to be built at the same time as the housing development and golf course, as well as the outstanding conditions developer Bob Screen still needs to meet before permits can be issued for work outside of Phase 1.

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About 30 people attended the meeting at the Indianola Clubhouse. Most visibly absent was Screen or anyone else directly involved with the project. The Herald contacted Screen, who said he had not been notified that the meeting was taking place and would be more than happy to meet with the community to address concerns that residents have about the trail.

A letter from Kitsap County Department of Community Development was sent to Screen Sept. 9, outlining the status of his compliance to conditions that have been imposed on the development for Phase 2. Screen said he had been waiting on for the county letter for two months but noted it listed items that had never been mentioned before as requirements.

He also noted that the plans for the trail had been approved in February and refused to talk with the county about changing the location of the trail, especially since the county had suggested that it be relocated through wetland and wetland buffers.

“I’d be very eager to meet with the community,” Screen said. “Our goal is to end up with a very nice trial that not only the community will like but also the White Horse residents will like.”

The project has been on the county’s books since the late 1980s. It has gone through litigation and has since also received an extensive list of conditions that the developer must comply with. The letter outlines those conditions and if they have been met or not.

“If he can meet requirements of the letter, that will meet a lot of our concerns,” DCD planner Dennis Oost told the group Sept. 13.

While Screen has OK to continue Phase 1 work, he only has a grading permit for Phase 2 and the county is withholding permits for further work until all conditions for Phase 2 are met.

The county is waiting on two items from Screen — the final design plans for the public access trail and the plans for a groundwater monitoring program and surface water monitoring program. No permits will be issued to Screen until these two requirements are met, Oost said.

The biggest issue of the evening was the public trail, the majority of which is part of Phase 2. Members of the Kingston Parks Trails and Open Space committee and other concerned residents have been extremely vocal the past year about making sure the trail’s plan is ready to go before Phase 2 construction begins.

According to Screen’s conceptual drawings, the proposed trail would start at the south end of the property, off Indianola Road, and run between White Horse’s golf course and residential properties, connecting with trails in Heritage Park and Arborwood.

“When the trail is built, we’ll go back in and assess that buffer,” Oost said, to make sure the trail is noticeably separated from residential areas.

As for the turf management and water quality plans for Phase 2, both the Kitsap County Health District and Kitsap Public Utilities District No. 1 have given limited approval to the plans, however, Oost said DCD has only received letters stating this fact. DCD staff has not seen any actual plans in order to provide its final approval.

“A letter from the health district isn’t good enough for us,” Oost said.

Oost said when he has the final design plans in hand, he can schedule a meeting with residents to review the technical details of the plans.

“Trail is No. 1 — we want to see a trail out there before anything else progresses,” he said.

Screen also noted that the plans for the trail had been approved in February and refused to talk with the county about changing the location of the trail, especially since the county later suggested that it be relocated through wetland and wetland buffers.

“I’d be very eager to meet with the community,” Screen said. “Our goal is to end up with a very nice trial that not only the community will like but also the White Horse residents will like.”

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