Ephrata community gets first look at Dodson Road housing project

Developers file application with city Wednesday

EPHRATA — Ephrata residents received their first glance at a new housing development within their city limits.

Issaquah-based Coyote Investments, LLC managing members Art Day and Tom Wells showcased their tentatively named Dodson Residential Community on Wednesday evening in Ephrata City Council chambers. The informal open house took place for an hour before a city council meeting.

The development would be located on the east side of Dodson Road, approximately 3/4 mile from the road's intersection with Highway 282 and 12 miles north of the road's interchange with Interstate 90.

The site area is about 318 acres and would consist of 575 to 750 dwelling units. According to the developers, the higher number would be reached by using cluster housing and/or town homes, a decision dependent upon market demand.

Day said the project is set up for eight phases.

"Nothing says we can't build two phases at a time, but we set it up in eight phases so we can react to the marketplace," he said. "If the market is very active, we can expand the number of phases we do. If it slows down, then we can take it in easier steps."

Coyote Investments would purchase the land from the Aero-Space Port International Group, or ASPI. The applicant developer would not be involved in building the homes, but plans to sell finished lots to local builders.

Wells said the developer filed its application with the City of Ephrata Wednesday afternoon.

"We hope they like what they see," he said of the Ephrata public. "We understand it's hard to gauge ahead of time, but we understand there will be quite a few people coming out. There seems to be some interest expressed in taking a look."

The developer estimates beginning construction at the end of 2007.

Through qualitative and quantitative research in 2006, Wells said the investment company has reason to believe there's a "panic demand" at the local level.

"With all that's going on, announced and otherwise, we think there is a sort of emerging market which hasn't really been here before, and we think there's pretty good interest from outside the immediate area for people who want to come, share and enjoy the quality of life in Ephrata," he said.

Wells declined to discuss the cost of the project.

"We're not going to share that at this point," he said.

Ephrata City Administrator Wes Crago said a negotiated developer's agreement allows the planned unit development some flexibility. While at a very preliminary stage, he expects the development to become more refined as the process continues.

"They have to meet all the zoning and statutory requirements, but inside their development there's allowance for flexibility," he said. "This will be, I believe, the first time the city's gone through this stage, or this type of land-use development, so we'll be working very closely with them over the next few weeks to refine the developer's agreement."

The agreement would go before the city council and planning commission. Once approved, it would be similar to a complete plat, Crago said, and the developers would be able to start building the first phase.

Crago believes the development is an example of the growth presently occurring in Grant County.

"This type of development, with the very intentional use of recreation, livability, the park land, quality of life walking trails, is exactly the kind of development we'd like to see," he said. "It's a set of intentional neighborhoods that are going to foster good community."

Longtime Ephrata residents Janet and Bill Nelson came to the open house to satisfy their curiosity.

"I think it's going to be an asset to the community," Janet Nelson said. "I was ignorant enough I did not realize that far out on Dodson Road was city limits. I think it will be good for the town."

"The whole county's exploding," Bill Nelson remarked.

Dodson Road resident Rita Witte wanted to see what was transpiring. She noted some reservations, both about the Dodson project and the potential impact of another project, the road named after Nat Washington, through her Ephrata business.

"I don't know how that's going to affect things," she said. "I'm just finding out about it, so I really can't say a lot."

"What they're proposing looks great; whether it comes to fruition, that's fine," longtime resident and former Ephrata mayor Les Parr said. "I guess my question would be, is our economy around here for that big a project? But the city is growing, not like Moses Lake, but we have a continual growth every year. It looks to me like a big project if the thing goes."